SEMINAR PRESENTATION

TOPIC:

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF FALL OF GROUND IN
UNDERGROUND MINES
CASE STUDY: ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI, OBUASI MINE,
(SOUTH MINE).


by: Supervisor:
ROLANCE ABOAGYE FRIMPONG MR. E.M. BUABA



OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
Statement of the Problem
Objectives of the Project
Methods Used
Main Work
Observations
Conclusions
Recommendations
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The mine produces about 395,000 tonnes of gold
every year.
The mine is divided into two main sections with
different blocks.
These sections include; North Mine and South
Mine. The South Mine consists of George
Carpendell Shaft (GCS) and Sansu Shaft. The North
Mine consists of Kwesi Mensah Shaft (KMS) and
Adansi shaft.
The South section of the mine produces about
60% of the total annual tonnage of the mine



STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM (contd)

Fall of ground remains one of the greatest hazards to
mine workers in AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi
mine especially the South Mine.


This therefore necessitated the need to study its
impact on the mine especially on production.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
To analyse the trend of fall of ground

To analyse the effect on production

To make appropriate recommendations to
reduce fall of ground

METHODS USED
Review of relevant literature on fall of
ground.


Acquisition of field data from AGA, Obuasi
mine.


Analysis of data acquired from the field.


Fall of Ground (FoG) Accidents

Figure 1 FoG involving Scooptram machine
Fall of Ground (FoG) Accidents (contd)
Figure 2 A FoG Incident Underground
DATA ANALYSIS
Records of Fall of Ground (FoG)

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Jan Feb Mar Apri May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
T
o
t
a
l

F
o
G

Months
Fall of
Ground
(FoG)
Target
Figure 3 Total Fall of Ground (FoG) from January to December, 2009
Record of FoG ( contd )
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
T
o
t
a
l


F
o
G

Months
Fall of
Ground
(FoG)
Target
Figure 4 Total Fall of Ground (FoG) from January to December, 2010
Record of FoG ( contd )
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
T
o
t
a
l


F
o
G

Months
Fall of
Ground
(FoG)
Target
Figure 5 Total Fall of Ground (FoG) from January to December, 2011
INJURY RECORDS
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Jan Feb Mar Apri May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
L
o
s
t

T
i
m
e

I
n
j
u
r
i
e
s

(
L
T
I
)

Months
Lost Time
Injuries
(LTI)
Target
Figure 6 Total Lost Time Injuries from January to December, 2009
INJURY RECORDS ( Contd )
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
T
o
t
a
l

L
o
s
t

T
i
m
e

I
n
j
u
r
i
e
s

(
L
T
I
)

Months
Lost Time
Injuries
(LTI)
Target
Figure 7 Total Lost Time Injuries from January to December, 2010
INJURY RECORDS ( Contd )
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
L
o
s
t

T
i
m
e

I
n
j
u
r
i
e
s

(
L
T
I
)

Months
Lost Time
Injuries (LTI)
Target
Figure 8 Total Lost Time Injuries from January to December, 2011

PRODUCTION IN STOPES WITH FALL
OF GROUND (FoG) INCIDENT
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
Block 9
37 N 1
Sansu 2
18L
Sansu 2
18 N 1
Sansu 2
17 L
Sansu 3
23 L
Block
8Upper
Block
8Upper
21 N 1
Block
8Upper
22 L
Block
8Lower
30 N 1
T
o
n
n
a
g
e

o
f

o
r
e

Stopes
Budget
Achieved
Figure 9 Shows budget as against achieved tonnage of ore in stopes with FoG
PRODUCTION IN STOPES WITHOUT
FALL OF GROUND (FoG) INCIDENT
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
Block 9
36L 9
(283-276)
Block
8Lower
32 N 2
South
(333)
Block
8Lower
30L
Block
8Lower
30L
South
319
Block
8Upper
23N 1
South
315
Sansu 3
23 South
183
Block
8Upper
22 L N 1
South
Sansu 3
23L
South
Sansu 2
20L N 1
T
o
n
n
a
g
e

o
f

o
r
e

Stopes
Budget
Achieved
Figure 10 shows budget as against achieved tonnage of ore in stopes without FoG
IMPACT OF FoG ON THE MINE
PRODUCTION

Cost of operation

Dilution

Delay in mining



OBSERVATIONS
The following observations were made during
the study and assessment;

There has been a decreasing trend of FoG
from 2009 to 2011.

Most of the support systems, particularly at
the areas of fall, were rusted.




CONCLUSIONS
In effect, it can be concluded from the study and
assessment carried out that;

FoG causes decrease in production and
increase in cost of operation

Management has been successful with
ensuring a decrease in the trend of FoG




RECOMMENDATIONS

Workers should not be permitted to work in
areas that have not properly been scaled and
where no other forms of surface support
exist.

Mucking from the stope should be done with
teleremote controlled scoops.




THANK YOU !!!