The Recent Progress China Has Made in Mining Method Transformation, Part I: Shrinkage Method Transformed into Backfilling Method

The shrinkage method is one of the earliest and most widely used mining methods in China’s underground mines, but shrinkage mining is often accompanied by a number of problems and safety hazards. With the continuous improvement of the filling process and filling material preparation and transportation technology, the application of trackless equipment such as drill jumbo and LHD (Load-Haul-Dump), and the continuous promulgation of mine safety and environmental protection policies, a large number of mines have transformed from the shrinkage method to the filling mining method. Suichang Gold Mine has improved its technical and economic indexes after transformation from the mine shrinkage method to the filling method. Its daily production capacity has increased from 30 t/d to 110 t/d, the dilution rate has decreased from 40% to 10%, the comprehensive recovery rate has increased from 95% to 98%, and the cost saving and revenue increase in the middle section of the test area of +180 m~+240 m has totaled 18,151,000 RMB.