Sirius Minerals - Re: SXX Stream Log - Whose to say a TBM...

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23:40 26/03/2014

Whose to say a TBM cant't be used in a mining operation? Having worked at Boulby, I can see a great potential for such a use in that environment. The rock stresses are so high there (They will be no different here), that permanent tunnels (Conveyors, ventilation and transport) are not installed in the potash, as the tunnels close in extemely quickly due to the rock stresses, instead they are driven in the halite (Salt) below, which is more competent and the mine workings directly above in the potash relieve the stress, even then rock bursts are still comon. A circular tunnel is intrinscially more stable than a square one and also ventilation pressure losses are much lower, So there could be benefits in using a TBM for main ventilation drives.

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