Airborne dust pollution due to mechanised scaling in underground metalliferous mine cross-cut drive under buoyancy-driven airflow

ABSTRACT Nowadays, mechanised scaling is extensively used in fully mechanised underground metalliferous mines (FMUMM) for removing potentially dangerous loose rocks from the mine roof and side walls. This study measures and analyses the generation and dispersion of airborne dust due to mechanised scaling operation by scaler in cross-cut (X-cut) drive of an underground mine using real-time aerosol spectrometers. The airborne dust is analysed in terms of the concentration of various size particles in total airborne dust (TAD). The analyses of different dust sizes, viz. ≤20 μm, ≤15 μm, ≤10 μm, ≤5 μm and ≤1 μm revealed that the per cent proportion of ≤1 μm and ≤10 μm varies from 2.6 to 22.4% and 60.5 to 88.3%, respectively, in the cross-cut. Moreover, the concentration proportions of alveolic and thoracic dusts in TAD during the 20-min retention time are assessed. This study can aid in developing safe re-entry periods and efficient dust control appliances.