Ground consolidation, roof support, strata injection and ventilation control specialists Minova facilitated the transfer of technology used extensively in Australia to be adapted to suit the specific needs of the mining industry in the Kuzbass region of Siberia.

The breakthrough in Russia is the result of Minova’s push for international technology transfer.

“Although we have a manufacturing network with an international spread, the integration of our business is such that there is a constant flow of ideas and technology between sites and territories. This gives us the capability to develop products that are specific to the requirements of one territory and then modify and adapt them for other markets,” said Minova Australia CEO Garry Ashford.

In the Kuzbass region, the traditional ventilation method has been to use plaster or concrete to provide ventilation and explosion-proof seals. Both can be labour intensive and slow processes. A typical concrete stopping takes over 45 man shifts to complete.

Whilst a plaster stopping takes less time to install, it does need a large amount of material which has to be transported underground and stowed in the stopping.

To provide a more effective solution, Minova TPS in Kemerovo looked to the experience gained by Minova’s other group companies with Tekseal and Tekblend, a method of ventilation sealing developed as low volume, rapid installation alternative to traditional sealing.

Tekseal and Tekblend are high volume grouts, supplied ready to use in a free-flowing blended cementitious powder, requiring only the addition of water in a suitable placing machine. It is simple to install and eliminates the need for keying into the roof, floor or ribs.

Capable of yielding to ground pressure, it maintains an effective seal even in areas subjected to extreme ground movement. Rapid placement means that 15m² can be placed in one hour.

For the specific needs of the Siberian mines, Minova TPS took the basic Tekseal method and adapted it to create Tekblend. A highly fluid cementitious grout, Tekblend is designed to be pumped from a distance, allowing safe placement. The high volume output of the Tekblend means that only relatively small amounts of material have to be transported underground.

Also showing great benefits in the Kuzbass coal mines is Tekflex, originally developed by Minova for metalliferous mines in North America.

Tekflex is a tough, flexible membrane that can be sprayed onto rock surface and existing stoppings.

“Tekflex was initially developed as an alternative to steel mesh and thin shotcrete for stabilising mine entries. However, in addition to its mechanical strength, Tekflex forms an effective barrier to gas and it was these properties that have proved to be of particular benefit in the Russian mines,” said Ashford.

Tekseal and Tekflex form part of Minova’s extensive range of ventilation products designed for a wide range of applications including sealing off old workings, rehabilitating old seals or erecting new seals.