Non-Blasting Mechanical Mining and Roadway Stability Monitoring in Underground Phosphorus Mines

Phosphorus ore is a strategic mineral resource. As mining moves to deeper underground, traditional blasting mining brings high risks, strong disturbance, and poor safety. Non-blasting mechanical mining with a boom-type roadheader has become a key direction for modern green mines. This blog extracts core data and conclusions from field tests at Wengfu Phosphate Mine, showing efficiency, economy, and stability indicators with full figures.

1. Project Overview

  • Test site: Chuanyan Cave mining area, Wengfu Phosphate Mine, Guizhou
  • A‑layer ore: length 750 m, width 424 m, depth 756–1180 m
  • B‑layer ore: length 750 m, width 392 m, depth 816–1208 m
  • Roadway section: 4.5 m × 4.1 m (arch shape), supported by bolt‑mesh system

2. Equipment & Mining Principle

  • Equipment model: SCR260 boom‑type roadheader
  • Cutting motor power: 260 kW
  • Weight: about 90 t
  • Cutting range: width 6.2 m, height 5.2 m
  • Working principle: uses high‑speed rotating picks to break rock by tensile & shear stress, avoiding blasting shock

3. Excavation Efficiency Data (Key Test Results)

  • A‑layer ore (easy cutting): average cutting efficiency 12.55 m³/h
  • B‑layer ore (very easy cutting): average efficiency 19.93 m³/h
  • Dolomite (hard to cut): average efficiency 10.70 m³/h
  • Total excavation length: A‑layer 149.5 m; B‑layer 206 m; dolomite 61 m
  • Pick consumption: B‑layer 0.093 pics/m³; A‑layer 0.117 pics/m³; dolomite 0.129 pics/m³

4. Techno-Economic Indicators

  • Direct mining cost (B‑layer): 173.91 yuan/m³
  • Traditional drilling & blasting cost: about 169.95 yuan/m³
  • Labor cost: 33.33 yuan/m³; material cost: 41.37 yuan/m³
  • Over/under excavation controlled within ±50 mm
  • Support cost reduced by 20%–30% compared with blasting
  • Single shift crew: only 4 workers (high mechanization)

5. Roadway Stability Monitoring

  • Monitoring system: 3‑line laser displacement monitoring
  • Precision: ±0.1 mm
  • Deformation range: all within ±10 mm (almost steady)
  • Roof–floor convergence & sidewall displacement: extremely small
  • Mechanical mining shows micro‑disturbance feature, greatly improving stability

6. Main Conclusions

  • Cutting efficiency is highly related to rock cuttability; B‑layer ore efficiency reaches 19.93 m³/h
  • Mechanical mining is safer, greener, and less disturbing than blasting
  • Roadway deformation is tiny, ensuring long‑term stability
  • Comprehensive benefits are obvious; suitable for deep non‑coal mines promotion

Summary

Non-blasting mechanical mining using the SCR260 roadheader achieves high efficiency, low disturbance, and high stability in underground phosphorus mines. With precise laser monitoring, roadway stability can be quantified and controlled. This technology provides a reliable solution for intelligent, safe, and green mining in deep non-coal mines.