Multiseam design procedures.

Abstract

The safety hazards associated with multiseam mining have been recognised and will depend on the mining sequence and method. Multiseam mining will continue in South Africa for the foreseeable future in order to maximize reserves at collieries. Brownfield developments are preferred to Greenfield developments since capital costs are usually less. Considerable research has been conducted into multiseam mining in other countries especially the USA. Several methods have been used to identify the factors affecting the success of failure of multiseam mining. Numerical modelling and field studies have been used to identify trends and problems areas, but critical factors may be omitted. Statistical analysis has been used to overcome some of the disadvantage of not knowing the critical variables. These methods require considerable amounts of data of failed and successful multiseam situations. This latter approach is not suitable for South African analysis aiming to the limited data available.