STATION EXCAVATION INTO A PRODUCTION SHAFT

In March 1993, Ram Raising Limited was faced with a challenge. Placer Dome Incorporated, Dome Mine Division, requested from Ram Raising that they design station excavation into the existing No. 8 shaft from No. 3 mine levels. This work had to be done without loss of production ti me in the underground department. Due to the time frame of the project , every detail had to be carefully considered, with extra cme that all pros and cons had been worked out. Ram Raising submitted a work plan that had been worked out with the Redpath Group which included the inf rastructure requirements; the engineering design; the scheduling and s equence of work; and the excavation design and blasting procedures. A proposal was put together by both Ram Raising and Placer Dome outlinin g the infrastructure requirements, including the engineering design, s cheduling and sequence of the work, excavation design and blasting pro cedures. The proposal was accepted by Placer Dome and, on July 30, 199 3 work commenced to breakthrough eight stations. Work continued until December 1993 with the completion of four stations. The project was th en stopped to allow the station access drifts from No. 3 mine to be co mpleted. The second phase of the project began on May 27 and was compl eted on Sep September 15, 1994. This paper shows how, through innovati ve design and the full cooperation between client and contractor a pro ject of this nature can be completed successfully.