Pilot Unit for Mining Waste Reduction Methods

Abstract

-Oil shale mining is a crucially important industry for the Estonian economy. More than 85 percent of electricity in Estonia is produced from oil shale. The oil shale deposit is located in North-East Estonia. The oil shale bed descends three meters per kilometer to the south. The oil shale seam contains interlayered limestone. Some of it is used as low class aggregate rock and the rest is waste rock which is stored in waste rock heaps. Crushing, separating and sampling tests of the waste material are currently being carried out. Initial results show some developments of cutting and crushing possibilities. The aim of this study is to find technological solutions to oil shale waste rock reuse and improve current mining technology.

Technologies for Decreasing Mining Losses

“…It is proposed, that both longitudinal or transverse head continuous miners (roadheaders) could be used for cutting oil shale [12]. The selectivity option is directly related to the waste material handling and should be tested in the mine [11].…”