Selection of Mine Layout Towards Management of Uranium Waste:

An Indian Experience

D. AcharyaA.K. Sarangi

Uranium Corporation of India ltd.

SINGHBHUM BELT IN JHARKHAND

NALGONDA DISTRICT IN ANDHRA PRADESH

YSR (CUDDAPAH) DISTRICT IN ANDHRA PRADESH

WEST KHASI HILLS DISTRICT IN MEGHALAYA

Uranium Mining Centers of India (Existing & Proposed)

YADGIRI DISTRICT IN KARNATAKA

•Dissimilar geological settings

•Small size deposits, occurring as cluster

•Advantage of similar orebody configuration

Banduhurang

TuramdihNarwapahar

BhatinJaduguda

BagjataI

IIIII

IV

OMG

Alluvium

Schist & Quartzite

Mayurbhanj Granite/Singhbhum Granite

Metabasics/Conglomerate/Quartzite

Soda Granite & Granophyre

Uranium Deposits and OccurrencesCopper Deposits: I. Roam-Rakha,II.Surda,

III.Mosabani, IV.Badia

0 5 10 km

TATANAGAR

220

15’860 45’

230

00’860 45’230

00’850 30’

850 30’220

15’

Mohuldih

Operating mines at Jaduguda, Bhatin, Narwapahar, Turamdih, Bagjata, Banduhurang and Mohuldih Plants at Jaduguda and Turamdih

Uranium Mining in SSZ

• Seven mines feed two process plants• Process plants at logistically optimised

locations.• Tailing ponds located close to the process

plants in topographically suitable sites.• Conveyor transport of ore from mines located

within the same complex as the mills.• Ore transport from other mines to plants in

covered trucks.

Uranium Mining in SSZ

Mining Layout in SSZ• Cut & Fill mining method is selected on ore geometry:

•Irregular lenticular ore body•Moderate dip: ~350, Stability of hangwall is ensured by fill material.

•Trackless mining with decline entry to mine and ramp access to stopes:

•Early start of production•Movement of equipment between levels/ stopes•Ease of handling waste rock generated from development face to stope•Flexibility in selection of waste rock disposal area in underground.

Mining Layout in SSZ

Mining Layout in SSZ

•Waste rock generated during development is aresource- It augments tailing sand used as fillmaterial.•Use of waste rock as fill material in stopesreduces environmental impact on surface:

•Land utilized for waste rock dump isminimised•Environmental impact of waste dump & costof rehabilitation of dumps are reduced.

•Generation during mine development & between lenses.•Low grade ore generates large volumes of tailing sand.•Waste rock is stored in designated waste rock dumps.•Tailings storage in engineered Impoundment Facilities

Generation of Waste

X-CUT

X-CUT

Transverse Section

Filling Sequence

A Typical Underground Mine Layout

• A decline and a shaft as mine entries.•80 ramp as stope access•Ventilation raises at 200m distance define a stope block

Room & Pillar Stope Layout

Generation of Waste

Waste dumps and Tailing Ponds are located and designed as per approval of regulatory authorities

•Atomic Energy Regulatory Board•Ministry of Environment & Forest•Director General of Mines Safety

Storage of Waste Dumps

Selection of Site: The waste dump location is decided so as to avoid/ minimise impact on the following:

•Ore reserve•Water bodies, habitation, agricultural land etc

The potential hazards to be considered during and after the active life of the dump:

•Slope stability•Dust•Noise (during the active life)•Water run-off

Storage of Waste Dumps

Rehabilitation Objective•To ensure long term stability & integrity of the structure without human intervention.•To minimise rate of release of solid, liquid and gaseous effluents.

Methodology of waste dump reclamation

• Limiting the height of the dumps to 5m only• Limiting the slope of the dumps to 280

• Ensuring proper compaction• Laying & compacting of soil cover for 30 cm

thickness• Grass turfing over compacted soil• Garland drain around waste dump area• Diverting the water for industrial use• Greenbelt around the area with indigenous species

Selection of Type of Vegetation

Plantation should meet following criteria•Horizontal growth of the plants•High bio-mass production•Self sustaining•Low water requirement•Preferably not edible by man & animal•Root penetration less than 30cm•Should not cause cracks and fissures on surface

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

0 30 50 70

Gam

ma

Leve

l (mG

y/hr

)

Soil thickness (cm)

Progressive Vegetation of Dump

Road

Fence around the area

Garland drainWaste Dump area after reclamation

Drain

Water pit Earthen

Bund

Water pumped to Mine Water Pond > ETP > Plant for reuse

Water Management

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