Justification of Longwall Mining Technology for the Development of Kieselguhr Deposit in Sig Mine, Algeria

Abstract

Abstract The improvement of mineral extraction technology in underground mines to increase productivity has become an important objective of the mining industry in Algeria in the race for price competitiveness, especially after the sharp decline oil prices as the main income of Algeria. But the increase production in underground mines where the deposits do not have good mechanical characteristics is a major challenge for the decision-makers, as the case of the kieselguhr mine of sig (Western Algeria) which uses the Room and pillar mining method that do not fit the condition of soft deposits and do not have sufficient strength, which causes a lot of collapses from time to time. The only way to ensure the increase of production, by improving the method of extraction and efficiency of the equipment used. In this article, we will combine the Room and pillars mining method and use the technology of the longwall mining method to increase the production of the mine and ensures the safety of workers during operation.