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Mark Tessier
Goldcorp Inc.
Michael Pahkala
Goldcorp Inc.
Larry Sletmoen
Goldcorp Inc.
ABSTRACT: The Red Lake Mine is the richest gold mine in North America with over 5 million ounces of
reserves and a 2004 production of over 550,000 ounces of gold at a cash cost of US$92 per ounce. Starting in
2003, Goldcorp initiated an expansion program at the mine. This expansion included a new 6.55 m (21.5 ft)
diameter hoisting shaft currently under construction. The shaft will be driven to a length of approximately
2,000 m (6,500 ft). The shaft will be used as the primary intake to the mine. The original ventilation design
was to have a push/pull ventilation system. In 2005, a detailed review of the mine expansion program was
performed. This review resulted in a proposal for significant modifications to the mine ventilation system.
This paper describes the proposed changes in the ventilation system designed to optimize this system.
1 INTRODUCTION
Figure 1 shows the location of the Goldcorp Inc.
Red Lake Mine. The mine was started in 1945 with
the first bar of gold poured in 1949. In the early
years, the primary mining method was small open
stopes mined using jacklegs and slushers. The
principal access to the mine was through the No. 1
Shaft. This shaft extended to approximately 1,050 m
(3,450 ft) below surface. At this depth, the original
orebody was determined to continue, but was offset
from the No. 1 shaft location by approximately 800
m (2,625 ft). A transfer drift was constructed and an
internal No. 2 Shaft was driven from 23 Level to 37
Level. The mine total depth at this time was
approximately 1,690 m (5,550 ft).
Both shafts are about 2.13 m x 7.62 m (7 ft x 25
ft). The No. 1 Shaft is equipped with two skips and
one dedicated man and material conveyance. The
No. 2 Shaft conveyance incorporates the two skips
in combination with the man and material handling.
The first diesel equipment, a small loader, was
purchased in 1979. Around this time, the mining
method changed to cut and fill with mobile diesel
equipment. However, given the small material
conveyance, it has always been a challenge to bring
mechanical equipment and materials into the mine.
The original ventilation system consists of
intake air passing through small raises connecting
open stopes. This has the benefit of not requiring air
heating during the cool winter months. Winter
temperatures can be as cool as -40 C.
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
-110
-1000
-515
-2000
-3000
-920
-4000
-1325
-5000
-1730
-6000
-7000
-2135
50.0
55.0
60.0
65.0
70.0
75.0
Temperature (F)
2 VENTILATION SURVEY
5.00
10.00
25.00
30.00
68.7
20.0
67.7
19.5
66.7
19.0
65.7
18.5
64.7
18.0
17.5
63.7
17.0
62.7
16.5
0.0
2.0
Left
4.0
6.0
Depth into rock (m)
Vertical
8.0
Right
61.7
10.0
20.5
13 ft RAR
Zone 1
13 ft RAR
Slash Drift
37 Level
Booster Fans
13 ft
2 10 ft RARs
RAR
38-2 11 x 14
Proposed
Raises
Zone 2
Shaft Bottom
Raise 9 ft
McEwen
#3
Shaft
Shaft
13ft ftRARs
2 10
43 Level 18 x 18
RAR
Zone 3
Sublevel Connections to RARs (each regulated at 40,000 cfm)
530 kcfm
80 kcfm
620 kcfm
95 kcfm
485 kcfm
90 kcfm
31-1 Level
85 kcfm
McEwen Shaft
90 kcfm
160 kcfm
210 kcfm
#2 Shaft
430 kcfm
70 kcfm
31-1 Level
#2 Shaft
220 kcfm
90 kcfm
85 kcfm
520 kcfm
210 kcfm
34 Level
13 ft RAR
13 ft RAR
13 ft RAR
34 Level
300 kcfm
No Fan on 37 or Shop
Exhaust at this time
140 kcfm
37-1 Level
13 ft RAR
85 kcfm
140 kcfm
37 Level
430 kcfm
37-1 Level
60 kcfm
37 Level
38-2 Level
50 kcfm
Regulated
1 - 10 ft RAR 45 kcfm
38-2 Level
345 kcfm
2 - 10 ft RARs
45 kcfm
245 kcfm
45 kcfm
15 kcfm
230 kcfm
200 kcfm
85 kcfm
Intake Fan
324 kcfm
18 kcfm
320 kcfm
45 kcfm
Exhaust Fan
35 kcfm shop
42 Level
85 kcfm
70 kcfm
460 kcfm
54 kcfm
45 kcfm
118 kcfm
45 kcfm
45 kcfm
Exhaust Fan
Intake Fan
Scenario
Single intake for mine
through McEwen Shaft
(assumes dual intake will be
available through 2007)
Year
2006
2007
2009
2006
2007
2009
2009*
Number of
Total fan
fans in mine horsepower*
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
13
3759
7
10
14
14
1021
2091
3656
3331
Heating op.
cost ($/yr)*
n/a
n/a
$2,688,550
Total Cost
($/yr)
n/a
n/a
$4,618,502
$540,425
$1,088,282
$1,899,886
$1,737,134
$0
$1,827,783
$2,148,729
$2,292,334
$540,425
$2,916,066
$4,048,615
$4,029,468
* Assumes 100 kcfm through 16 Level to McEwen Shaft. Electrical power assumed at 8.1 cents/kWhr and propane at 0.58 $/liquid liter
Total Cost
($/yr)
-$426,282
Results indicate that fan operating costs are similar for the dual system, but that air heating costs are lower. Net result
is total cost is less for the dual intake system.
8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Year
2006
2007
2009A
2009B
Year
2006
2007
2009A
2009B
Year
2006
2007
2009A
2009B
Quantity (kcfm)
n/a
n/a
246.4
253.0
Year
2006
2007
2009A
2009B
Year
2006
2007
2009A
2009B
Year
2006
2007
2009A
2009B
Year
2006
2007
2009A
2009B
43 Level Booster
Pressure (in. w.g.)
n/a
n/a
0.5
0.5
Quantity (kcfm)
150.02
Quantity (kcfm)
n/a
424.2
498.7
532.0