DRILLING & MINING TECHNOLOGY

PRESENTED BY

DR.A.BALUKKARASU

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

CENTRE FOR REMOTE SENSING

BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY

THIRUCHIRAPPALLI-620 023

INDIA. mail id:[email protected]

DRILLING & MINING

TECHNOLOGY

DRILLING & MINING TECHNOLOGY Drilling: Types of Drilling methods - Percussion Drills - Rotary Drills - Other Drilling Methods, Drill Sampling – Accuracy of bore Hole Sampling, Bore Hole Problems (bore hole deviation, core recovery etc.,) - Bore Hole Logging, Preservation and Sampling of cores. 12 Hrs

Surface Mining: Basic Concepts of Alluvial mining, Strip Mining, Open cast Mining or Quarrying, Open pit mining - Break even stripping Ratio - Determination of Pit limits for Different cutoffs - Determination of ultimate depth. 9 Hrs

Underground Mining: Open stopes: Methods of Open stopes - Supports for stoping - Square set method. Filled stopes: Methods of Filled stopes, Shrinkage stopes, Mitchell slicing systems - Caving methods - Advantages and disadvantages of different underground mining methods. 9 Hrs

Mining Methods for Mineral and Oil: Metal mining methods – Coal mining methods – Mining methods of Hydrocarbon – Problems in various mining. 9 Hrs

Mining Methods for Groundwater: Test holes and well logs – Well design - Well development - Methods for constructing shallow wells & deep wells – Well completion – Pumping equipment – Protection of wells – Well rehabilitation – Horizontal wells – Groundwater Extraction methods. 9 Hrs

Drilling: Types of Drilling methods - Percussion Drills -

Rotary Drills - Other Drilling Methods, Drill Sampling – Accuracy

of bore Hole Sampling, Bore Hole Problems (bore hole deviation,

core recovery etc.,) - Bore Hole Logging, Preservation and

Sampling of cores. 12 Hrs

Drilling - Definition

Process of making holes in

the ground or rock – Drilling.

Most useful during prospecting, exploration and exploitation Development of mines

Shaft sinking

Rescue works, etc.

Drills are classified broadly into two: Manually operated

Mechanically operated by

Compressed air

Pressurized water-Turbo drills

Petrol / diesel, electrical engines

High temperature flame or

Steam (rarely used).

40% of amount is spent on drilling by Exploration companies

Drilling – Importance & Methods

Basic types of drilling… contd…

On the basis of commonly used techniques for mineral

exploration, in increasing order of their cost, drilling is

classified into 3 basic types:

•Auger drilling

•Rotary Percussion drilling

•Diamond drilling

Cost

Based on the principle involved in the operation, drills

may also be classified under the following types:

A. PERCUSSION – major driving force is pressure Jumper bar or Hand drill – Manually operated – High C , Mn, Steel bar-1” to

1½” Pneumatic drills – Mechanized - Jack hammer, Hammer drill, Wagon drill

Churn drill – Manual & Mechanized

Reich drill or Drillmaster (down-hole type).

B. ROTARY – involves both rotary motion and pressure concurrently Auger – Hand/manual or Mechanized

Calyx – Hand/manual or Mechanized

Rotary drill using rock roller bits, tricone bits, etc., and turbo drills using water as well as compressed air

Diamond drills (using diamond and T.C. bits)

C. MISCELLANEOUS Jet Drilling

High temperature flame drill

Banka or Empire drill

Burnside drilling equipment

Soil sampling drills, etc.

1. Jumper Bar • Like a Crow Bar, made of Mn – steel, a very tough object to a length

of 1½ m long and 3 cm dia.

• Similar to jumpers used in fitting home appliances in walls…

• Same principle as that of usual jumpers… since it is big, two persons are involved

• One has to hold the jumper bar vertically over the surface where we

want to have drill hole, keeping wedge edge touching the surface

• The other has to hit the head of jumper bar forcefully using a heavy

hammer

• Now, the person holding the jumper bar has to rotate it while lifting

and then place it again on the same spot firmly for next hit by the

hammer.

• Wet drilling is usual and the sludge is removed from the hole with a

scoop periodically.

• The rate of drilling is very slow in hard rock terrains = 1m per day

• There is a possibility of injuries to the persons involved.

A. PERCUSSION DRILLS

2. Pneumatic drills • Mechanized drilling

• Worked by compressed air - lllr to Jumper bar ; also known as

Jack hammer

1 – Handle, 2-Air jet inlet from compressor, 3-Piston, 4-Ratchet, 6 – Metal Cover

holding the drill 5 & 7-Chuck, 8-Shank/Drill, 9-Valve, 10-Pawl, 11-Rifle bar

4-Ratchet - A ratchet is a mechanical device that allows continuous

linear or rotary motion in only one direction while preventing motion

in the opposite direction.

5-Chuck-a specialized type of clamp used to hold

an object, usually with radial symmetry,

esp. a cylindrical object. It is most commonly used to

hold a rotating tool (such as the drill bit in a power tool) or a rotating workpiece (such as the bar)

8-Shank – Holder of Drill bar / piston

9-Valve – used to reverse the air supply

10-Pawl – used to restrict the reverse rotation / action (syn.= Cog, tooth) 11-Rifle bar - is situated within the centre of the piston, which can be

rotated in one direction attached with rachet but can be moved on either sides, i.e., back and forth.

teeth to tighten the bar using the key

• Compressed air under the pressure of 800-

1000 lb/sq.in, enters and pushing the piston 3,

forward

• Which enters the cylinder through the valve 9,

the air supply is reversed and the piston is

pushed back

• In the backward movement, the chuck (5)

which connects the drill (8) to the front part of

piston is made to rotate

Animation

showing the

Working

mechanism

in certain

Pneumatic

drills

Pneumatic drill

Photographic view of Compressor

Used for Pnuematic drilling

• Pneumatic drilling with Compressor is seen along the 2nd bench of TANMAG mines, Salem, for further production / expansion

• The exhaust (compressed air) is also released through

the central hole in the piston.

• The exhaust air passes out through the central small

calibre hole, in the rod, and serves to cool the cutting

bit, and also to remove the cuttings at the same time.

• Earlier, in the piston pneumatic drills, the reciprocating

piston and the drill rod were connected, so that the

reciprocating motion was directly transferred to the

rods.

• Pneumatic drill – slower in action and the number of

strokes per minute is also less because of the rubbing

against the sides of the hole, friction of the drill rods,

etc.

Hammer Drills - Pneumatic

• Hand held drills – – machines weight varies between 70 –

100 lbs per sq.in.

• Hand drill Jack Hammer – needs 60-90 cubic ft. air

• Drifters – 150-200 c.ft

• Stoppers - 70-90 c.ft.

“Down the Hole Hammer” - Moving type

Comprises 3 Units – I, II & III

Unit-I 1 – Valve

Unit-II 2 – Hammer & Hollow stem at the middle

Unit-III 5 - Anvil

6 – Button bit

Operating mechanism

• Q – the gap between Units I & II – will be closed

when compressed air is let in at P.

• At the same time, valve-1 closes the hammer stem

opening R and thus the hammer 2 is pushed down

and strikes the anvil 5 with great force and this

impact is communicated to the button bit 6.

• When the hammer 2 delivers the blow to the anvil,

the valve-1 retracts due to the action of the spring 5,

and the vent R is opened and the hammer 2 also

retracts due to the action of the spring S2 and

• the cycle of the operation is repeated at the rate of

1000 to 3000 blows per minute to make drill hole.

Aerial Rock Drill

Mechanism of Aerial Rock Drill • For secondary drilling of large boulders produced after blasting a blast

hole face.

• Unit consists of a self propelled tractor-mounted cabin with controls.

• The drill is operated by a self contained compressor.

• Operator sits in mobile cabin which is mounted on a 33 sq.foot boom.

• Cabin is equipped with a high speed drifter, with three times the

speed of normal drifter drills.

• In the vertical arc, the drifter can operate between 104o to 105o, so

that several holes can be drilled without moving the cabin.

Advantages:

1. Cheaper operation which is about 75% less than the normal.

2. This is mainly due to the firm and convenient position of the drill

operator

3. The higher rate of drilling and quick movement of the operator from

boulder to boulder or from place to place also makes high efficiency.

Churn drill

1. Motor / Engine

2. Sand wheel / drum

3. Cranked / Band wheel / eccentric

4. Rod – Pitman

5. Joint

6. Pulley

7. Walking beam

8. Drilling rod / tools

9. Temper screw

Churn drill - Mechanism • A lever of the 1st order - walking beam (7).

• The drilling tools are arranged to one end of the lever,

while the other end is coupled either with cranked wheel

/ Band wheel / Eccentric(3) through a rod known as

Pitman(4)

• When the motor rotates bandwheel, and actuates the

walking beam (7), the drilling tools (A) will also move up

and down, derive the percussive action.

• Major part of the weight of the drilling tools is taken up by

the rope suspension attached through pulley to the

springed drum (2) known as sand wheel.

• Temper screw (9) arrangement for increasing the length

of the string of tools when drilled.

Dart Bailer

• Used to remove the cuttings from the bore

hole – Sample collector

• When the drilling rods are jammed, this jar

is dropped with a jerk and then the tools

can be easily lifted up.

• b - 4” dia jar – steel tube;

• a – conical valve

• C - stirrup

Manually operated Churn drill – Spring Pole

Drilling

• 1 – Tripod Stand, 2- Pulley, 3- Drilling tools hanged

with rope, 4 – Winch

• Rope Holders standing between tripod and winch,

should pull down and drop the rope.

B. ROTARY DRILLING

In these drills, the drilling mechanism involves

both rotation as well as pressure at the same

time.

The different major types of Rotary drilling

machines are:

1.Auger drill and Davis cutter – in soft rocks

2.Calyx cutter – Core sampling

3.T.C bit (Tungston Carbide) – for hard rock or

broken chip samples

4.Diamond drill – For hard rock with core

sample

1. Auger Drill

Flat steel strip, twisted in the form of screw (2)

One tip of this twisted steel strip is sharpened (1) so as to cut / scoop the

soft rock / soil (sandy and clayey) and penetrate down and make drill hole.

The other tip which is not flattened is used as handle to apply both pressure

and rotary motion. Drills upto 50 to 100 ft – Both manual and mechanical opr.

Similar to laboratory cork borer / carpenter’s auger drill

Scoop type Hand auger for

Soil core sampling

Hand auger

A Video Clip showing the

• Sampling method of Heavy Mineral

sand (having higher specific gravity of

>2.9) in coastal Odisha, using Hand

Auger and then

• Rapid Separation of heavies from light

minerals having low specific gravity in

the field by a Senior Official of AMD.

Sketch showing Parts of Calyx drill

1 – Rope connecting drill tool

2 – Two inlet pipes for water jet

3 – Feed rod for water swivel

4 – Stand fixed at ground surface 5 – Longitudinal slot to slide along and move the gear up and down

6 – Companion gear meshed with - (7)

7 – Bevel gear fitted with engine

8 – Collar of the inner tube-feed rod

9 – Drill rod

• Hand or Machine operated.

• Swivel – two parts connected to each other in such a way that one can turn around freely upon the other

2. Calyx Drill

Essential parts of Water swivel 1. Outer tube

2. Inner Tube carrying T joint

3. Flange of the outer tube

4. Plate of outer cover with bolt

5. Thrust bearing with ball-1

6. Thrust bearing with ball-2

7. Greased asbestos rope tightly

packed between outer and inner

tubes

8. Collar of the inner tube

9. Internal lip of outer tube

10.Water tube (in 2 = T joint)

11.Shot tube

12.Eye loop

13.Collar

14.Plate

15.Bolt

1

Chuck, the

Drilling tool

holder with

screw

9

Procedure – water swivel • Water swivel has thrust bearing and rotates freely.

• Of the two inlet pipes, one carry water into the drill rods for

cooling, washing, etc.

• The other carries chilled shot for shot drilling

• The water swivel allows the drill tools and feed rod to rotate, while

the water pipe and the chilled shot pipe remain stationary

• Through an eye-loop, the entire set up is suspended

• The annular space between the inner and outer tubes is tightly

packed with greased asbestos rope

• The drill rods are attached to the screw at the end of the outer

tube

• When the plates -14 and 4, and thrust bearings holding these

plates are pressed together, by tightening the bolts-15, the inner

tube-2 is pushed down by the collar-13,

• Whereas the outer tube-1 is pushed upwards relatively by the

flange-3.

• Thus the gland packing consisting of asbestos rope-7 is made

water tight and any leakage is sealed.

Essential parts of

Coring equipment in

Calyx Drill

1. Drill rod

2. Davis cutter or Calyx cutter

or Tungston Carbide bit

3. Sediment tube

4. Drill rod attached at the end

of drive rod

5. Core Barrel

6. Shot bit

7. Sub or Connector

Removal of Solid cylinder of Core from the drill hole

• For this, the Grout (mixture of Borate power with 1/8” dia. broken gravel or gravel alone is fed into the drill rods and then,

• Water is feed through the swivel and water pressure is increased

• As a result, the grout / gravel settles down at the bottom of the core

barrel.

• Once the drill is operated, the core will be held firmly by the core

barrel by wedging action of the gravel, breaks off from the rock

attachment, and can be hoisted out of the hole together with the drill

rods.

• When the shot bit is used for drilling hard rocks (Part – 6 in the

fig. above), chilled shots of 0.332” in dia. are fed into the drill rods along with water. The shots pass into the drill rods, from the water

swivel.

• At the bottom of the hole, the shots are crushed and penetrate the

shot bit.

• During the rotation of the shot bit, which gets impregnated with steel

splinters, cut into the rock.

Advantages of Calyx drill:

• Calyx drill is a more robust machine, as compared to

diamond drill,

• It is capable of being handled by less skillful personnel.

• Comparatively, the machine is cheaper and

• It is efficiently works in soft rocks like Sandstones,

Shales, Limestones…

• Large diameter drills are easy to make using this Calyx

drill

• But, core getting is more cumbersome in large diameter

drill.

Limitations:

It cannot be used where angle of holes is less than 75

degree from the horizontal – it is required fairly in hard

rocks. Thus, it necessitates using shot bit.

• Rock roller drill - using rock roller bits, tricone

bits, etc., and turbo drills using water as well

as compressed air

• 3 bevel gears of high grade steel with T.C tips

placed at centres 120o apart are made to

mesh

• When the rod is rotated, the gears are rolled,

at the bottom of the hole and cut into the soft

rock.

Rock roller drill

Diamond core drilling

• An annular, diamond-impregnated drill bit attached to

the end of hollow drill rods to cut a cylindrical core of

solid rock

• diamonds used are fine to microfine industrial grade

diamonds.

• Matrix hardness, diamond size and dosing can be

varied according to the rock which must be cut.

• Holes within the bit allow water to be delivered to the

cutting face.

• This provides three essential functions — lubrication,

cooling, and removal of drill cuttings from the hole.

Diamond Drill bits

Core collector

1 – Core Barrel

2 – Core

3 – Incomplete wedge shaped circular steel band – Clip – little extra dia. sized

4 - Seat for core clip

How planar surfaces look in drill core

1. A small brittle fault in drill core.

2. Large brittle faults (centre) produce broken disoriented core and their

attitude cannot generally be measured.

3. A small ductile fault, usually coherent structures that provide information

on their attitude and, if the core is oriented, the sense of displacement across

them can be measured.

Because of the small size of drill core, identifying large structures is

difficult. Here a strong cleavage in a fold hinge obliterates earlier bedding

surfaces in a small piece of core. Only by carefully observing progressive

changes over a longer section of core can the true structure be identified.

Banka or Empire drill

C. MISCELLANEOUS DRILLING

A Video Clip showing, how the

Banka or Empire drill is used

for collecting Heavy sand core

samples in coastal Kerala

region by AMD

Drilling machines can also be classified according to

the purpose for which they are used as listed below:

• Drills for alluvial prospecting

• Drills for petroleum drilling

• Drills for water well drilling

• Drills for Hardrock drilling

• Drills for shaft sinking (large diameters and for driving

large diameter tunnels)

• Drills for soil sampling.

Selecting the right drilling technique or combination of

drilling techniques is always a trade-off between the

• Speed of drilling,

• Cost involved,

• required sample quality,

• sample volume,

• logistics and

• environmental considerations.

Comparison of exploration drilling methods

Drill Sampling

• From the drill holes, it is possible to

collect samples from different

formations – “side wall samples” • Use percussion tools or with rotary

drilling to collect samples

• Two types of samplers – mechanisms

• Sampler tube (1) is fitted with two

blades (3).

• The blades have two hollow sample

tubes (4) inserted into recesses

1 – Sampler tube

2 – Plunger

3 – Blades

4 – Hallow sample

tubes

Method of sampling – using Percussion

–Side wall sampler

• The sampler is lowered to the desired position

• Apply hydraulic pressure to through the hollow drill

rods

• The plunger (2) causes the two blades to move

outwards and the sampling tubes penetrate into the

formation and

• Hollow tubes are filled with the rock

• On release of the hydraulic pressure, the blades

retract and the sampler is withdrawn

• The sample core is about 3cm in dia. And 4-5cm in

length.

Gun sampler – Side wall • Similar to muzzle loading gun

• Hollow shots (3) are fired, from the barrels (2)

• Can have 6 to 36 sampling bullets or shots

• Shots are fired electrically and hence made to penetrate deep into the side walls of bore holes, i.e., into the rock / soil formations

• Since the shots are attached with wires(4), they can be retrieved when the sampler is pulled up.

Directional drilling and Planned Deflection of

bore holes - conditions

• Rotary or diamond drill bore hole may be deflected

from its original direction and angle to collect the

sample according to the preplanned programme

• When a mineral deposit lies beneath inaccessible

nature –lake, river course, quick sand, etc.

• When the topography is not favourable – very steep

and undulatory

• When structural conditions are unfavourable – due to

faulting / folding

• If the ore body to be explored from underground

deflection method, etc.

Eastman removable Whipstock

• This equipment comprises a wedge (4) with a collar at the top (2)

• The collar fits loosely on the drill rod (1)

• But the rod coupling cannot pass through the collar (2)

• When the whipstock is connected with the main drill rod and lowered into the bore hole, the pointed end (4) sticks to the rock and the drill rods (1) are deflected by the semicircular groove (3)

Cylindrical wood plug

• There is another method of deflecting diamond bore

holes in hard rock

• A cylindrical wood plug (1) with v-shaped notch at the

top is first pushed into the bore hole through drill rod(5)

It is tightly fixed by soaking in water and expanding

2nd – a guide wedge (2) to which is rivetted (3) the

clinometer holder (4) with clinometer (4a) is attached

to the drill rods (5). The guide wedge (2) fits into the v-

notch of w.p. (1)

• 3rd – clinometer after half an hour is withdrawn by sharply driving the

rods to shear the copper rivets (3)-thus guide wedge (2) is left in the

bore hole

• 4th – deflecting wedge (7) with circular median groove (8) and collar

(9) is attached by a special stub or connector by copper rivet (10)

• Lower the crescent shaped deflecting wedge(7) attached with a pilot

piece (6) is anchored at wooden plug (1) in drill hole

• 5th – rotating the drill rods , will bring the pilot piece (6) against the

flat face of the guide wedge (2).

• Now the copper rivet (10) is sheared off by a sharp blow to the rods

• the rods are withdrawn from the hole

• 6th – drill rods with a reaming bit (used to widen the bore hole) are

lowered and the opening in collar (9) is enlarged

• 7th -normal coring bits are attached and drilling is started

• It is slow and time consuming, 5 shifts, deflection is only 1.5 to 2

degr.

Data collection and sampling The driller records meticulously the following list of details:

• 1) Rate of drilling, 2) Nature and color of the sludge as well as the sediment, 3) Quantity of water used to know water seepage, loss through fractures, etc, 4) Length of the run, 5) Length of the core recovered and the lost with its depth 6) Type of tools used like NX, BX, AX, EX - upto what depth, etc. 7) Location of bore hole – lat. Long., distance, direction from nearest village 8) Purpose of drilling – name of the project

• 9) Angle of bore hole –if inclined with azimuth 10) Elevation of the collar (RL), 11) remarks column having troubles and cause for delays.

• 12) On loss of core sample in some depth, then sludge recovery and settling tank methods are used to collect samples

• 13) In certain cases, on loosing core, geophysical logging methods may also be employed in bore hole – resistivity logging, gamma ray logging, S.P. logging, etc.

Accuracy of bore hole sampling

• Contamination of sample by the sludge and extraneous

material should be avoided

• Hence (a) the bore should be cased as drilling proceeds

(b) washing out of the sludge should be thorough at every

step

• The sample should represent both the core and the

sludge (friable core) / slurry in the correct proportions

• Core : sludge = 1:2

Bore hole problems • Bore hole deviations

• Core recovery

• Sample accuracy,

• Breakage of drilling tools,

• Choking of drill bit, etc.

Other Problems caused outised due to Drilling :

• Groundwater pollution,

• Noise and air pollution,

• Induced rock slumps in hill slopes and mine walls, etc.

Bore hole deviation Problem

•Most drill holes deviate from the vertical. This is

because of the

•torque of the turning bit working against the cutting

face,

•flexibility of the steel rods and especially the screw

joints,

•reaction to foliation and structure within the rock,

and

•refraction as the bit moves into different rock layers

of varying resistance.

•Additionally, inclined holes will tend to deviate upwards

because the drill rods will lie against the bottom of the

bore, causing the drill bit to be slightly inclined from

true.

Bore hole logging

• A) Drillers log, B) Geologist’s log / lithological log

• Driller’s log – technical / cost aspects of drilling operations – equipment/tools used, difficulties and set backs, rate of penetration, qualitative description of the rocks encountered and cored

• Litho log – full particulars of rocks encountered/cored - colour of the sludge, length of core recovered, core lost, total drilled in the run, any special feature-water loss, depth of such loss-details of mineralisation, structures, etc.

• For additional information, electrical logging, optical or accoustic logging, mechanical logging-using caliper(dia of bore hole at various depths using 2 calipers moved through electrical circuits and then correlation between several logging details.

Litholog from a Borehole

Observations are recorded

graphically and numerically on

the log sheet against a selected

down-page scale. The use of

colour on such logs greatly

enhances information content.

Graphical logging is a powerful

and flexible technique which

supports detailed observation: its

use is recommended for all first

stage exploration drilling.

Preservation and Sampling of Core • Material from the core can be subjected to

• Conventional chemical analysis

• Non destructive chemical analysis – electron probe, etc

• Other methods – atomic absorption, spectroscopic analyses or DTA,

X-ray, etc.

• Petrological examination-rock type, ore minerals, etc

• Sedimentological studies – coal proximate/ultimate analysis, grain

size, shape, etc.

• Lithofacies mapping

• Thus core is a precious material should be preserved

in core boxes – flat wooden boxes- 10ft/3m long and

3 ft . / 1m wide,

Divided into

Compartments.

Sampling core with a diamond

impregnated core saw. The core is cut

in half along its length: one half is

taken for assay, the other half returned

to the core tray. The saw used is

generally a brick saw modified with a

special channel to hold the core piece

on the feed tray.

Permanent marking of drill core –2. The

ends of each core tray should be

permanently labelled with the hole

number, the depth interval stored in the

tray and the tray sequence number. In

the system illustrated, this information is

inscribed or punched onto a heavy

aluminium or zinc tag which is riveted to

the end of the tray

• The box is marked with A, B, C, and D and on the sides with numbers

representing segment depth at which sample is collected.

• Samples are labelled with relevant paint showing depth

• Wooden blocks are placced where missing cores and marked with

missing length

Sampling

Systematic sampling: rough and ready method – crushing entire length

of core piece, coning and quartering – not most appropriate

Use core splitter: Chisel to split core longitudinally along the axis.

Water loss while drilling and its preservation: Seal minor fissures or

porous material with ordinary clay or Bentonite slurry

Large fissures – Jute fibres or husk with clay slurry for plugging the

openings.

Highly fractured: above methods -not effective. Cement grouting

By packer method : Tight fitting through rubber cup washers with little big

diameters fit in the drill rod and placed in the hole for packing cement

between rod and the hole.

Stage method: Both drilling and grouting go hand in hand and each weak

zone is grouted as soon as it is encountered.

COAL MINING: FROM THE

GROUND TO POWERING

YOUR HOME

Types of coal • 4 Main Types of Coal

• Anthracite

• Carbon content between 86 and 98 percent. Heat value of about 15,000

BTUs/lb.

• Bituminous

• Carbon content between 45 and 86 percent. Heat value of 10,500 to

15,500 BTUs/lb.

• Subbituminous

• Carbon content between 35 and 45 percent. Heat value of 8,300 to 13,000

BTUs/lb.

• Lignite

• Carbon content between 25 and 35 percent. Heat value of 4,000 to 8,300

BTUs/lb.

How do we get coal out of the ground?

• Surface Mining: • Typically occurs at depths above 180 ft.

• Most common form in Wyoming

• Underground Mining • Typically occurs at depths below 300 ft.

• Accounts for 60% of world coal production

Surface mining

• 4 Main Types of Surface Mining

• Strip Mining

• Removal of large strips of overlying rock and soil to reveal coal.

• Open-Pit Mining

• Removal of rock and soil creating a vast pit where coal can be

extracted.

• Mountaintop Removal Mining

• Removal of mountain tops with explosives. Land made flat after

reclamation.

• Highwall Mining

• A continuous miner cuts holes horizontally into the coal

formation.

Where does the coal go after it leaves the

mine? • The coal is shipped by train or barge to its destination.

• The coal may be refined before shipping

• Washing with water or a chemical bath to remove some impurities

• When the coal arrives at the power plant, it is pulverized

into a heavy powder that is suitable for burning.

How is coal used at a power plant?

How is electricity Measured?

• Electricity is measured in units of power.

• The basic unit of power is the watt (W)

• W = J/s = (N x m)/s = (kg x m2)/s3

• Most power plants produce electricity in the

scale of megawatts (MW)

Power Plants Near Lander

• Beaver Creek Gas Plant

• Power generation – 5 MW

• Boysen Power Plant

• Power generation – 15 MW

• Pilot Butte Power Plant

• Power Generation – 1.6 MW

• The average household in Wyoming consumes 896 kWh.

These 3 plants combined generate enough electricity to

run 17,360 homes

What is nanotechnology?

• The study of manipulating matter on an atomic or

molecular scale.

• Deals in the size range of 1 to 100 nanometers (nm).

• Applications in many fields such as energy production,

medicine, biomaterials, and electronics.

Why nanotechnology is so advantageous?

• Very high surface area to volume ratio (SA:V).

• This is important for many chemical reactions.

Thank You!!!