Alimak narrow vein mining at the Dome Mine

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 83, No. 938, 1990

B.E. Robertson, J.T. Vehkala, Dome Mine, and S.S. Kerr, Ram Raising Ltd.

Since the late 1970s, extensive work has been carried out at Placer Dome Inc. 's Dome Mine to develop new mining methods and equipment to improve the productivity of narrow vein mining (Mining Magazine, Oct. 1986, pp. 308-317; Mar. 1988, pp. 176-179). This work has been focused on mining vein-type deposits varying from 0.9m to 1.5 m in width using open sloping and cut-and-fill mining methods. In 1989, the Dome Mine entered into a contract with Ram Raising Ltd., a joint venture company of Angus Martin and J.S. Redpath Ltd., to develop and mine a narrow vein test slope using an Alimak Raise Climber. Early results have been favourable, indicating that Alimak methods can be used successfully to mine narrow vein ore.

Keywords: Mining methods, Productivity, Narrow-vein mining.