The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-25
AT GREAT DEPTHS.
Plans That Will Carry Shafts Down
Thousands of Feet.

Plans That Will Carry shafts Down
Thousands of Feet.
From the Mining and Scientific Press.
A proposition to work mines to a
depth of 5000 feet is now being con-
sidered in South Africa. That this can
be accomplished by the establishment
of relay winding stations at distances
of $500 to 5000 feet, and of pumping
stations at half this distance, is mani
fest. Electricity must become an i'm
portant factor in the development and
operation OF mines to great depth. 1t
is the most rational and least expen-
siVe method of overcoming the prob
lens of deep mining. An important
question will be that of ventilation. but
the Introduction of electric fans is GO
ing to do something for ventila ton
also.
That the cost will be greater when
operating by relays to the depth of
5000 to 10000 feet than from a depth of
5000 feet-already an accomplished
fact-goes without saying, but single
operation can be carried on to a depth
of 10000 feet at a cost considerably be-
low that of operating two mines to a
depth of 5000 feet each A shaft start
ed with the idea of deep mining should
be large and provided with a sufficient
number of compartments to afford
large capacity. Having reached the
depth of the first relay winding sta
tion-at say 5000 feet-it would be
necessary to excavate a large chamber
and support it by such means as would
render it safe, dry and permanent. In
this must be installed the first aux
Hilary hosting machine, for hosting
from the level of the next relay sta
ton. If only one relay station is to
be established, compressed air could be
moved all
poses-ventilation pumping, hosting,
haulage. etc.-electricity would prob
ably be the best, and in the event of
more than one relay station it is un-
doubtedly the best
When sinking shall commence below
the level of the first relav station the
shaft should be offset a distance suffi
cient to allow a space of not less than
five feet between the two shafts. This
partly as precaution against accident
to men on the station level and partly
to avoid danger Of a breach in the wall
between the stump of the upper shaft
and the relay shaft. Cars hoisted on
the cages in the relay shaft could then
be run onto the cages going to the
surface and hosting continued with
out dumping or any further rehand-
ling
When the level of the second relay
station has been reached a second
chamber should be cut out and
equipped in the same maner as the
first and the shaft again continued on
an offset as above. being located either
offset as above, being located either
directly under the first section of the
shaft or still farther over in the direc-
ton of the first offset. The chara cter of
the formation on the level would per-
haps determine this. ....
This idea contemplates a vertical
which thrDuph
rock to an ore bed or vein, as at the
Lake Superior copper mines, or the
mines of the Witwatersrand, in South
Africa. though equally applicable to a
vein having many levels. The same
plan could be applied to inclined shafts
sunk upon or parallel with the dip of
vein. The idea is susceptible of more
or less change in the detail, as for In
stance where skips are in use instead
Of cages. In such cases the skips would
be dumped at the relay stations into
bins on the level, or into rockets cut
out under the floor of the level from
which skips operating in the next sec
ton above would be loaded. Where
extensive operations are contemplated,
cages would prove the more economical
whether in inclined shaft or vertical,
unless the din of the shaft be too low
to admit of the use of cages such as
are constructed for use in inclines.
The generating plant on the surface
would have to be powerful enough to
supply all the power required to oper-
ate all hosting and pumping engines,
Ventilating devices. and should also do
the hauling underground. The first
cost of the plant would be great, of
course but that the working expense
would greatly exceed that at mines
working from great depth by a single
lift is improbable.