ABSTRACT
A brief description of the methodology deployed, and results gained, from Mine A are discussed below.
2 DESCRIPTION OF THE MINING PROCESS
Mine A, which is an underground operation, is a lead and zinc mine producing about 750.000 tons of raw ore per year. This mine operates a fleet of about 50 diesel powered vehicles, as well as various other diesel powered equipment, which results in the level of installed diesel power reaching a combined total of about 3000 kW. Due to the high power and utilization time, the loaders and haulage trucks are the most significant source of diesel emissions, while production blasting is the most significant source of blasting fumes. Most other production machines, i.e. those used in blast-hole drilling, roof bolting and ex-plosive loading, are
1 INTRODUCTION
The modern mining industry, due to an ever increasing intensity of production processes, including more powerful diesel equipment and increased blasting frequency and power, is experiencing an increase in the risk of miners’ exposure to potentially harmful gases such as CO, CO2, NO and NO2.
