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ACCESS FROM SURFACE
Access can be gained by vertical shafts, declines (also called drifts, slopes or ramps) or horizontal adits. The chosen method depends on topography, reserve shape, reserve size and depth, production rate and custom and practice.
Typical underground layout with a vertical shaft
Typical underground layout with a surface decline
Typical underground layout with an adit from surface
TYPICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACCESS FROM SURFACE
Mine planning options relating to surface access into an underground mine must be very carefully considered, correct choices are critical to success and require large capital expenditure at the most sensitive early DCF stage. Underground mines require at least two means of egress, for ventilation and for emergency evacuation in the case of failure of one of them. In the UK this legal requirement was subsequent to an accident at a coal mine in 1862 - Hartley Colliery, Northumberland.
Typical deep underground layout with two vertical shafts and a sub vertical shaft
Layout with two vertical shafts and a decline extension
Layout with one or more vertical shafts and a surface decline
Layout with two surface declines
Layout with two shafts and an internal decline
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