Surface and Underground Excavations

Surface and Underground Excavations - Methods, Techniques and Equipment (2nd edition) covers the latest technologies and developments in the excavation arena at any locale: surface or underground. In the first few chapters, unit operations are discussed and subsequently, excavation techniques are described for various operations: tunnelling, drifting, raising, sinking, stoping, quarrying, surface mining, liquidation and mass blasting as well as construction of large subsurface excavations such as caverns and underground chambers. The design, planning and development of excavations are treated in a separate chapter. Especially featured are methodologies to select stoping methods through incremental analysis. Furthermore, this edition encompasses comprehensive sections on mining at 'ultra depths', mining difficult deposits using non-conventional technologies, mineral inventory evaluation (ore - reserves estimation) and mine closure. Concerns over Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), environment and loss prevention, and sustainable development are also addressed in advocating a solution to succeed within a scenario of global competition and recession. This expanded second edition has been wholly revised, brought fully up-to-date and includes (wherever feasible) the latest trends and best practices, case studies, global surveys and toolkits as well as questions at the end of each chapter. This volume will now be even more appealing to students in earth sciences, geology, and in civil, mining and construction engineering, to practicing engineers and professionals in these disciplines as well as to all with a general or professional interest in surface and underground excavations.

Dr. Ratan Tatiya is a consultant in the areas of excavation, construction, mining and allied disciplines and in a career spanning more than 42 years he has held senior positions in the industry, as a professor, researcher and consultant and has worked with multinationals from more than 40 countries. His industrial background has led to this book being industrially relevant and his academic background has ensured that the fundamentals and basics required to help readers have been included.

1. Introduction 2. Rocks and Minerals 3. Prospecting, Exploration and Site Investigations 4. Drilling 5. Explosives and Blasting 6. Mucking, Casting and Excavation 7. Transportation - Haulage and Hoisting 8. Supports 9. Drives and Tunnels (Conventional Methods) 10. Tunneling by Roadheaders and Impact Hammers 11. Full-face Tunnel Borers (TBMs) and Special Methods 12. Planning 13. Excavations in Upward Direction - Raising 14. Shaft Sinking 15. Large Sub-Surface Excavations 16. Underground Mining/Stoping Methods 17. Surface Excavations 18. Hazards, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Environment and Loss Prevention 19. Sustainable Development