ABSTRACT
The methods for shaft sinking can be divided in three groups: The benching method, the spiral method and the full-bottom method. The full-bottom method is used frequently in shaft sinking, as it suits either rectangular or round sections shafts. The full-face method is carried out in large underground civil engineering projects and in shaft sinking or for driving large section raises. Raises are excavations with reduced dimensions and an inclination that is over 45°. Raise driving is a typical operation in mining and the lengths can vary, up to more than 100 m. Raise driving is also frequent in civil engineering, especially in hydraulic plants and underground warehouses. Raise driving is classified in two large groups according to the drilling method used, either upward or downward: Upward Drilling and Downward Drilling.
