Ventilation Requirements for Uranium Mines Rabbit Lake
Operation Presented by: Cristian Gherghel, P. Eng. Mine Engineer,
Eagle Point Mine
Slide 2
Outline Introduction Ventilation Design Factors Ventilation
Planning at Rabbit Lake Operation The Rabbit Lake Ventilation
System The Rabbit Lake Ventilation System Ventilation Management
and Operating Practices Ventilation Management and Operating
Practices Daily Operating Inspections Daily Operating Inspections
Ventilation Surveys and Gas Monitoring Ventilation Surveys and Gas
Monitoring Continuous Working Level Monitors Continuous Working
Level Monitors Auxiliary ventilation Auxiliary ventilation
Operating Practices for ore development and Production Operating
Practices for ore development and Production
Slide 3
Rabbit Lake Operation Rabbit Lake Rabbit Lake Operation
Location Map
Slide 4
Introduction - Mine Portal Reserves: 19.1 million lbs U 3 O 8
2006 Production: 5.1 million lbs
Slide 5
Introduction - Eagle Point Mine GranitoidDome Mine Portal Main
Decline MetaSediments 1000m E.A.R. E.A.R 03 Zone 040 Zone 163 ZONE
144 Zone 02 Next FW ZONE 02 Next ZONE
Slide 6
Introduction Protecting Worker Exposure
Slide 7
Introduction - Protecting Worker Exposure - Radiation
Protection Dilute radon progeny to maximum exposure of 4 WLM
Maintain radon progeny below 0.1 WL in working areas Reduce radon
gas exposure limit new monitoring system Train underground
personnel in the importance of proper ventilation Challenges for
ventilation engineer:
Slide 8
Introduction Ventilation planning Single pass ventilation
Proper sequencing of the development and the stopes
Slide 9
Ventilation Design Factors Diesel emission Flexibility Single
pass ventilation Retreat mining method Fresh air mining workings in
waste rock Sealing old working areas to minimize leakage Water
grouting
Slide 10
Ventilation Design Factors Flexibility to adapt to the mining
conditions: O3 zone water inflow
Slide 11
Ventilation Design Factors Dividing mining areas in ventilation
blocks
Slide 12
Eagle Point Mine Ventilation System
Slide 13
Ventilation planning - Eagle Point U/G Mine
Slide 14
15 to 30 m Remote Mucking CRF Ventilation Planning - Longhole
Stoping
Ventilation planning - Longhole Drilling workers on fresh air
in the overcut drift
Slide 18
Ventilation planning - modeling
Slide 19
Ventilation Management Ventilation Management Procedure
Ventilation surveys Vent Directives Auxiliary ventilation Sumps,
Remucks and TTA Underduct flows Access in the levels from the main
ramp Minimum flows required Main fans failure
Ventilation Management Radon progeny Radon gas Radiation Code
of Practice
Slide 22
Radon Progeny Working level ranges for alphanuclear prism
lights. Prism Light Range Green 0.10 WL Green & Amber 0.11 to
0.25 WL Amber 0.25 to 0.50 WL Amber & Red 0.51 to 1.00 WL Red
or Red with white strobe >1.0 WL
Slide 23
Radon Gas Code of Practice for Radon Gas Prism Light Range
Green 3,000 Bq/m^3 Green & Amber 3,000 to 15,000 Bq/m^3 Amber
15,000 to 50,000 Bq/m^3 (RWP and signs) Amber & Red 50,000 to
60,000 Bq/m^3 Red >60,000 Bq/m^3
Monitoring TLD and DRD T.L.D. Badges Thermo-luminescent
Dosimeters Thermo-luminescent Dosimeters records actual exposure to
Gamma records actual exposure to Gamma and Beta radiation and Beta
radiation National Dose Registry National Dose Registry DRDs -
Direct Reading Dosimeters - Shows gamma dose for period worn -
Counts are recorded daily
Slide 26
Monitoring - PAD PADs Personal Alpha Dosimeters Personal Alpha
Dosimeters Worn by all underground personnel (daily) Worn by all
underground personnel (daily) Measures Alpha exposure and LLRD for
the month period Measures Alpha exposure and LLRD for the month
period Loss or contamination requires immediate reporting Loss or
contamination requires immediate reporting Must be recharged daily
Must be recharged daily
Slide 27
Monitoring - Prisms Alpha Nuclear Monitors Continuous air
samplers Continuous air samplers Measures Alpha activity Measures
Alpha activity Has a 10 minute cycle Has a 10 minute cycle Working
levels are displayed as colored lights Working levels are displayed
as colored lights Follows Code of Practice Levels Follows Code of
Practice Levels Red leave area immediately Red leave area
immediately
Slide 28
Operating practices Single pass ventilation Shotcreting Gamma
radiation below 10 microSV/h Shotcreting Applied remotely Stope
mucking Remote control scooptram Sill covered with crushed rock min
30 cm Push auxiliary ventilation system Water grouting Sump, TTA
and remucks under negative pressure Vent tubing minimum 30 m from
the face
Slide 29
Operating practices
Slide 30
Conclusions Eagle Point Mine effective management program Key
practices: proper monitoring of the ventilation system in all
stages effective control of the radiation sources a proactive
attitude