Media Careers Contact Our websites About us The Woodsmith Project Our fertiliser Sustainability Our community Search Blasting notifications Our community blasting notifcation SHARE Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Sinking the Mineral Transport System shaft In addition to the two main shafts, a 360 metre deep shaft is currently being constructed at the mine site from which a tunnel boring machine (TBM) will be launched to support the construction of the mineral transport system (MTS). The first TBM has already set off from the Wilton end of the tunnel and has already reached 17km. The first 115 metres of the MTS shaft has already been sunk using a vertical shaft sinking machine – a world record depth for this equipment. Following this we installed a shaft sinking platform and constructed a 45 metre high temporary winding tower. The next phase of shaft sinking will start by the end of the year. The method of shaft sinking will involve a conventional ‘drill and blast’ process. Registering for notifications As part of our planning permission for the mine, we are required to put a procedure in place to provide prior notification of blasting. At least two weeks before it starts, we will publish a blasting schedule on this page to provide the approximate times of blasting. In addition, we have contacted every household within a 1.5km radius of the shaft and invited them to be notified – via email and text message – of blasting activity 30 minutes before it takes place. We are also required to give other residents and interested parties located outside of the 1.5km catchment area the opportunity to register for these same notifications. If you would like to be notified please contact cropnutrients.blastnotifications@angloamerican.com. We will need your name, address, postcode, email address and mobile phone number. Shaft sinking process Within the temporary winder tower, a Galloway – a suspended, multi-decked working platform – will be suspended in the shaft and secured with winches. Blastholes are drilled then filled with explosives. Before each round is blasted, the Galloway is raised from the bottom of the shaft by 30 metres. Approximately three metres of material is then ‘blasted’. A mucker on the Galloway loads the excavated material into a muck skipbefore hoisting it to surface where water is separated out. The concrete shaft lining is installed atthe end of every second drill blast cycle. The process is repeated until the shaft has reached its full depth and will take approximately nine months. One blast will occur approximately every 24–48 hours. Get in touch If you need any more information relating to the activity please contact us at: cropnutrients.info@angloamerican.com We also have a community helpline specifically for local residents. Please call 0330 0886583 to speak to our local team. Our websites Australia Brazil Chile China Finland Peru South Africa Group Foundation Group site Kumba Iron Ore Platinum Group Metals Stay in touch Keep up to date on social media or contact us with any other information Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Flickr Slideshare YouTube Privacy Policy Terms and conditions Accessibility Cookie policy Sitemap Cookies Settings Copyright © 2020