LOCATION HERMSDORF

LOCATIONGEOLOGYMININGPROCESSINGCHRONICLE

Open stoping technology in the marble mine Hermsdorf

Open stoping technology in the marble mine Hermsdorf

The mining activities comprise mining of residual marble occurrences in older parts of the mine and the contemporaneous exploitation of unexplored parts of the deposit. The current underground workings are developed between the existing mine area and the Fiscal Quarry as well as in the north and east of the older workings. Marble is presently mined up to 190 m deep.

In Hermsdorf the miners use a special modified open stoping technology with square pillars. The technology is independent from conventional mine levels and fits best with the tectonically disrupted blocks of marble. Underground preparation, development and mining are adjusted to the complicated geologic conditions with respect to the performance characteristics of the mining equipment.

Due to a lack in stability drivings in the wall rocks are protected by reinforced shotcrete. The underground production is based on drilling by electro-hydraulic drilling jumbos and by conventional blasting.

Diesel-powered vehicles transport the blasted raw material from underground to the processing plant. A more than 1 km long decline serves as main mine entrance and transportation route.