Vertical panel mining method and system and filling body supporting structure

Abstract

The invention provides a vertical panel mining method and system and a filling body supporting structure, and relates to the technical field of mining. The mining method comprises the steps that an ore body is divided into a plurality of layers of mining levels and mining blocks, and vertical panel mining units are combined; a shared draw shaft is arranged, and a shared transportation level is set; stoping the stopes in the vertical panel mining units, and filling the stopes after stoping of any stope is finished. According to the method, through vertical panel unit division, concurrent operation of more units is supported, and the number of stopes is remarkably increased so that the productivity can be greatly improved; centralized continuous transportation is achieved through the shared winze and the transportation level in the unit, repeated construction of multiple systems is avoided, and the engineering cost is remarkably reduced; a bottom-to-top continuous mining and filling sequence is adopted, and the filling body is used for replacing original rock horizontal pillars to support ground pressure, so that the pillar reserving requirement is eliminated on the premise of ensuring safety, and the resource recovery rate is remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mining technology, and more specifically, to a vertical panel mining method and system and a backfill support structure. Background Technology

[0002] In underground metal mines, thick to very thick, dipping to steeply dipping ore bodies with relatively stable rock formations are important development targets. Because these ore bodies typically have low geological grades and are considered low-value bulk minerals, ensuring comprehensive economic benefits often requires mines to have large-scale to ultra-large-scale continuous annual production capacity. This is achieved by expanding production scale and improving mining efficiency to spread costs. Therefore, how to achieve high-intensity, large-scale mining under specific geological conditions is a key issue facing mine design and production.

[0003] For such thick and stable ore bodies, the industry currently mainly adopts three mining modes. The first is downward mining, which divides the ore body vertically into several stages and mines each stage from top to bottom. The second is upward mining, which involves developing the shaft and tunnel engineering to the bottom of the ore body in the early stage of construction and mining each stage from bottom to top. The third is divided mining area upward mining, which, in order to increase production capacity, divides the ore body into two independent mining areas in the vertical direction, with independent development and transportation systems operating in parallel.

[0004] However, the aforementioned existing technologies all have significant limitations in practical applications. Downward mining requires horizontal pillars in the original rock between stages to isolate engineering works and control ground pressure. This not only leads to substantial resource loss and a large workload for roadway maintenance but also restricts the production connection between upper and lower stages, limiting the number of simultaneously operating stopes and overall production capacity. Upward mining, while reducing the number of pillars, involves massive initial infrastructure work, a long construction period, and slow capital recovery. Furthermore, it is limited by the operating space within a single stage, making it difficult to significantly increase the number of simultaneously mined stopes. While the segmented mining model increases total production capacity to some extent, it requires the construction of two independent production systems, leading to a significant increase in investment in shaft and tunnel engineering and equipment. Additionally, thick isolation rock ore must be left between upper and lower mining areas, making efficient recovery of these resources difficult in the later stages.

[0005] In summary, existing mining models struggle to simultaneously achieve "large-scale production capacity," "high resource recovery rate," and "low infrastructure costs." Whether constrained by resource waste and procedural limitations due to pillar placement, or by the bottleneck of massive initial investment and the number of working faces, traditional technologies find it difficult to deploy a sufficient number of independent production units within the limited area of ​​thick ore bodies. These limitations in production unit layout and temporal / spatial continuity hinder further breakthroughs in overall mine production capacity and make it difficult to meet the demands for efficient, low-cost, and maximized recovery of low-grade bulk mineral resources.

[0006] In view of this, the present invention is hereby proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a vertical panel mining method and system, as well as a backfill support structure. The mining method increases concurrent operation units through vertical panel layout to significantly improve production capacity. It reduces construction costs by three-dimensionally arranging mining units in the vertical and horizontal directions, planning and arranging the mining area, and sharing mining engineering facilities. Furthermore, it significantly improves resource recovery rate while ensuring safety by utilizing pillarless upward continuous mining and filling technology.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives of the present invention, the following technical solution is adopted: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for vertical panel mining, comprising: The ore body is divided into several mining levels along the vertical direction and into several mining blocks along the horizontal direction; wherein, the mining blocks include rows of stopes and columns of pillars arranged at intervals, and the intersection of the mining levels and the mining blocks constitutes the stope; The vertically and horizontally adjacent layers and columns of the mining area are combined into a vertical panel mining unit; Within the vertical panel mining unit, a shared ore pass is set up to connect several mining levels, and a shared transport level is set up to connect with the shared ore pass; The mining operations within the vertical panel mining unit shall be carried out in the following order, and the mining operations shall be backfilled after the mining of any mining operation is completed: the mining operations of the column of buildings shall be carried out first in the vertical panel mining unit; each column of mining operations shall be carried out in an upward manner from bottom to top starting from the starting mining operation of the column; wherein the starting mining operation of the column of pillars shall be the bottommost layer mining operation of the column.

[0009] In an optional implementation, the starting stope of the stope column is located at the lowest mining level of the column; or, The starting stopes of the stope column are simultaneously located at the bottom layer mining level of the column and the middle layer mining level of the vertical panel mining unit, and upward mining is carried out synchronously from bottom to top starting from each starting stope; and / or, The mining of the stopes within the vertical panel mining unit also includes meeting the following spatiotemporal coordinated mining conditions: when the stopes are arranged perpendicular to the strike of the ore body: stopes being mined simultaneously within the same layer must be at least 3 stope widths apart; stopes in adjacent layers must be at least 2 stope widths apart to be mined simultaneously; stopes in two layers separated by one stope height must be at least 1 stope width apart to be mined simultaneously; and / or, When the stopes are arranged along the strike of the ore body: stopes to be mined simultaneously within the same layer must be at least one stope length apart; stopes in adjacent layers must be at least one stope length apart before they can be mined simultaneously; stopes in two layers separated by one stope height must be in different columns before they can be mined simultaneously; and / or, Once the mining of any of the aforementioned stopes or pillars at the top of the vertical panel mining unit is completed, mining continues upwards from the top stop of that column to the stop above the vertical panel mining unit until the ore body boundary or a predetermined height is reached.

[0010] In an optional implementation, the backfilling of the stope after the mining of any stope is completed includes: High-strength cemented backfill is used in the bottom areas of the stope and pillar stopes to form a high-strength cemented backfill body at the bottom. High-strength cemented backfill is used in the topmost area of ​​the stope and pillar stopes to form a high-strength cemented backfill body at the top. Within the body height range between the high-strength bonded filler at the bottom and top, ordinary-strength bonded filler, weak-bonded filler, or non-bonded filler are used.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the high-strength cemented infill has a uniaxial compressive strength of not less than 1.0 MPa at 28 days of age; and / or, The filler formed by the ordinary strength cemented filling has a uniaxial compressive strength of not less than 0.5 MPa at 28 days of age; and / or, The filler formed by the weakly cemented filling has a uniaxial compressive strength of not less than 0.1 MPa at 28 days of age; and / or, The non-cemented backfill is constructed using graded tailings, or a mixture of graded tailings and waste rock; and / or, The height of the high-strength cemented backfill in the bottommost region of the stope shall not be less than half the width of the stope; and / or, The height of the high-strength cemented backfill in the bottommost region of the pillar stope shall not be less than one-quarter of the stope width; and / or, The height of the high-strength cemented filling in the topmost region shall not be less than one-tenth of the width of the stope.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, one of the vertical panel mining units comprises 2 to 7 mining horizontal layers in the vertical direction; and / or, comprises 4 to 12 columns of mining blocks in the horizontal direction; and / or, The number of mining levels included in a vertical panel mining unit is equal to the total number of mining levels that divide the ore body vertically, minus the minimum reserved mining level at the top, which is located at the very top of the ore body; and / or, The mining process of the stope adopts at least one of the following: staged stope filling mining with staged drilling and ore extraction, staged stope filling mining with sublevel drilling and ore extraction, sublevel stope filling mining, upward horizontal layered filling mining, and upward access filling mining; and / or, The starting stopes of the stopes and pillars adopt a V-shaped trench bottom ore extraction structure; and / or, The vertical panel mining unit, except for the initial mining area, adopts a flat-bottomed ore extraction structure for the remaining mining areas.

[0013] In an optional implementation, the shared transport level is set to at least one, and any one of the shared transport levels is shared by all or several vertical panel mining units within the ore body; and / or, The shared transport level is set below the lowest mining level of the vertical panel mining unit; and / or, The vertical distance between the bottom surface of the lowest mining level of the vertical panel mining unit and the shared transport level is 10 meters to 40 meters; and / or, The shared ore pass can be a vertical ore pass that is straight from top to bottom, an inclined ore pass that is connected from top to bottom, or a reverse ore pass that is staggered horizontally at each mining level.

[0014] In an optional implementation, when the reverse-section chute is used, the center of the shared chute is horizontally offset by a distance of 5 to 10 meters between two adjacent mining levels.

[0015] In an optional embodiment, at least one shared ore pass is arranged within the vertical panel mining unit; or, the number of shared ore passes arranged within the vertical panel mining unit is no less than two; wherein at least one shared ore pass is used for storing ore, and at least one shared ore pass is used for storing waste rock; and / or, The shared ore pass is connected to several mining levels by a discharge port; the discharge port is equipped with a mesh screen to prevent large pieces of ore from entering the shared ore pass.

[0016] Secondly, the present invention provides a vertical panel mining system, comprising: The ore body is divided into several mining levels in the vertical direction and several mining blocks in the horizontal direction. The mining blocks include rows of stopes and columns of pillars arranged at intervals. A vertical panel mining unit is composed of several layers of mining levels that are adjacent in the vertical and horizontal directions and several columns of mining blocks. A shared ore pass is set up within the vertical panel mining unit and connects several mining levels within the vertical panel mining unit; A shared transport level is set at the bottom of the vertical panel mining unit and connected to the shared ore pass; wherein, no original rock horizontal pillars are set between the vertical mining levels in the vertical direction within the vertical panel mining unit; the stopes of the stope column and the pillar column are filled with backfill material, and the bottom stope of the pillar column and at least one stope of the stope column are configured as the starting mining structure.

[0017] Thirdly, the present invention provides a filling body support structure formed within a vertical panel mining unit of a vertical panel mining system as described in the foregoing embodiments, comprising: Multiple rows of vertical filling columns arranged side by side correspond to the stope and pillar stopes within the ore body; An artificial isolation layer is located at the bottom and top of the vertical filling column; the artificial isolation layer is composed of high-strength cemented filling material filling the bottom and top regions of the stope and pillar stopes; The main filling layer is located between the bottom and top artificial isolation layers; the main filling layer is composed of ordinary strength cemented filling, weak cemented filling, or non-cemented filling within the main height range of the stope and pillar stopes; wherein, the vertical direction within the vertical panel mining unit does not include the original rock horizontal pillar, and the artificial isolation layer and the main filling layer together constitute a continuous vertical support structure.

[0018] This invention provides a vertical panel mining method and system, as well as a backfill support structure. Compared with existing technologies, this vertical panel mining method divides the ore body into several layers and columns along both the vertical and horizontal directions, and combines adjacent layers and columns of stopes into vertical panel mining units, breaking the limitations of traditional methods that only arrange production units in the horizontal direction or within a single stage. This vertical panel layout minimizes the size of production units along the strike direction, allowing for the arrangement of a larger number of independent mining units within the same strike length of the ore body. Simultaneous operation of multiple vertical units significantly increases the number of stopes that can be mined concurrently, effectively solving the production capacity bottleneck problem caused by limited working faces in the mining of thick ore bodies, and greatly improving the overall production capacity of the mine.

[0019] Within the aforementioned vertical panel mining unit, a shared ore pass connecting several mining levels and a shared transport level are constructed, enabling multi-level mining areas to share an ore extraction and transportation system. This facility-sharing-based engineering layout avoids the need to construct multiple independent transport systems or numerous connecting roadways for different elevations when mining in separate areas or stages. This significantly reduces the amount of tunneling and the investment in related equipment and facilities, lowering mine construction and operation costs. Simultaneously, the coordination between the shared ore pass and the shared transport level facilitates centralized storage and continuous transfer of ore, ensuring that intermittently produced ore from each mining area after blasting can be continuously and efficiently transported to the main transport line, thus improving ore supply efficiency.

[0020] Furthermore, this method specifies a particular spatiotemporal mining sequence: the working column within a unit is mined first, with each column mined in an upward ascending manner from bottom to top. It also clearly stipulates that pillar columns must start from the bottommost layer, in conjunction with post-mining backfilling, fundamentally changing the ground pressure management model. This bottom-up continuous mining and backfilling operation allows the backfill material in the lower stope to serve as a false floor or support for the upper stope operations, eliminating the necessity of leaving original rock horizontal pillars between mining levels in the vertical direction. This avoids permanent resource loss or delayed recovery caused by leaving a large number of isolation pillars, significantly improving the recovery rate of mineral resources. On the other hand, the timely support of the backfill material for the surrounding rock effectively controls mining-induced ground pressure, avoiding the high stress and overhead risks faced during two-step mining or residual ore recovery in traditional mining models, ensuring operational safety during large-scale continuous mining. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall layout in an embodiment of the vertical panel mining method of the present invention (the stope is arranged perpendicular to the strike of the ore body). Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall layout in an embodiment of the vertical panel mining method of the present invention (the mining area is arranged along the strike of the ore body). Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of three adjacent vertical panel mining units in an embodiment of the vertical panel mining method of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the ore extraction and transportation structure of a typical vertical panel mining unit within an embodiment of the vertical panel mining method of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the logical mining sequence of each stope within a typical vertical panel mining unit in an embodiment of the vertical panel mining method of the present invention. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the structure and distribution of the filling body in each stope within a typical vertical panel mining unit in an embodiment of the vertical panel mining method of the present invention.

[0023] Figure label: 10. Vertical panel mining unit; 20. Shared ore pass; 21. Unloading port; 22. Mesh screen; 30. Shared transport level; 40. Mining level; 50. Mined block; 51. Stope row; 52. Pillar row; 60. Stope; 61. Stope starting point of stope row; 62. Stope starting point of pillar row; 63. V-shaped trench bottom ore extraction structure; 64. Flat bottom ore extraction structure; 70. Vertical filling pillar; 71. Artificial isolation layer; 711. Bottom high-strength cemented filling body; 712. Top high-strength cemented filling body; 72. Main filling layer; 80. Original rock. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the following examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. Unless otherwise specified in the examples, conventional conditions or conditions recommended by the manufacturer are followed. Reagents or instruments whose manufacturers are not specified are all commercially available conventional products.

[0025] This application provides a method for vertical panel mining, including: Step S100: Divide the ore body vertically into several mining levels, and horizontally into several mining blocks. For example... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown. The mining block includes rows of stopes and pillars arranged at intervals, and the intersection of the mining level and the mining block constitutes a stope.

[0026] This step involves geometrically discretizing the ore body.

[0027] The above vertical processing involves dividing the entire ore body to be mined into M horizontal levels along its height, and labeling them sequentially from bottom to top (e.g., C1, C2, ..., C...). M ).

[0028] The above horizontal processing involves dividing the ore body into N vertical columns along its length (strike direction), and labeling them sequentially from left to right (e.g., L1, L2, ...). N ).

[0029] These columns are classified into two types of attributes: stope columns (usually odd columns) and pillar columns (usually even columns), and they are arranged alternately at intervals.

[0030] The above stope, that is, the intersection space formed by the vertical and horizontal divisions of each layer, constitutes a basic mining unit, called a "stope". For example, the stope at the i-th layer and the j-th column can be marked as C i L j .

[0031] Through the processing of this step, a huge and continuous ore body can be transformed into a set of M×N grid-shaped stopes that are regular and can operate independently.

[0032] This step provides a basic spatial framework for subsequent standardized operations and refined management, facilitating the distinction of the priorities of stoping (stopes and pillars).

[0033] For example, the specific number of divided layers M in the vertical direction is generally 2 - 7 layers, and preferably 3 - 5 layers; the mining level height of each layer is generally 15 - 80 meters, and preferably 40 - 60 meters. The number of divided columns N in the horizontal direction is not limited, and the value of N depends on the total length of the ore body along the strike or the total thickness of the ore body.

[0034] For different stope layout methods, the specific dimensions of the mined blocks can be set as follows: (1) For the case where the stopes are arranged perpendicular to the strike of the ore body, the width of the mined block in each column is generally 12 - 30 meters, and preferably 15 - 20 meters; the length of the mined block in each column is generally 30 - 100 meters, and preferably 50 - 80 meters.

[0035] (2) For the case where the stopes are arranged along the strike of the ore body, the length of the mined block in each column is generally 40 - 80 meters, and preferably 50 - 60 meters; the width of the mined block is the thickness of the ore body, generally 8 - 20 meters. Step S200, combine several adjacent layers and several adjacent columns of the stopes in the vertical and horizontal directions into a vertical panel mining unit. As Figure 3 shown.

[0036] This step is the core logic of this technology, that is, "packaging and combination".

[0037] Specifically, instead of taking the entire ore body or the entire horizontal stage as a unit, p adjacent layers in the vertical direction and q adjacent columns in the horizontal direction of the stopes can be selected (where 1 < p ≤ M, 1 ≤ q ≤ N), and these p×q stopes are regarded as an independent set, defined as a "vertical panel mining unit".

[0038] Through the processing of this step, independent production modules (panel units) can be formed.

[0039] This division method minimizes the size of production units along the strike direction. Compared to traditional staged mining that extends infinitely along the strike, this modular design allows for the arrangement of a greater number of independent mining units within the same total length of the ore body, thereby significantly improving overall production capacity.

[0040] For example, a unit can typically consist of 4 to 12 columns (q) and all or part of the layers (p) of the ore body. For instance, 64 mining areas with 8 layers × 8 columns can be combined into one unit.

[0041] Step S300: Within the vertical panel mining unit, a shared ore pass connecting several mining levels is constructed, and a shared transport level connected to the shared ore pass is also constructed. The structural relationship is as follows: Figure 4 As shown.

[0042] This step involves establishing an independent logistics system for each unit.

[0043] The aforementioned shared ore pass is a system where one or more vertical or inclined channels are dug within a unit. These channels vertically penetrate or connect several mining layers within the unit, facilitating the lowering of ore from these layers. It should be noted that the shared ore pass can connect every mining level within the unit, or it can connect only some of the mining levels.

[0044] The aforementioned shared transport level refers to setting up a horizontal roadway at the bottom of the unit (usually below the lowest stope) that connects to the bottom of the aforementioned ore pass, for receiving and transporting ore.

[0045] This step establishes a centralized logistics structure: "ore from the corresponding layer → ore flowing into the shared pass → centralized transportation at the bottom." Several mining layers share the same pass and transportation system, avoiding the waste of building multiple transportation systems under the segmented mining model. It also eliminates the need to construct main transportation roadways in each layer, significantly reducing the amount of mine roadway engineering and investment costs.

[0046] The aforementioned chutes can be straight or "reverse" (i.e., horizontally staggered by a certain distance between layers). The transport level is generally set 10 to 40 meters below the lowest mining level of the panel unit.

[0047] Step S400: The stopes within the vertical panel mining unit are mined in the following order (the logical order is as follows). Figure 5 As shown), and after the mining of any stope is completed, the stope is filled: the stope of the first row of mining blocks in the vertical panel mining unit is mined; each row of stopes is mined from bottom to top starting from the starting stope of the row; wherein the starting stope of the pillar row is the bottommost stope of the row.

[0048] This step defines the spatiotemporal operation logic within the unit. Priority logic: "Metall columns" must be mined first, followed (or delayed) by "pillar columns".

[0049] Its column-based sequential logic (upward order) requires that for any column (whether it's a stope or a pillar), the order must be "bottom-up," meaning that after mining the lower layer and filling it, the upper layer must be mined. Mining of a pillar column must begin from the bottom (layer 1) of that column; starting from the middle is strictly prohibited. A specific mining-filling coordination method can be to mine one pillar and then fill it.

[0050] This step creates a vertically continuous column of backfill, replacing the original rock pillars. Because the pillars are forcibly mined and backfilled from the bottom up, there is no need to leave horizontal pillars between stages as in downhill mining, thus achieving efficient resource recovery (without dead zones). The backfill supports the surrounding rock, and the downhill mining utilizes the lower backfill as a working platform or false bottom, avoiding the safety hazards of overhead operations. Furthermore, it can support continuous ore supply within the unit.

[0051] For example, a stope column can start only from the bottom (C1 layer), or it can start from the bottom (C1) and the middle simultaneously (multi-point operation to increase production). A pillar column should start from the bottom (C1 layer); the filling rule can be that filling is carried out immediately after mining to form an artificial pillar.

[0052] In summary, this method divides the ore body into several independent operating units through vertical panel layout, maximizing the number of concurrent mining sites within the same ore body area, thereby breaking through the production capacity bottleneck and significantly improving the overall production capacity of the mine. The intensive configuration of shared ore passes and transportation levels within the units avoids the duplication of construction of multiple systems, significantly reducing the amount of tunnel engineering and construction costs, and ensuring continuous and efficient ore transportation. At the same time, in conjunction with the bottom-up continuous mining and filling process of "stopement first, pillars from the bottom up", the filling body supports the surrounding rock, eliminating the necessity of leaving original rock horizontal pillars under the premise of ensuring ground pressure safety, and significantly improving the recovery rate of mineral resources.

[0053] In some embodiments, the starting stop of the stope column is set at the bottom layer mining level of the column; or, the starting stop of the stope column is set at both the bottom layer mining level of the column and the middle layer mining level of the vertical panel mining unit, and upward mining is carried out synchronously from bottom to top starting from each starting stop.

[0054] The above steps are a specific plan for the starting point of the "stope column" within a vertical panel mining unit, and provide two specific processing methods: (1) Method 1 (single-point mining): The starting stop of the stope column is set only at the bottom layer of the column (e.g., layer C1). The mining operation starts from the bottom layer and moves upward to the next layer after completing one layer.

[0055] (2) Method 2 (Multi-point simultaneous mining): The starting stope of the stope column is set at the bottom layer mining level (e.g., C1) and the middle layer mining level (e.g., C) of the unit at the same time. i The mining operation starts simultaneously from these two starting points, and each operation proceeds from the bottom up in an upward mining manner.

[0056] Through the two processing methods described above, Method 1 forms a single bottom-up workflow; Method 2 forms two simultaneously upward workflows within the same column. Method 2 can significantly improve the production capacity of a single panel unit. When the mining capacity requirement is large (e.g., greater than 2500 tons / day), increasing the number of work points can double the ore extraction efficiency; while Method 1 is suitable for situations with lower mining capacity requirements (e.g., less than 1500 tons / day) or limited equipment investment, offering flexibility.

[0057] For example, if the panel unit is relatively high, a V-shaped trench-type bottom ore-producing structure can be arranged simultaneously in the bottom layer 1 and the middle layer i (e.g., the 4th layer) as the first mining layer to start mining.

[0058] In some embodiments, the mining of the stope within the vertical panel mining unit further includes satisfying the following spatiotemporal coordinated mining conditions: A. When the stope is arranged perpendicular to the strike of the ore body: (1) The mining areas that are mined simultaneously in the same layer shall be at least 3 mining area widths apart; (2) Two adjacent mining areas must be separated by at least the width of two mining areas before they can be mined simultaneously; (3) Two mining areas separated by one mining area height must be separated by at least one mining area width before they can be mined simultaneously.

[0059] B. When the stope is arranged along the strike of the ore body: (1) Mines that are mined simultaneously within the same layer must be at least one mining length apart; (2) Two adjacent mining areas must be separated by at least the length of one mining area before they can be mined simultaneously; (3) Two mining areas separated by one mining area height can be mined simultaneously in different columns.

[0060] The above steps are to ensure the safety of large-scale operations under pillarless mining conditions, and to impose strict mathematical and geometric constraints on the spatial location of simultaneously mined mining areas.

[0061] Specifically, when the stope is arranged perpendicular to the strike of the ore body, the following constraints may be included: (1) The same layer constraint is that, within the same layer, the mining areas that are mined at the same time must be separated by at least 3 mining area widths (i.e., “mining one every three”).

[0062] (2) The constraint of adjacent layers is that the mining areas of two adjacent layers must be horizontally separated by at least 2 mining area widths in order to be mined at the same time.

[0063] (3) The layer constraint is that two mining areas separated by one layer of height must be horizontally separated by at least one mining area width in order to be mined at the same time.

[0064] Specifically, when the mining area is arranged along the strike of the ore body, the following constraints may be included: (1) The same layer constraint is that within the same layer, the interval between mining areas that are mined at the same time is at least the length of one mining area.

[0065] (2) The adjacent layer constraint is that the mining areas of two adjacent layers must be separated by at least the length of one mining area before they can be mined at the same time.

[0066] (3) The layer constraint is that two mining areas separated by one layer of height can be mined simultaneously as long as they are mining areas in different columns.

[0067] The aforementioned constraints result in a specific "discrete distribution" of working areas within the entire panel unit, preventing excessive concentration of working spaces. This staggered arrangement effectively disperses mining stress, utilizes surrounding ore or backfill to support ground pressure, and prevents large-scale roof collapses. Thus, it maximizes the concurrent safe operation of a maximum number of working areas without leaving isolation pillars.

[0068] For example, mining design software or production scheduling tables can be used to determine the geometric rules mentioned above (such as Col). A With Col B (If the distance ΔL≥3) filter the list of candidate mining sites that can be operated.

[0069] In some embodiments, after the mining of any of the stopes or pillars at the top of the vertical panel mining unit is completed, mining continues upward from the top stop of that column to the stop above the vertical panel mining unit until the ore body boundary or a predetermined height is reached.

[0070] The above addresses the continuity issue when mining operations reach the physical boundary of a panel unit. When any stope or pillar column is mined to the top stope of that vertical panel mining unit (Cth stope)... pAfter completing the first layer, the operation does not stop. Instead, the existing engineering facilities of the column are used to continue the upward mining to the upper mining area (i.e., outside the panel unit or the upper reserved area) until the ore body boundary or the predetermined height is reached.

[0071] The above steps enable continuous mining operations across artificially defined boundaries of panel units. This breaks the strict limitations imposed by panel unit boundaries on mining progress. It allows for the early recovery of upper resources by some faster-progressing sections before other stops within the panel are completed, avoiding the waste of time caused by waiting for the entire panel to close, and further improving the efficiency and flexibility of resource recovery.

[0072] For example, in the C p After the backfill in the mining area has been cured and reached the required strength, it is used directly as the base plate. Through extended ore passes and upward drilling, the C... p The +1 layer of ore body was mined.

[0073] refer to Figure 6 In some embodiments, step S400, which involves backfilling the stope after the mining of any stope is completed, includes: Step S410: In the bottom area of ​​the stope and the bottom area of ​​the pillar stope, high-strength cemented backfill is used to form a high-strength cemented backfill body at the bottom.

[0074] This step involves high-strength backfilling in the bottom area. After the stope and pillar stops have been mined out, backfilling is first carried out in the lowest stratum of the goaf, and high-strength cementing materials must be used, rather than ordinary or low-strength materials.

[0075] The specific treatment method is to inject high-strength cemented backfill material within a certain height range at the bottom of the stope (in practice, it is generally not less than half the width of the stope for the stope column and not less than one-quarter of the width of the stope for the pillar column).

[0076] For example, use cementitious filling material with a uniaxial compressive strength of not less than 1.0 MPa at 28 days of age for pouring.

[0077] This step creates a robust "artificial pillar" or "high-strength backfill isolation layer" at the bottom of the stope. Since this mining method does not leave original horizontal pillars, this high-strength backfill acts as a substitute for the original pillars to support ground pressure during vertical continuous mining. At the same mining level, the high-strength backfill from different stopes together form an isolation layer, effectively controlling ground pressure and eliminating the safety hazard of large-scale roof collapse during two-step mining (pillar row mining).

[0078] Step S420: High-strength cemented backfill is used in the topmost area of ​​the stope and pillar stopes to form a top high-strength cemented backfill body.

[0079] The above steps are for high-strength backfilling in the top area. When the backfilling operation in the stope is nearing completion, that is, when the backfilling reaches the top of the goaf and is close to the roof, the process switches back to using high-strength cementing materials for roof connection backfilling.

[0080] In some embodiments, the high-strength cemented filler has a uniaxial compressive strength of not less than 1.0 MPa at 28 days of age.

[0081] Specifically, high-strength cemented backfill material can be used to fill and support the top of the stope within a certain height range (generally not less than one-tenth of the stope width in practice). For example, cemented backfill material with a uniaxial compressive strength of not less than 1.0 MPa at 28 days of age can be used to form a solid "artificial roof" or load-bearing layer at the top of the stope.

[0082] Similar to the treatment method in this step, as an upper working platform, due to the "bottom-up upward mining" approach, the top backfill of the lower stope will directly serve as the bottom structure (ore-dropping platform or working floor) of the adjacent upper stope. The high-strength backfill can withstand the mechanical load of upper stope operations (such as drilling, blasting, and shoveling); and it can avoid the problem of roof contact, using high-strength materials to ensure close contact between the backfill and the roof, further maintaining the stability of the surrounding rock.

[0083] Step S430: In the body height range between the high-strength bonded filler at the bottom and top, ordinary strength bonded filler, weak bonded filler, or non-bonded filler are used.

[0084] This step is a low-cost filling step within the main height range. In the large area between the two high-strength layers at the bottom and top (i.e., the main part of the stope), the filling strategy is changed to use a lower-cost material with moderate strength requirements.

[0085] In some embodiments, the filler formed by the ordinary strength cemented filler has a uniaxial compressive strength of not less than 0.5 MPa at 28 days of age.

[0086] In some embodiments, the filler formed by the weakly cemented filling has a uniaxial compressive strength of not less than 0.1 MPa at 28 days of age.

[0087] Specifically, different grades of low-cost filler can be selected depending on the type of stope (stope or pillar). For the main body of the mine stope, ordinary strength cemented filling can generally be used (for example, strength ≥ 0.5 MPa in the example).

[0088] For the main body of the pillar, weak cemented backfill (strength ≥ 0.1 MPa in the example) or non-cemented backfill (such as graded tailings and waste rock mixture) can generally be used.

[0089] This process creates a composite backfill structure that is "hard at both ends and soft in the middle." The main body occupies most of the mining area's volume and uses ordinary, weakly cemented, or even non-cemented materials (such as tailings and waste rock), significantly reducing the amount of cementing materials such as cement, thereby significantly lowering the cost per ton of ore. Furthermore, it allows the use of whole tailings, graded tailings, or waste rock as backfill material, solving the problem of solid waste discharge in the mine.

[0090] In some embodiments, the non-cemented backfill is made using graded tailings, or a mixture of graded tailings and waste rock.

[0091] The above steps clarify the specific material composition of the lowest-cost backfilling method. By selecting "graded tailings" for direct backfilling, or mixing "graded tailings with waste rock" for backfilling, with little or no cementing material added, the direct backfilling and utilization of mine solid waste is achieved.

[0092] It should be noted that graded tailings have good dewatering properties, and mixing them with waste rock can increase the strength of the mining skeleton. This method not only solves the storage pressure of surface tailings ponds and waste rock dumps, but also greatly reduces the direct mining cost because it eliminates the need for cement. It is particularly suitable for filling the main part of pillar stopes where the strength requirements are not high.

[0093] In some embodiments, the height of the high-strength cemented backfill in the bottommost region of the stope is not less than half the width of the stope.

[0094] In some embodiments, the height of the high-strength cemented backfill in the bottom region of the pillar stope is not less than one-quarter of the stope width.

[0095] The above steps set different bottom high-strength layer thicknesses (heights) based on the different mechanical environments of the "mineral storage column" and the "mineral pillar column".

[0096] For the treatment of stopes, the height of high-strength cemented backfill at the bottom of the stope is set to be no less than half the width of the stope (for example, if the stope is 20 meters wide, the backfill height is ≥10 meters).

[0097] For the treatment of pillar rows, the height of high-strength cemented backfill at the bottom of the pillar row stope is set to be no less than one-quarter of the width of the stope (for example, if the stope is 20 meters wide, the backfill height is ≥5 meters).

[0098] The above treatment creates artificial pillar structures of varying thicknesses. As the first mining step, the bottom backfill of the stope needs to withstand the lateral pressure and overhead load during the subsequent mining of adjacent pillars, thus requiring a thicker high-strength layer to ensure ground pressure isolation. In contrast, the pillars are mined under conditions where there are already backfill bodies on both sides, resulting in relatively better stress conditions. A thinner high-strength layer is sufficient to meet the isolation layer requirements, further saving on the cost of high-grade backfill.

[0099] In some embodiments, the height of the high-strength cemented filling in the topmost region is not less than one-tenth of the width of the stope.

[0100] The above steps standardize the capping strength requirements for the top of the stope. Regardless of whether it is a stope or a pillar, the height of the high-strength cemented backfill in the topmost area of ​​the stope is set to be no less than one-tenth of the width of the stope (for example, if the stope is 20 meters wide, the backfill height is ≥2 meters), thus forming a hard capping layer on the top of the stope.

[0101] This thick, high-strength layer is sufficient to ensure a tight bond between the filling material and the roof (roofing ratio), preventing roof delamination and settlement. At the same time, this layer directly serves as the "bottom plate" during the upward mining of the previous stage, possessing sufficient impact resistance and bearing capacity to ensure the normal operation of the drilling and ore extraction equipment in the upper mining area.

[0102] In some embodiments, a vertical panel mining unit may contain 2 to 7 mining layers in the vertical direction (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, etc.); and / or, may contain 4 to 12 mining blocks in the horizontal direction (e.g., 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, etc.).

[0103] This step quantifies the "vertical panel mining unit" on a spatial geometric scale. It specifies the range of the number of grids that make up an independent production unit.

[0104] The specific handling method is as follows: (1) Vertical direction: The number of mining horizontal layers p contained in a unit is set to 2 to 7 layers (specifically, 3 to 5 layers can be preferred).

[0105] (2) Horizontal direction: Set the number of mining blocks q in a unit to 4 to 12 (6 to 8 columns are preferred).

[0106] Through the above processing, a massive ore body can be divided into several moderately sized and easily managed modular units. Such a size configuration (e.g., 60-300 meters along the strike) balances ease of production management with continuity of resource recovery. More importantly, by limiting the size of individual panel units ("size minimization"), the maximum number of independent vertical panel mining units can be arranged within the limited total length of the ore body, thereby significantly improving the overall production capacity of the ore body through concurrent multi-unit operations.

[0107] In some embodiments, the number of mining levels included in a vertical panel mining unit in the vertical direction is equal to the total number of mining levels that divide the ore body in the vertical direction minus at least one reserved mining level at the top, which is located at the very top of the ore body.

[0108] This step is a safety and defensive measure for specific geological conditions (such as the presence of surface water or overburden). It adjusts the layer calculation logic for vertical panel units.

[0109] The above processing method includes: if the ore body is divided into a total of M layers, then the number of layers p of the vertical panel mining unit is not equal to M, but equal to M minus at least one reserved mining level at the top. This reserved layer is located at the top of the ore body and is not included in the mining sequence of the conventional panel unit, thus forming an "isolation zone" between the top of the ore body and the surface.

[0110] It should be noted that this reserved layer is specifically used to isolate the near-surface bedrock fracture zone, Quaternary soft sand layer or near-surface water body overlying the ore body, to prevent water inrush, sand collapse or large-scale roof collapse from affecting the surface during large-scale mining in the lower part, thus ensuring the safety of deep mining operations.

[0111] In some embodiments, the mining process of the stope adopts at least one of the following: staged drilling stage ore extraction stage open space subsequent filling mining method, segmented drilling stage ore extraction stage open space subsequent filling mining method, segmented open space subsequent filling mining method, upward horizontal layered filling mining method, and upward access filling mining method.

[0112] This step clarifies the specific technical means to be used to break down and transport the ore within the designated "mining area". Specifically, depending on the stability of the ore and rock, at least one of the following processes can be selected for implementation: staged drilling followed by staged stope filling mining, segmented drilling followed by staged stope filling mining, segmented stope filling mining, upward horizontal layered filling mining, or upward access filling mining.

[0113] The above methods achieve efficient ore extraction and void management within the stope. These methods (especially the staged void subsequent filling method) are particularly suitable for thick and stable ore bodies, and are characterized by high production capacity (e.g., 1000 tons / day per stope) and high operational efficiency. They can also be well integrated with the "subsequent filling" process, which meets the overall requirements of pillarless continuous mining in this embodiment.

[0114] In some embodiments, the starting stopes of the stopes and pillars adopt a V-shaped trench bottom ore extraction structure.

[0115] In some implementations, the remaining stops within the vertical panel mining unit, excluding the initial stope, adopt a flat-bottomed ore extraction structure.

[0116] The above steps design different bottom ore receiving and ore extraction structures for the different boundary conditions in the initial stage of mining in the "starting stope" and "subsequent stopes". Specifically, these may include: (1) Starting stope: For the first stope of the stope and pillar series (starting stope), a "V-shaped trench bottom ore extraction structure" is adopted. For example... Figure 4 As shown.

[0117] (2) Other mining areas: For subsequent upper mining areas within the unit other than the initial mining area, a "flat-bottomed ore extraction structure" is adopted.

[0118] Through the above treatment, a funnel-shaped ore-gathering structure is formed in the initial layer, and a flat working platform is formed in the subsequent layers. Since the initial stope starts mining from the bottom (e.g., -800m) and there is no working space below, the V-shaped trench structure uses gravity to collect the ore, which is convenient for the bottom loader to remove the ore. The subsequent upper stope operates on the lower backfill body. The use of a flat-bottom structure can simplify the construction work and directly use the lower backfill body as the base for mechanized operations, reducing the cost of the mining preparation project.

[0119] In some implementations, the shared transport level is set to at least one, and any one of the shared transport levels is shared by all or several vertical panel mining units within the ore body.

[0120] The above-mentioned treatment refers to breaking away from the traditional model of setting up multiple independent transport levels in separate mining areas or stages throughout the entire ore body (e.g., along the strike length of several kilometers). Preferably, a single main transport level can be planned for all arranged vertical panel mining units; for ultra-large-scale mines with particularly long strikes, several shared transport levels can also be set up along the strike, with each transport level serving several adjacent vertical panel mining units.

[0121] The approach involves developing a main haulage roadway at a specific elevation level or several levels along the entire length of the ore body's strike. Shared ore passes within vertical panel mining units are all connected to this haulage level. For example, within a 2000-meter length along the strike, only one shared haulage level is established, thus forming a centralized ore transfer system for the entire mine.

[0122] In addition, in order to improve ore extraction efficiency, the shared ore pass in each vertical panel unit is generally arranged at the end or middle of the panel unit. The specific location should be matched with the reasonable transportation distance of the ore extraction equipment (such as a loader) of the panel unit to achieve the optimal balance between energy consumption and efficiency.

[0123] Compared to the "separate mining area model," which requires the construction of two independent transportation systems (upper and lower), or the traditional model, which requires a main transportation roadway for each intermediate section, this method directly reduces the amount of construction work required for horizontal transportation roadways and the investment in supporting transportation equipment (such as locomotives and tracks), significantly lowering the mine's infrastructure investment and engineering costs. In some implementations, the shared transportation level is located below the stope at the lowest mining level of the vertical panel mining unit.

[0124] The above treatment limits the relative position of the shared transport level in the vertical direction, meaning it must be located below the "base" of the vertical panel mining unit's operating area.

[0125] Specifically, the shared transport level is positioned below the bottom elevation of the stope at the lowest mining level (C1 layer) of the panel unit. For example, if the lowest mining level is -800m, the transport level is developed in the surrounding rock at -830m, thereby utilizing the principle of gravity flow to allow the ore in all panel units to naturally descend to this level.

[0126] Its advantages are that it facilitates the ore from each mining level above to slide down to the transport level by its own weight through the shared chute without the need for additional hoisting equipment; and that placing the transport works outside (below) the mining area avoids damage to the permanent transport roadway by mining operations (blasting, stress redistribution) and ensures the stability of the transport system throughout its entire life cycle.

[0127] In some embodiments, the vertical distance between the bottom surface of the lowest mining level of the vertical panel mining unit and the shared transport level is 10 to 40 meters (e.g., 10 meters, 20 meters, 30 meters, 40 meters, etc.).

[0128] The above treatment is a quantitative parameter limitation on the spatial relationship of "located below", which specifies the thickness of the safety isolation rock layer.

[0129] Specifically, during design and construction, the vertical distance between the bottom surface of the lowest mining level (C1 layer) of the vertical panel mining unit and the roof of the shared transport level is controlled to be between 10 meters and 40 meters. For example, in the embodiment, a distance of 30 meters was used, thereby preserving a layer of original rock isolation zone of a certain thickness between the lowest mining area and the transport roadway.

[0130] This spacing serves as a safety isolation layer (protective rock pillar), effectively blocking the impact of blasting vibrations at the bottom of the mining area on the transport roadway, while ensuring that the remaining rock strata are sufficient to support the ground pressure, thus guaranteeing the safe operation of the transport level below throughout the entire mine service period.

[0131] In some embodiments, the shared chute is a vertical chute that runs straight up and down, an inclined chute that runs vertically connected, or a reverse chute that is staggered horizontally at each mining level.

[0132] The above approach provides three specific implementation structures for shared ore passes in terms of vertical morphology to adapt to different engineering geological conditions. Specifically, based on the ore body morphology and ground pressure management requirements, one of the following methods can be selected to construct the ore pass: (1) Vertical chute that runs straight down: vertically downwards, the path is the shortest.

[0133] (2) Inclined ore pass with vertical connection: arranged along a certain dip angle, suitable for inclined ore bodies.

[0134] (3) Reverse chute: At each or every few mining levels, the centers of the chute are staggered by a certain distance in the horizontal direction (e.g., the horizontal spacing is 5 to 10 meters, and 10 meters in the example).

[0135] Through the above-mentioned treatment methods, a multi-layered ore lowering channel is formed. In particular, when using a reverse-section ore pass structure, the horizontally staggered step effect can effectively buffer the kinetic energy of the falling ore, reduce the impact damage to the shaft wall caused by excessively high ore falling speed due to excessive drop height, and extend the service life of the ore pass.

[0136] Furthermore, regarding the placement of shared ore passes on the panel unit plane, they are typically located at the ends or in the middle of the vertical panel mining unit. The specific location should be chosen to match the reasonable transport distance of the ore extraction equipment in that panel unit (e.g., ensuring that the average transport distance of the loader is within an economically efficient range), thereby optimizing the logistics efficiency within the panel.

[0137] In some implementations, when the reverse-section chute is used, the horizontal offset distance between the centers of the shared chute and adjacent mining levels is 5 to 10 meters. For example, it can be 5 meters, 6 meters, 7 meters, 8 meters, 9 meters, 10 meters, etc.

[0138] This step is a specific parameterization of the "reverse section chute" structure mentioned in the aforementioned processing method.

[0139] When a reverse-section chute is used within a vertical panel mining unit, during construction, the centerlines of the chutes between adjacent mining levels are controlled to not coincide horizontally, but rather staggered. Specifically, the spacing between these staggered levels is controlled between 5 and 10 meters, thus forming a segmented chute system distributed in a stepped or zigzag pattern on the vertical cross-section, rather than a straight channel running vertically from top to bottom.

[0140] This method, through horizontal staggered arrangement, allows the ore to collide and buffer at the staggered platforms or turning points during its descent, effectively interrupting the free-fall acceleration process. This significantly reduces the enormous impact damage to the shaft walls and bottom ore discharge facilities caused by excessively high ore falling speed due to excessive drop in the ore pass, thereby protecting the shaft structure and extending the service life of the ore pass.

[0141] For example, a specific implementation method is to set the center coordinates of the i-th layer chute as (X,Y) during the construction survey of the tunnel project, and then set the center coordinates of the (i+1)-th layer chute as (X+Δx,Y), where 5m≤Δx≤10m.

[0142] In some embodiments, at least one shared ore pass is arranged within the vertical panel mining unit; or, the number of shared ore passes arranged within the vertical panel mining unit is not less than two; wherein, at least one shared ore pass is used for storing ore, and at least one shared ore pass is used for storing waste rock.

[0143] The above steps involve planning the number and purpose of logistics channels based on the production capacity requirements of the panel unit.

[0144] In terms of quantity configuration, at least one shared ore pass is arranged within the vertical panel mining unit; preferably, no less than two are arranged (in this embodiment, there can be two to three). In terms of functional allocation, when multiple ore passes are arranged, diversion management is implemented, designating at least one pass specifically for storing and discharging ore, and designating at least one pass specifically for storing and discharging waste rock, thereby constructing an independent transportation channel system for separating ore and waste rock.

[0145] Through the above-mentioned processing methods, the source separation of ore and rock in the mine is achieved, avoiding the dilution caused by waste rock mixed with ore, and also making it easier for waste rock to be used directly for subsequent backfilling or separate treatment; in addition, it matches the production capacity, that is, the configuration of multiple ore passes can match the high-intensity ore output demand of large-scale mining (such as a production capacity of tens of millions of tons), and avoids the production of the entire panel from being stopped due to maintenance or blockage of a single ore pass, thus ensuring continuous ore supply capacity.

[0146] In some embodiments, a discharge port is provided at the connection between the shared ore pass and several mining levels; the discharge port is provided with a mesh screen to prevent large pieces of ore from entering the shared ore pass.

[0147] The above-mentioned setup is for the installation of safety protection facilities at the entrance of the ore pass. Specifically, a discharge port can be set at the connection point between the shared ore pass and the aforementioned mining levels (i.e., the entrance where ore is poured into the ore pass), and a mesh screen structure can be installed at the discharge port to form a physical filtration barrier between the mining level and the ore pass.

[0148] The above-described treatment method effectively prevents large pieces of ore from entering the ore pass. Specifically, the mesh screen can forcibly intercept large pieces of ore exceeding the screen's mesh size, preventing them from entering the pass. This effectively avoids blockage accidents caused by large pieces of ore getting stuck inside the pass, and also prevents severe impact damage to the pass walls or bottom ore discharge equipment caused by large pieces of ore falling at high speed.

[0149] This application embodiment also provides a vertical panel mining system, including: The ore body is divided into several mining levels in the vertical direction and several mining blocks in the horizontal direction. The mining blocks include rows of stopes and pillars arranged at intervals.

[0150] A vertical panel mining unit is composed of several layers of mining levels that are adjacent in the vertical and horizontal directions and several columns of mining blocks.

[0151] A shared ore pass is located within the vertical panel mining unit and connects several mining levels within the vertical panel mining unit.

[0152] A shared transport level is set at the bottom of the vertical panel mining unit and connected to the shared ore pass; wherein, no original rock horizontal pillars are set between the vertical mining levels in the vertical direction within the vertical panel mining unit; the stopes of the stope column and the pillar column are filled with backfill material, and the bottom stope of the pillar column and at least one stope of the stope column are configured as the starting mining structure.

[0153] The vertical panel mining system provided in this embodiment uses an orebody division structure as the basic spatial geometric framework of the system. This means the orebody is physically or logically discretized, cut vertically into several "mining levels" and horizontally into several columns of "mining blocks." These "mining blocks" are classified into spaced "stope columns" and "pillar columns." The principle is that, through grid-based division, a large continuous orebody is transformed into a regular, independently manageable set of mining areas.

[0154] It provides standardized spatial operation units for large-scale continuous mining, making it easy to distinguish the operation priorities and functional attributes of different columns (stopes and pillars), and is the foundation for realizing refined panel management.

[0155] The aforementioned vertical panel-based mining unit is the core independent production module of the system. It is a specific three-dimensional spatial set composed of several vertically adjacent layers and horizontally adjacent columns of stopes within the aforementioned ore body division structure. It departs from the traditional layout method of infinite extension along the strike, adopting a panel-based layout principle of "vertical combination, horizontal constraint," thus minimizing the size of the production unit along the strike direction. This allows for the arrangement of the maximum number of independent mining units within the same total ore body length. Multiple units can operate in parallel, significantly improving the overall production capacity of the ore body per unit time and solving the production capacity bottleneck problem in mining thick ore bodies.

[0156] The aforementioned shared ore pass is a vertical or inclined channel located within the aforementioned panel unit, physically connecting several vertically distributed mining levels within the unit. Utilizing the principle of gravity flow, ore from different elevations within the unit is collected and channeled down through the same passage, achieving centralized material flow. Compared to constructing independent ore passes for each layer or mining area, this structure allows multiple mining areas to share the same set of ore extraction facilities, significantly reducing the amount of tunneling work and lowering system construction costs.

[0157] The aforementioned shared transport level is a horizontal roadway system located at the bottom of the panel unit (usually below the lowest stope) and physically connected to the bottom of the shared ore pass. Serving as the main outlet of the logistics system, it centrally receives all ore delivered from the shared ore pass and transfers it. This avoids the need to construct main transport roadways at each intermediate level, simplifying and centralizing the transport system, and significantly reducing investment in transport engineering and subsequent operation and maintenance costs.

[0158] The aforementioned horizontal pillars and infill structures without original rock can specifically include: (1) Horizontal pillars without original rock: refers to a system in which the original ore is not retained as an isolation layer between the layers in the vertical direction.

[0159] (2) Filled with backfill: refers to the empty area of ​​the mining area being replaced by artificial backfill material after the mining area is mined.

[0160] (3) Starting mining structure: refers to the bottom layer of the pillar column being configured as the starting point for mining the entire column (i.e., the bottom must be mined first); at the same time, at least one layer of the stope column (e.g., the bottom layer or the middle layer) is also configured as the starting point for mining the column.

[0161] Artificial backfill was used to replace original rock pillars for ground pressure support. By configuring the initial mining structures of the stope and pillar rows, a bottom-up construction sequence was established, using the lower backfill as the support foundation for the upper operations. This eliminated the permanent resource loss or recovery difficulties caused by leaving inter-stage isolation pillars, significantly improving resource utilization. The backfill formed a continuous vertical support structure, which, combined with the bottom-starting configuration, avoided working under suspended rock masses, effectively controlling mining-induced ground pressure and eliminating the safety hazard of large-scale roof collapse.

[0162] This application embodiment also provides a filling body support structure, formed within a vertical panel mining unit of the vertical panel mining system as described in the foregoing embodiments, comprising: Multiple rows of vertical filling columns are arranged side by side, corresponding to the stope and pillar stopes within the ore body.

[0163] An artificial isolation layer is located at the bottom and top of the vertical filling column; the artificial isolation layer is composed of high-strength cemented filling material filling the bottom and top regions of the stope and pillar stopes.

[0164] The main filling layer is located between the bottom and top artificial isolation layers; the main filling layer is composed of ordinary strength cemented filling, weak cemented filling, or non-cemented filling within the main height range of the stope and pillar stopes; wherein, the vertical direction within the vertical panel mining unit does not include the original rock horizontal pillar, and the artificial isolation layer and the main filling layer together constitute a continuous vertical support structure.

[0165] The aforementioned vertical backfill pillars refer to a collection of vertical columnar structures formed within a vertical panel mining unit by replacing a series of stopes with backfill material after mining. These backfill pillars correspond horizontally to the stope and pillar columns in the original ore body division, appearing as multiple rows arranged side-by-side. These vertical backfill pillars, constructed from artificial materials, replace the mined ore body, occupying the original rock space and maintaining the integrity of the underground structure. They constitute the main supporting framework of the entire goaf, preventing large-scale surface subsidence and surrounding rock movement, and providing a stable geological environment for subsequent operations in the upper or adjacent areas.

[0166] The aforementioned artificial isolation layer is located in specific reinforced areas at both ends (bottom and top) of the vertical filling column. This layer is not the original rock, but a hardened layer composed of "high-strength cemented backfill" filling the bottom and top areas of the stope. By using high-strength materials (such as high-grade cemented backfill) in key stress-bearing areas (the contact area between the bottom foundation and the top roof), structural units with high load-bearing capacity and deformation resistance are constructed.

[0167] The bottom isolation layer forms a robust artificial pillar, effectively replacing the original horizontal pillars left in traditional mining. It bears the load of the upper backfill and operating equipment, and prevents the lower transportation works from being affected by mining activities. The top isolation layer ensures a tight connection between the backfill and the roof (roof connection), preventing roof delamination; at the same time, it serves as a hard floor (false floor) during the upward mining of the previous stage, ensuring the safety of the upper operations.

[0168] The aforementioned main filling layer is located in the vast intermediate region between the bottom and top artificial isolation layers. This layer consists of "ordinary strength cemented backfill," "weakly cemented backfill," or "non-cemented backfill" filling the main height range of the stope. In non-critical stress areas (i.e., the intermediate part sandwiched between the upper and lower high-strength layers), low-cost, low-strength materials are used for filling, maintaining their stability through lateral confinement.

[0169] Since the main body occupies most of the volume of the filling column, the use of ordinary or non-cementing materials (such as tailings and waste rock) greatly reduces the amount of cementing materials used, significantly reducing the overall cost of filling operations; and it provides a huge disposal space for mine tailings and waste rock, achieving both environmental and economic benefits.

[0170] The aforementioned installation of horizontal pillars without original rock and continuous vertical support structures may specifically include: (1) No original rock horizontal pillar: refers to the absence of natural ore as a barrier between mining levels in the vertical direction.

[0171] (2) Continuous vertical support structure: refers to the above-mentioned artificial isolation layer and the main filling layer being closely connected in the vertical direction, forming an uninterrupted overall force-bearing structure from bottom to top.

[0172] The principle is to completely replace natural pillars by constructing a fully artificial support system through a "strong-weak-strong" composite material structure design.

[0173] The above setup maximizes resource recovery, eliminates resource losses caused by pillars, and ensures that the ore body resources can be fully recovered. In addition, it provides long-term control of ground pressure, meaning that the continuous filling structure can synergistically bear the ground pressure, avoiding the domino-like collapse risk caused by the failure of pillars in the later stages of the traditional open-pit method, and ensuring the long-term safety of large-scale deep mining.

[0174] To further verify the application effect of the technical solution of the present invention in actual engineering, the following detailed description is based on the specific engineering conditions of a large underground iron mine in China.

[0175] 1. Project Background Conditions: The main ore body of this mine is nearly 2000 meters long along its strike, mainly occurring at elevations between -300 meters and -800 meters, with an extension height of approximately 500 meters. The ore body thickness ranges from 20 to 100 meters, with an average thickness of 60 to 70 meters; the ore body is dipped, with an average dip angle of approximately 65° to 70°. The ore body and the surrounding rocks of the hanging wall and footwall are generally stable, and the overall engineering geological conditions are simple.

[0176] 2. Specific implementation steps of the vertical panel mining method: (1) Ore body division: The ore body is divided into 8 mining levels from bottom to top along the vertical direction, with the specific elevations as follows: -800 meters, -740 meters, -680 meters, -620 meters, -560 meters, -500 meters, -440 meters, -380 meters, and -320 meters. The height of each mining level is 60 meters. The 2000-meter-long ore body is divided into 100 mining blocks along the horizontal direction (the mining areas are arranged perpendicular to the strike of the ore body, and each mining area is 20 meters wide). The 8 mining levels and the 100 mining blocks will divide the ore body into a total of 800 mining areas.

[0177] (2) Construction of vertical panel mining units: A total of 64 stops, consisting of 8 vertical layers and 8 horizontal columns, are combined into a vertical panel mining unit. Each stop is designed to be mined using the staged open-cut subsequent backfilling mining method. Each stop is 20 meters wide, 60 meters high, and its length is equal to the thickness of the ore body. Therefore, the length of the panel unit along the strike of the ore body is calculated to be 20 meters × 8 units = 160 meters. Within a 2000-meter horizontal length of the ore body, at least 12 independent vertical panel mining units can be divided.

[0178] (3) Layout of shared infrastructure: Within each vertical panel mining unit, a shared ore pass connecting all mining levels is provided. This shared ore pass adopts a staggered arrangement, that is, a staggered section is set every two stages of height, and the center of the ore pass is staggered by 10 meters in the horizontal direction, thereby reducing the impact damage to the shaft wall caused by ore falling due to excessive height of the ore pass. This shared ore pass is connected to the ore discharge level at the bottom of the 8 mining levels, and a discharge port is provided at the connection point. A mesh screen is installed at the discharge port to prevent large pieces of ore from entering the ore pass. Within a horizontal length of 2000 meters, a shared transport level is set up along the strike of the ore body. This shared transport level is developed in the surrounding rock at the bottom of the ore body at an elevation of -830 meters, and a 30-meter back surrounding rock is maintained between it and the bottom mining level at -800 meters for production isolation. The ore stored in the shared ore passes of all 12 independent vertical panel mining units is transferred to this shared transport level for centralized transportation. The bottom outlet of the shared ore pass is equipped with a vibrating ore feeder, which loads the stored ore onto a transport locomotive, transports it to the main shaft crushing station, and lifts it to the surface.

[0179] (4) Mining Sequence and Spatiotemporal Coordination: Within each vertical panel mining unit, two initial mining layers are set up, located at the -800m level at the bottom of the panel and the -620m level in the middle of the panel height, respectively. The initial mining layers are all mined from the stopes of the stope column. For example, the No. 1 stope of the stope column is mined in the -800m to -740m stage, and the No. 1 stope of the stope column is mined in the -620m to -560m stage. Starting from the stopes of the stope column of the initial mining layer, the upper stopes are mined and filled in a bottom-up mining sequence. The pillar columns are all mined and filled continuously from bottom to top, starting from the -800m level at the bottom of the panel unit. For example, the pillar columns are all mined from bottom to top, starting from the No. 4 and No. 9 stops in the -800m to -740m stage.

[0180] During the mining process, the following spatiotemporal coordinated mining conditions shall be followed: A. Same-layer constraint: Within the same mining level, the stopes being mined simultaneously must be spaced at least three stope widths apart (i.e., "three stops between one"). For example, in the -800m to -740m stage, the stopes being mined simultaneously, namely Stope No. 1, Stope No. 4, Stope No. 7, and Stope No. 9, are all spaced three stope widths apart.

[0181] B. Adjacent layer constraint: Two adjacent layers of mining areas must be separated by at least two columns of mining area width before they can be mined simultaneously.

[0182] C. Layer constraint: Two mining areas separated by one mining area height must be separated by at least one mining area width before they can be mined simultaneously. For example, when mining area No. 14 at -500m to -440m and mining area No. 14 at -380m to -320m simultaneously, they are separated by one mining area height and two mining area widths.

[0183] D. Adjacent Column Constraint: Two adjacent stopes must be separated by at least two stope heights before they can be mined simultaneously. For example, Stope No. 7 at -800m to -740m and Stope No. 7 at -620m to -560m are separated by two stope heights and can be mined simultaneously.

[0184] (5) Capacity analysis: such as Figure 5As shown (circled numbers in the figure represent mining steps or corresponding stope numbers), under the mining technology conditions of this engineering example, according to the logical mining sequence of the divided vertical panel mining units, there are always 4 stopes within each panel unit that can be mined simultaneously without interference from mining steps 1 to 14. The comprehensive production capacity of the stopes using the staged open-cut subsequent backfilling mining method is approximately 1000 tons / day. Assuming an effective production time of 300 days per year, the production capacity of each stope is 300,000 tons / year. Therefore, the comprehensive production capacity of each vertical panel mining unit is approximately 4000 tons / day, and the independent production and ore supply capacity of each vertical panel mining unit is 1.2 million tons / year. Since a 2000-meter-long ore body along the horizontal direction can be divided into at least 12 independent vertical panel mining units, the theoretical annual production capacity of this example mine can reach 14.4 million tons / year when this scheme is adopted. Since the production operations of each vertical panel mining unit are independent of each other, and each stope in each panel unit is mined in sequence, and the stops are staggered in space, even considering the uncertainties in actual production such as the connection between the backfilling and backfilling processes between stops and the fact that the development project does not fully reach the ore body boundary, this scheme can still fully achieve the mine's expected production capacity of 10 million tons / year.

[0185] (6) Ore extraction structure: such as Figure 4 As shown, in vertical panel mining units, the first mining layers of both the stopes and pillars employ a V-shaped trench-type bottom ore extraction structure arranged within the ore bed. Examples include the first mining layers in the -800m to -740m stage and the -620m to -560m stopes of the stopes. Other stopes, besides the first mining layer, generally employ a flat-bottom ore extraction structure.

[0186] (7) Infill structure and ground pressure control: such as Figure 6 As shown, after the vertical panel mining unit is mined, no horizontal pillars of the original rock are left between stages. The ore body resources are all efficiently mined within the stage open areas, without leaving horizontal pillars of the original rock for recovery as residual ore at the end of the mine. The resource recovery rate is high. In the alternating upward mining sequence of stope and pillar rows within the panel unit, a vertically continuous and complete cemented backfill body, known as an "artificial pillar," is formed. This mining sequence avoids the safety problem of difficult roof connection of the stope backfill. Moreover, the high-strength backfill body at the bottom of the stope at the same mining level forms a backfill isolation layer, effectively controlling ground pressure. This results in a low risk of ground pressure disasters and good safety and stability in the panel mining unit.

[0187] The specific filling parameters are as follows: after the mining of any stope is completed, the stope void is immediately filled.

[0188] A. High-strength bottom layer: The bottom 10 meters of the stope face are filled with high-strength cemented backfill of not less than 1.0 MPa; specifically, the bottom 15 meters of the No. 1 stope face in the first mining layer (-620 meters to -560 meters) are filled with high-strength cemented backfill of not less than 1.0 MPa. The bottom 8 meters of the pillar stopes are filled with high-strength cemented backfill of not less than 1.0 MPa.

[0189] B. High-strength top layer: High-strength cemented backfill with a strength of not less than 1.0 MPa is installed within a height range of the top 3 meters of the stope and pillar stopes.

[0190] C. Main filling layer: Except for the bottom and top high-strength cemented filling layers, ordinary cemented filling with a strength of not less than 0.5 MPa is used in the remaining height range of the stope, and weak cemented filling with a strength of not less than 0.1 MPa is used in the remaining height range of the pillar stope.

[0191] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for vertical panel mining, characterized in that, include: The ore body is divided into several mining levels along the vertical direction and into several mining blocks along the horizontal direction; wherein, the mining blocks include rows of stopes and columns of pillars arranged at intervals, and the intersection of the mining levels and the mining blocks constitutes the stope; The vertically and horizontally adjacent layers and columns of the mining area are combined into a vertical panel mining unit; Within the vertical panel mining unit, a shared ore pass is set up to connect several mining levels, and a shared transport level is set up to connect with the shared ore pass; The mining operations within the vertical panel mining unit shall be carried out in the following order, and the mining operations shall be backfilled after the mining of any mining operation is completed: the mining operations of the column of buildings shall be carried out first in the vertical panel mining unit; each column of buildings shall be mined from bottom to top in an upward manner starting from the starting mining operation of the column; wherein the starting mining operation of the column of pillars shall be the bottommost layer mining operation of the column.

2. The vertical panel mining method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The starting stope of the stope column is located at the bottommost mining level of the column; or, the starting stope of the stope column is simultaneously located at the bottommost mining level of the column and the middle mining level of the vertical panel mining unit, and upward mining is carried out synchronously from bottom to top starting from each starting stope; and / or, The mining of the stopes within the vertical panel mining unit also includes meeting the following spatiotemporal coordinated mining conditions: when the stopes are arranged perpendicular to the strike of the ore body: stopes being mined simultaneously within the same layer must be at least 3 stope widths apart; stopes in adjacent layers must be at least 2 stope widths apart to be mined simultaneously; stopes in two layers separated by one stope height must be at least 1 stope width apart to be mined simultaneously; and / or, When the stopes are arranged along the strike of the ore body: stopes to be mined simultaneously within the same layer must be at least one stope length apart; stopes in adjacent layers must be at least one stope length apart before they can be mined simultaneously; stopes in two layers separated by one stope height must be in different columns before they can be mined simultaneously; and / or, Once the mining of any of the aforementioned stopes or pillars at the top of the vertical panel mining unit is completed, mining continues upwards from the top stop of that column to the stop above the vertical panel mining unit until the ore body boundary or a predetermined height is reached.

3. The vertical panel mining method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The backfilling of a stope after the completion of mining in any stope includes: High-strength cemented backfill is used in the bottom areas of the stope and pillar stopes to form a high-strength cemented backfill body at the bottom. High-strength cemented backfill is used in the topmost area of ​​the stope and pillar stopes to form a high-strength cemented backfill body at the top. Within the body height range between the high-strength bonded filler at the bottom and top, ordinary-strength bonded filler, weak-bonded filler, or non-bonded filler are used.

4. The vertical panel mining method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The high-strength cemented infill has a uniaxial compressive strength of not less than 1.0 MPa at 28 days of age; and / or, The filler formed by the ordinary strength cemented filling has a uniaxial compressive strength of not less than 0.5 MPa at 28 days of age; and / or, The filler formed by the weakly cemented filling has a uniaxial compressive strength of not less than 0.1 MPa at 28 days of age; and / or, The non-cemented backfill is constructed using graded tailings, or a mixture of graded tailings and waste rock; and / or, The height of the high-strength cemented backfill in the bottommost region of the stope shall not be less than half the width of the stope; and / or, The height of the high-strength cemented backfill in the bottommost region of the pillar stope shall not be less than one-quarter of the stope width; and / or, The height of the high-strength cemented filling in the topmost region shall not be less than one-tenth of the width of the stope.

5. The vertical panel mining method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A vertical panel mining unit comprises 2 to 7 mining layers in the vertical direction; and / or, comprises 4 to 12 rows of mining blocks in the horizontal direction; and / or, The number of mining levels included in a vertical panel mining unit is equal to the total number of mining levels that divide the ore body vertically, minus the minimum reserved mining level at the top, which is located at the very top of the ore body; and / or, The mining process of the stope adopts at least one of the following: staged stope filling mining with staged drilling and ore extraction, staged stope filling mining with sublevel drilling and ore extraction, sublevel stope filling mining, upward horizontal layered filling mining, and upward access filling mining; and / or, The starting stopes of the stopes and pillars adopt a V-shaped trench bottom ore extraction structure; and / or, The vertical panel mining unit, except for the initial mining area, adopts a flat-bottomed ore extraction structure for the remaining mining areas.

6. The vertical panel mining method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The shared transport level is set to at least one, and any one of the shared transport levels is shared by all or several vertical panel mining units within the ore body; and / or, The shared transport level is set below the lowest mining level of the vertical panel mining unit; and / or, The vertical distance between the bottom surface of the lowest mining level of the vertical panel mining unit and the shared transport level is 10 meters to 40 meters; and / or, The shared ore pass can be a vertical ore pass that is straight from top to bottom, an inclined ore pass that is connected from top to bottom, or a reverse ore pass that is staggered horizontally at each mining level.

7. The vertical panel mining method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, When the reverse section chute is used, the center of the shared chute is horizontally offset by 5 to 10 meters between two adjacent mining levels.

8. The vertical panel mining method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, At least one shared ore pass is arranged within the vertical panel mining unit; or, the number of shared ore passes arranged within the vertical panel mining unit is not less than two; wherein, at least one shared ore pass is used for storing ore, and at least one shared ore pass is used for storing waste rock; and / or, The shared ore pass is connected to several mining levels by a discharge port; the discharge port is equipped with a mesh screen to prevent large pieces of ore from entering the shared ore pass.

9. A vertical panel mining system, characterized in that, include: The ore body is divided into several mining levels in the vertical direction and several mining blocks in the horizontal direction. The mining blocks include rows of stopes and columns of pillars arranged at intervals. A vertical panel mining unit is composed of several layers of mining levels that are adjacent in the vertical and horizontal directions and several columns of mining blocks. A shared ore pass is set up within the vertical panel mining unit and connects several mining levels within the vertical panel mining unit; A shared transport level is set at the bottom of the vertical panel mining unit and connected to the shared ore pass; wherein, no original rock horizontal pillars are set between the vertical mining levels in the vertical direction within the vertical panel mining unit; the stopes of the stope column and the pillar column are filled with backfill material, and the bottom stope of the pillar column and at least one stope of the stope column are configured as the starting mining structure.

10. A filling body support structure, formed within a vertical panel mining unit of the vertical panel mining system as described in claim 9, characterized in that, include: Multiple rows of vertical filling columns arranged side by side correspond to the stope and pillar stopes within the ore body; An artificial isolation layer is located at the bottom and top of the vertical filling column; the artificial isolation layer is composed of high-strength cemented filling material filling the bottom and top regions of the stope and pillar stopes; The main filling layer is located between the bottom and top artificial isolation layers; the main filling layer is composed of ordinary strength cemented filling, weak cemented filling, or non-cemented filling within the main height range of the stope and pillar stopes; wherein, the vertical direction within the vertical panel mining unit does not include the original rock horizontal pillar, and the artificial isolation layer and the main filling layer together constitute a continuous vertical support structure.

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