Final Report

REPORT ON NARWAPAHAR MINE IN UCIL BY IIT KHARAGPUR STUDENTS
Uranium is the basic raw material for the nuclear programme of the country. With the formulation of
Atomic Energy Programme in 1948, the search for uranium ore had commenced. Very soon, several
occurrences in different parts of the country were brought to light. The exploitation of this valuable
ore is now being carried out by Uranium Corporation of India Ltd.
Uranium deposits world over exhibit an uneven distribution through geological time, particularly
their preponderance during Proterozoic and Phanerozoic Eons. 65% of world uranium resources have
been identified in deposits falling under Proterozoic, bulk of it (33%) being accounted by the
unconformity related-type of deposits found in Canada and Australia. A single deposit of Middle
Proterozoic period, termed as breccia complex type with Cu-Au-Ag-Fe-REE and U, as found in the
Olympic Dam, South Australia, accounts for 17% of the world resources. Phanerozoic sandstone type
of deposits formed in continental fluvial or marginal marine sedimentary environment account for 18
% of the world uranium resources. Phanerozoic sandstone type of deposits formed in continental
fluvial or marginal marine sedimentary environment (Western Cordillera region in USA, Central Asia,
Niger) also account for 21% of the world uranium resources. Predominance of uranium metallogeny
in the Proterozoic period takes is a consequence of emplacement of K-rich Archaean granitoids and
later erosion (and deposition) of detrital uranium rich sediments in intra-cratonic basins during
Lower Proterozoic period. Subsequent development of O2- rich atmosphere led to the release of
uranium from the cratonic region and their mobility through solution. Intra-cratonic rift basins
received uranium through clast and solution.
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UCIL at a glance:-
Uranium Corporation of India Limited was incorporated on 4th October 1967. Uranium Corporation
of India Limited is a Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy. UCIL is at the
forefront of the Nuclear Power cycle. Fulfilling the requirement of Uranium for the Pressurized Heavy
Water Reactors, UCIL plays a very significant role in Indias nuclear power generation program. UCIL
is an ISO 9001:2008, 14001:2004 & IS 18001:2007 company and has adopted the latest state of the
art technology for its mines and process plant. It had an annual turnover of about Rs 304 Crores in the
financial year 2007-08. The Company is having its mining operations at Bagjata, Jaduguda, Bhatin,
Narwapahar, Turamdih underground mines and Banduhurang opencast mines and upcoming mining
projects at Mohuldih in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand and at Tummalapalle mining project in
Andhra Pradesh and Gogi mining project at Karnataka. It has two processing plants at Jaduguda and
Turamdih and an upcoming milling project at Tummalapalle in Andhra Pradesh. KPM opencast mining
and milling project at Meghalaya is in the pipeline.
Vision:
UCIL envisions fulfilling Indias power needs of the future and has positioned itself
with a thrust to harness the unlimited potential of nuclear power.
Mission:
UCIL takes its commitments and responsibilities very seriously. It is dedicated to

upholding efficient, cost-effective and environment-friendly operations in mining
and processing plants all over India.
The technology adopted by UCIL in mining, milling and containment of waste in tailings pond is
comparable with the best practiced anywhere in the world. It is based on the large experience,
extensive research out-put, technical know-how and enormous expertise available in the country.
The mill at Jaduguda and Narwapahar are one of the most inventive hydrometallurgical plants with
unparalleled track record of capacity utilization and safety. It houses various automatic process
control systems and monitoring equipment. The Jaduguda mill has been expanded twice with in-
house expertise. The unit is an excellent pool of technical and scientific manpower having unique
experience of commissioning and operating hydro-metallurgical plant.
After extraction of uranium, the fine tailings are contained in a tailings pond. The tailings pond
constructed by UCIL and expanded subsequently in two phases is a well-engineered impoundment
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facility having utmost consideration for environment and provision for treatment of effluents. The
environmental monitoring results around tailings pond signify the soundness of the design criteria
and reliability of the practices.
At UCIL units of Singhbhum, it is an exemplary display of art of science that has fashioned the future of
thousands of local inhabitants beaming with the benefit of nuclear industry.
About Narwapahar
This mine is a relatively recent part of the UCIL, and has been in operation since 1995. The ore
reserves are estimated to last for at least 20 more years to come. Rather modern techniques of mining
have been implemented here including an 7 decline and trackless haulage. In case of Uranium mines,
trackless mining equipments are in use for the first time in the country.
Mine development progress rates of over 300 meters per month have been achieved and the
underground output per man shift is about 1.9 tonnes, which is considered to be best in the country.
The Narwapahar mine is accessed by a decline and a vertical shaft. The decline has the advantage that
heavy equipment can be lowered to the working area without dismantling. The shaft is used for
movement of personnel. The two inclines serve for safety and ventilation in the mine. Currently, upto
seven working levels have been developed.
Location and Accessibility:

Latitude: 2241 Longitude: 8616
The Narwapahar deposit is situated approximately 11km Northwest of Jaduguda, in the central region
of the Singhbhum Thrust Belt, approximately 200km due west of Kolkata. The deposit is accessible by
good, all-weather roads from Jamshedpur (approximately 15km). The nearest railway station is
Tatanagar and airports are Tatanagar and Ranchi.
The geographic position of the uranium mines under study is given in the Figure 1.1. The mines are
subparallel to NH 33 trending NW direction. All the mines are falling long: 86 10 to 86 25, lat: 22
45 to 22 35.
Figure 1: Location and accessibility of study area
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Physical and Chemical properties of Uranium
Uranium, an element with atomic number 92, has three isotopes - 234U, 235U, and 238U. Natural
uranium contains 99.28% 238U, 0.71% 235U and an almost negligible amount of 234U
(0.0058%).The density of uranium is 19.05, its melting point is 1133C and boiling point is about
3927C. In natural compounds (minerals), uranium occurs in tetravalent (U 4+) and hexavalent
(U6+) states chiefly as (U02)2+. Its ionic radii are U 4+ =1.04. (Angstrom) and U6+ = 0.79A and it
forms two series of compounds-uranous and uranyl. Uranium in the tetravalent form is less
widespread in the earth's crust. It is often disseminated in the lattices of minerals whose
elements have similar ionic radii. Since the ionic radius of U 4+ is very close to that of bivalent
calcium (Ca 2+ = 1.06 A), thorium (Th 4+ = 1.10 A) zirconium (Zr 4+ = 0.87 A) and trivalent rare earth
yttrium (y3+ = 1.06 A), it occurs in minerals of these elements as isomorphic replacement
products (Goldsmith, 1954). Hexavalent uranium (U 6+) does not exist freely because of its strong
affinity for oxygen, instead it forms the complex bivalent uranyl cation [U02)2+. The capacity of
the uranyl ion for isomorphic substitution into the lattices of other minerals is considered to be
almost negligible because of its large radius. The geochemical behaviour of U 6+ explains the
reason for the wide spread development of secondary minerals of uranium in the zone of
oxidation where it occurs as separate small crystals in the form of coatings and very thin
encrustations in cracks and cavities of rocks.
Pattern of Uranium Distribution in Earth:
Uranium is a lithophile element which is concentrated in the upper crust. The distribution of
uranium in the earth is predominantly controlled by its crystal chemistry and not by its density
as would have been normally expected in the gravitational field of the earth. The most significant
property of uranium is its strong affinity for oxygen, which imparts an outer vector component
leading to its preferential concentration in the crustal layer. Uranium makes up about two ppm of
the earth's crust. Vinogradov's (1954) estimation of the average uranium content in various rock
types is given below in ppm range.
There is a general tendency of younger granites to be richer in uranium which is in accordance

with its easy mobilization in the crustal layers as a result of various geological processes. Since
acidic rocks have higher average uranium content, they are considered to be the original
reservoir of uranium, from which the element has been repeatedly recycled during the
evolutionary phases of crustal development, resulting in the formation of both primary and
secondary uranium ore deposits.
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According to V. E. Vemadsky (1954), the bulk of uranium in the earth's crust occurs in a
disseminated state. He hypothesized that in igneous rocks, uranium largely occurs in a dispersed
state, more or less free, penetrating all material of the earth, or dissolved in the capillary water of
rocks. In recent years, American investigators have conducted detailed studies on the mode of
occurrence of uranium in igneous rocks. The conclusions drawn by them and the results of other
such studies conducted elsewhere, are given below.
1. Uranium forms discrete uranium minerals (pitchblende, uraninite, autonite,
carnotite, etc.)
2. It enters into the structure of rock-forming minerals particularly in the nonuranium
minerals, in which it occurs as an isomorphic replacement of such
elements as thorium, zirconium and yttrium.
3. It is maintained in the condition of cation interchange entity.
4. It is absorbed on the surface of crystals and grains.
5. It occurs as liquid inclusions in rock-forming minerals.
6. It has also been reported to occur in intergranular liquid.
Uranium Mineralization:
Uranium minerals are formed in the earth's crust under various conditions. Primary uranium
minerals are found in acid to alkaline magmatic rocks, in pegmatites, especially related to the
hydrothermal phase of mineralization, and in sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks
.
When primary uranium minerals of magmatic, pegmatitic, hydrothermal, metamorphic and
sedimentary genesis happen to come to the surface of the earth, and are exposed to oxidizing
conditions, they become unstable and get easily decomposed. This is especially true of minerals
of the oxide group (uraninite and pitchblende). The breaking down of the black oxides of uranium
leads to the formation of diverse secondary minerals of uranium such as sulphates, carbonates,
silicates, phosphates, arsenates and vanadates, which have bright colours-mostly shades of
yellow and green. The spectacular colours of these minerals serve as excellent prospecting guides
for primary
uranium minerals.
A characteristic feature of the natural compounds of uranium is the presence of oxygen. All
known minerals of uranium contain oxygen. Minerals of the sulphide or halide groups are not
found in nature. Uranium does not occur in the natural state either. The U4+ ion is oxidized
readily to U6+, which forms the uranyl ion (U6+02)2+, a unit of sufficient stability to preserve its
identity in solution. It forms a variety of mineral compounds of the
following types:
1. A1+ (U02)2+ (R04)3- xH2O

2. B2+ (U02)2+ (R04)3- XH20
3. B2+ (U02)2+ (C03)2- XH20
Where A = K, Na, H; B = Ca, Ba, Mg, Cu, Fe2+, Pb; R = P, As,V.

The uranyl minerals do notcontain Th, Zr, Ce because of the large size and unusual shape of the
uranyl ion. Uranium-containing minerals are very diverse and at present more than a hundred
such minerals are known. These include oxides, hydroxides, simple and complex uranates,
silicates, carbonates, sulphates, phosphates, arsenates, vanadates, molybdates and complex
oxides (titanates and titeno-tantaloniobates).
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Some as urano-organic complexes are also known. However, only a few of these minerals are of
commercial interest, and minerals of the oxide group, especially pitchblende and uraninite, have
the greatest economic potential. These oxides are black and have a resinous luster, their hardness
ranges between 5 to 7, with high specific gravity of 6 to 10. Their chemical
composition is expressed by the general formula:
(U Th) O 3 mU3nPb03.
The greater the age of the uranium minerals, the greater is their lead content as a result of the
radioactive decay of uranium. The oxide groups of uranium minerals are subdivided into
uraninite and pitchblende. Minerals of the uraninite subgroup occur mostly in the form of
crystals of cubic symmetry (cubes, sometimes octahedrons or rhombododecahedrons), while
minerals of the pitchblende subgroup lack crystalline structure and are invariably found in
massive forms, nodular in shape and in stalactitic and botryoidal aggregates.
Geochemistry of Uranium
The geochemistry of uranium is primarily a study of the migration and distribution of uranium
under the influence of physico-chemical forces. The geochemical behaviour of uranium and its
anomalous concentration in certain specific areas of the earth's curst depend on its chemical and
physical properties which influence its segregation into distinctive mineralogical phases or
associations. The geochemical behaviour of the elements has been broadly discussed by
Goldschmidt, who classified the elements (Table 5.1) under four heads: siderophile (association
with metallic iron); chalcophile
(affinity for sulphur); lithophile (affinity for oxygen); and atmophile (affinity for elemental state).
Though the classification is essentially empirical, it does have a firm theoretical basis.
The ionization potential of elements is a rough guide to its geochemical classification. For
instance, the elements of low ionization potentials such as Na, K, Ca and Mg are lithophiles
whereas the elements with higher ionization potentials such as Ni, Co and Au are siderophiles.
The elements with intermediate ionization potentials such as Cu, Zn, Pb and Ag are chalcophiles.
Some elements appear in more than one group which is shown in brackets under the groups of
secondary affinity. The classification proposed by Goldschmidt is based on the study of elemental
distribution in meteorites, which are presumed to have solidified from a liquid state and the
classification really refers to the
behaviour of elements in liquid-liquid equilibrium between melts. Hence, the classification is not
always a trot: guide to the elemental association in minerals that have formed in the earth's crust
by processes such as metamorphism, sedimentation and weathering.
The ionic size or radius of the element is of great importance in atomic substitutions. The
phenomenon of atomic substitution has resulted in the variety of elemental associations in
different minerals. Goldschmidt formulated some empirical rules about ionic substitution which
are valid for purely ionic bonding.
1. If two ions have the same radius and the same charge, they will enter a given
crystal lattice with equal facility.
2. If two ions have similar radii and the same charge, the smaller ion will enter a given
crystal lattice more readily.
3. If two ions have similar radii but different charges, the ions with higher charge will
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enter a given crystal lattice more readily.

The primary dispersion or the distribution of an element is largely a function of its
chemical behaviour, ionic potential and its affinity for major elements like oxygen,
sulphur or metallic iron. However, the secondary dispersion of an element or its mobility
in the zone of weathering is largely controlled by the Eh (redox potential) and pH
(hydrogen ion concentration) conditions of the geochemical environment.
Hydrogen Ion Concentration (pH):

The pH of a solution is defined as the negative logarithm to the base 10 of the hydrogen
ion activity in gram-ions/litre. It varies from 0 for strongly acidic solutions to 14 for
strongly basic or alkaline ones. Neutral solutions have a pH of 7. pH is extremely
important in determining the mobility of an element in the weathering cycle. For
instance, uranium is soluble in alkaline solutions (pH range 7.5 and above) and gets
precipitated in acidic environment (pH range 6.5 and below).
Oxidation-Reduction Potential (E.,):

In addition to pH, the redox potential or Eh, which is a measure of the reducing or
oxidizing potential of an environment, contributes significantly in the fixation and
distribution of the elements. The stability of an element in a particular oxidation state
depends upon the energy change involved in adding or removing electrons. A
quantitative measure of this energy change is provided by the factor known variously as
the oxidation-reduction potential, or redox potential. The oxidation potential is a relative
figure and the standard reference is the reaction
H2 2H+ + 2e
Which is arbitrarily fixed at 0.00 V with a pressure of 1 atom and pH = O. The Eh value
extends on either side of the zero, positive values indicating oxidizing potential and
negative values, a reducing potential relative to the standard hydrogen half-cell reaction.
It is measured in microvolts and can be either positive or negative. In relation to water, it
defines the capacity of the oxidizing agents to take up hydrogen and of reduci ng agents
to take up oxygen. It is a measure of the yield of electrons from oxidizing and reducing
substances.
Uranium leached out from its source rocks is transported in surface waters as dissolved
uranyl dicarbonate complex (pH = 7.5 to 8.5). The separation and precipitation of
uranium and various other elements in the deposits are functions of Eh and pH changes
in the transporting solutions. Oxygen-bearing water, moving through permeable zones,
undergoes a gradual change in Eh as it enters a reducing environment, and ore
precipitation occurs at critical values of Eh and pH. Hostetler and Garrels have shown
that uranium is soluble in the presence of CO2 and at low temperatures and pressures,
either in the 4- or 6-valent state, depending on the pH and Eh of the solution. In the
tetravalent state and under slightly oxidizing conditions, it can be transported in
solutions with pH values of less than 3. Transportation in the hexavalent state is possible
in slightly acidic or slightly alkaline solutions at Eh values ranging from +0.3 to -0.4 volts.
Uranium precipitation is facilitated by its chemical reduction U6+ U4+ in decreasing Eh
conditions.
Uranium (atomic number 92) is the heaviest of all naturally occurring elements. The U4+
ion is by far the most abundant species in nature and is stable in reducing environments.
Its oxidation state or U6+ form is responsible for its behavior in magmatic or post
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magmatic environments.
Magmatic uranium exists predominantly in the tetravalent form as revealed by the high
U4+ /U6+ ratio in ortho magmatic uraninite. The U4+and Th4+ ions are concentrated in
late magmatic fractions and also in accessory minerals, chiefly due to their electronic
configuration and on account of their low initial concentration in the magmatic melt. It is
significant that the fate of an element during magmatic crystallization is primarily
governed by its ionic size and charge. A particular element appears in those minerals,
whose lattices it fits most readily and with the greatest decrease of free energy. The low
initial concentration of uranium in the magmatic melt prevents precipitation of phases in
which uranium and thorium are the principal constituents. So, uranium and thorium
appear mostly as minor elements in the early crystallizing accessory minerals, despite
the fact that their high activation energy of migration ought to have fixed them in the
early or main stages of magmatic crystallization. On account of these factors, uranium
and thorium get concentrated in the residual melt, mainly in the pegmatic and
hydrothermal phases. With progressive magmatic crystallization and fractionation of
elements; the younger members of the igneous kindred get enriched in uranium. Besides
magmatic and sedimentary processes, metamorphism leads to further geochemical
differentiation, which results in substantial redistribution of uranium minerals in various
geological environments.
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Singhbhum sheer zone:
The Singhbhum region of the Jharkhand and its contiguous regions of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and
Bonai district of Orissa are well known for their rich deposits of Fe & Cu, and also the Singhbhum
Craton contains U,Th,Mn,Cr,W,Apatite,Mica ,Kyanite,Graphite etc. This region is traversed by
Singhbhum Shear Zone (also known as Cu Thrust Belt) extending over a Strike length of more
than 160 km.
The Shear Zone trends Eastwards from Parahat in Western Singhbhum to Chakradharpur and
then it takes a Southwards swing in the neighbourhood of Jamshedpur. Sarka r&Saha(1977) have
shown that this Shear Zone separates 2 Precambrian provinces of the Indian Shield: an older
province in the South which stabilized after the Iron-ore orogenic cycle closing about 2900
million years ago and a younger province in the North that underwent the Singhbhum Orogenic
cycle closing at about 850 my.ago.
The Thrust has an arcuate trend that is traced for a distance of over 160km. from Duarapuram in
the West to Baharagora in the Southeast. This was due to the Singhbhum Granite Massif o n the
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South acting as a buttress. Where in the Central part of the belt, the highly metamorphosed rock
of the Chaibasa stage were thrusted against the less altered rock of Dhanjori stage to the South. In
the Eastern part however, the thrust is within the Chaibasa stage itself.
In the Central part, the Shear Zone is narrow being only about 300 m. wide, in the vicinity
of the Garanala it bifurcates into 2 Zones, and gradually diverge West ward, and are about 5km.
apart near Chakardharpur. The Shear Zone also widens out and bifurcates in a South-Easterly
direction.
The orogenic movement that gripped the Chaibasa and Iron-ore stage formations probably
allowed accumulations of Dhanjori sediments in certain basins and ultimately gave rise to the
Singhbhum Thrust in the final compression and uplift.
Development of a new Northern Shear from Rajdah has thrown open a new setting for
mineralisatin than that of the Central zone, namely Rajdah-Pathargara. Here deposits are in
Sericiticchloriticschists and occur in long stretches. Narwapahar-Garadih Uranium occurrences
are along the dip of these lodes.
The Singhbhum craton is highly economical and most intensively studied area of Indian
Precambrian rocks. According to A.N.Sarkar 3 Geologic provinces in Singhbhum are identified:-
(I) Singhbhum Nucleus.
(II) Singhbhum- Dalbhum Mobile belt.
(III) ChotaNagpur terrains.
The Singhbhum craton is bounded by the Mahanadi Graben,(SukindaThrust), Son Narmada

lineament ,the Indogangetic plain and the East Coast of India.In the Singhbhum Thrust belt, the
most important deposits of the hydrothermal type occur in the rock of Iron -ore series of the
Dharwarian (Archean) age, and is further divided into Chaibasastage , Iron -ore stage and the
Dhanjori stage.
A detailed account of the geology of the area was given by Dr.J.A.Dunn , in
1939. Briefly, the rocks consist of Pre-cambrianschists constituting Chaibasa, Iron-ore and
Dhanjori stage is separated from the 2 underlying stages by a distinct Un-confomity. Rocks along
the Singhbhum Thrust zone have undergone cross-folding and the Uraniferous deposits in the
area are related to the cross fold pattern. Cross-folded structure is a function of space.
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Stratigraphy of Singhbhum Sheer zone:
In South-east Singhbhum, the Iron ore series of rocks consisting of sand stone conglomerates,
limestones, shales, phyllites, mica schist, banded- hematite- quartzites, lavas and agglomerates,
have
been folded and overthrust. Localisation of economic minerals of copper and Uranium are found
along
this overthrust and shear zone known as the Singhbhum Shear zone, also known as the
Singhbhum
thrust belt, or the Singhbhum Copper belts.
The thrust belt proper starts from Duarpuram (22 0 46; 85 0 34) NE of Chakardharpur, and
continues through Kharswan, Sini, Turamdih, Narwapahar, Bhatin, Jaduguda, Rakhamines, Roam,
Siddeswer, Kendadih, Surda, Mosabani and Badia. Further south, it dies out on the surface near
Singhpura. This zone of shearing along which copper, Uranium and apatite are found, is like an
arc in
disposition and is about 100 miles long. The various localities in this belt are easy of access, as
the
railway line from Calcutta to Bombay connects most of those places.
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The rock types exposed in this region are said to belong to the Iron Ore Series and consist of the
following stages and rock types, in order of their relative ages :-
i. Dalma lavas phyllites and agglomerates.
ii. Dhanjori stage, consisting of conglomerates and quartzites.
iii. Iron ore stage, consisting of banded-hematite-quartzites, phyllites with tuffs, lavas,
limestones,
conglomerates and quartzites.
iv. Chaibasa stage consisting of sandstone- conglomerates, limestones, shales, phyllites and mica
schists.
The several stages mentioned are not very sharply defined and grade into the one above or
below.
The rocks of the iron ore series have been strongly folded and highly metamorphosed. Every
grade of metamorphism is represented by the rocks of this area. The Principal tectonic
movements
were from north to south and the beds were folded into well-defined anticlines and synclines.
There are
also isoclinal folds, within broader folds, with over-folding towards the south. South of the main
fold,
tectonic movements were less intense and the changes in the rock types were not so pronounced
as to
the north of it. The constant tectonic movement towards the south, culminated in a major zone of
overthrust. The rocks to the north of this thrust were completely metamorphosed and thrust
bodily
against the less metamorphosed rocks to the south of the zone. The zone of overthrusting was
completely sheared. This is the zone of sheared rocks along which copper and uranium
mineralization
have taken place and is referred to as the Singhbhum thrust Belt or Singhbhum copper belt.
Regional Geology of Singhbhum Sheer Zone :-
The most important deposits of the hydrothermal type occur in the Singhbhum thrust belt in the
rock of iron ore series of the Dharwarian (Archaean) Age (see fig). These are divisible in to
chaibasa stage, Iron ore stage and the Dhanjori stage, into last one having been deposited
unconformable over the two older stages.The arcuate trend of the trend of the thrust can be
traced for a distance of over 130 Km. From Duarapuram in the west to Baharagora in the south
east. This was due to the Singhbhum granite massif on the south acting as a buttress. Where in
the central part of the belt highly metamorphosed rock of the chaibasa stage where thrus t,
against the less altered rock of Dhanjori stage to the south, In the eastern part, however, the
thrust is within the Chaibasa stage itself.In the central part of the Singhbhum thrust belt the
shear zone is narrow being only about 300 meters wide, but in the vicinity of the Gharha Nala it
bifurcates in to two zones which, when followed westward, gradually diverge and are about 5
Km, apart near Chakardhpur.
The shear zone also widens out and bifurcates in a south-easterly direction. While these orogenic
movements were still continuing, quartz-fels-pathic material was introduced along the shear
zones was giving rise to what is commonly known as the Soda Granite.
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These latter also undergoing shearing. The mineralization solution probably emanating from th e
soda granite and circulating along the zones of shearing and fracturing are considering
responsible for mineralization. The emplacement of uranium is in the form of disseminations and
micro vein lets of uraninite and this appears to have been controlled mainly by structure but also
to some extent by lithology.
For example, mylonitised- chlorite- sericite schist is the most favourable host rock, next to which
is granular rock consisting of chlorite, quartz, tourmaline, apatite and magnetite breccia and
muscovite biotite schist.The northern shear zone is better mineralized than the southern one.The
location of the indivisual deposits in the shear zones seems to have been also influenced by major
and minor cross folds and drag folds.
In the broad sence, from the point of view of uranium mineralization, the belt can be classified in
to three sectors
a. The eastern sector having lenticular, discontinuous and small pockets in close association with
magnetite and apatite, example- Khadandungri (Dhantuppa),
b. The eastern sector with well defined lenticular ore bodies in breccia and mylonitised rock and
in chlorite- sericite schist, example- Jaduguda & Bhatin.
c. In the western sector in chlorite sericite schist, example- Narwapahar & keruadungri.
The largest deposits located so far is Narwapahar (see Fig.2.1) which lies at a places of
splitting of the major shear zones. In South East Singhbhum, the Iron Ore series of rocks
consisting of sandstone conglomerates, limestone, shale, phyllites, mica-schist, banded hematite
quartzites, lavas and agglomerates have been folded and over thrust. Localization of economic
material of copper and uranium are found along this overthrust and share zone known as the
Singhbhum Share Zone, also known as the Singhbhum Thrust Belt, or the Singhbhum Copper Belt.
The thrust belt starts from Duarpuram (22046 ; 85034) NE of Chakardharpur and continues
through Kharswan, Sini, Turamdih, Narwapahar, Bhatin, Jaduguda, Rakha Mines, Roam,
Siddeswer, Kendadih, Surda, Mosabani and Badia. This zone of shearing along which copper,
uranium and apatite are found is like an arc and is about 100miles long.
Fig. Geological map of the Singhbhum provenance showing the location

of uranium deposit along the Singhbhum shear zone (SSZ),
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Fig. Satellite Image showing

Uranium Mines
Location of Narwapahar:-
Page 14
The Narwapahar deposit (Lat: 22041; Long: 86016) is situated approximately 11Km. west of
Jaduguda in the central region of the Singhbhum Thrust Belt approximately 200Km due west of
Kolkata. The deposit is accessible by good, all-weather roads from Jamshedpur (approximately
15Km). The Nearest railway station is Tatanagar and airports are Tatanagar and Ranchi.
The mineralization extends from the Gara Nala to Harharjuria Nala and a little further covering a
length of over 3Km. The radioactive outcrops are along the low mounds at the N orthern foot of
the Narwapahar hill. The eastern extension is known as Khundungri after the hill of the same
name situated to the East of Gara Nala. The deposit is named after the main hill, as the major and
important part of it is flanked on the south by the Narwapahar hill.
Physical boundaries of Narwapahar:-
The central part of the deposit is exposed to the northern foot of the Narwapahar hill, from where
it
extends eastwards along a low hillock named Khundungri and then across the Gara Nalla into
Rajdah.
The ground is undulating but in general slopes northwards to a small easternly flowing water
course
which joins the Gara Nalla, a tributary of the Suvarnrekha River.
Except for the outcrops of rocks at the foot of the hills and the mounds of Singri - dungri and
Bana dungri on the deposit, the area is covered by paddy fields.The mineralisation of the
radioactive
elements along the Singhbhum belt has taken place in a variety of rock types.
Local Geology :-
Stratigraphy of Narwapahar :-
C. Dhanjori Stage (2000)My. Foot wall Quartzite of the Narwapahar Hill
B. Iron ore Stage ( 2400) M.Y. Chlorite Sericite Schist
A. Chaibasa Stage ( 2600)M.Y. Chlorite Schist
Page 15
Fig. Geological Map Of Narwapahar
Lithology of the area:
The rock units are broadly classified as follows:

(i) The Garnetiferous Mica/Sericite Schist to the North with varying amount of quartz and other
mineral constituents. These rocks are considered to be of
Chaibasa stage. These are impersistant band of quartzite.
(ii) The Middle Schistose Rocks are referred to the Iron Ore stage and are of special interest as
they alone carry Uranium mineralization. The schists are generally chloritic with or without
sericite content and with varying degree of silicification. On the basis of lithological
characteristics, these are further divided into three types
a. The Chlorite-Sericite Schist, light green in colour with much of solicification and conspicous
magnetite dissemination and quartz.
b. The Chlorite-SericiteSchist, light green in colour with less degree of silicification and
inconspicuous magnetite mineralization. Rock is generally devoid of quartz lenticles and exhibits
crushing and mylonitisation. This forms the host rock for the Uranium mineralization
disseminations and quartz.
c. The Chlorite Schist, dark green in colour, considered silicified and with the large grains and
crystals of magnetite. Apatites with plenty of quartz lenticles are present in the formation. Within
the formation a conspicuous quartz reef with gossan like ferringinous material is noted. This
footwall Chlorite schist is particularly silicified at the Singrigundri and Bandungri blocks to
appear at places as schistore quartite.
Host rock:
The mineralization in hosted Quatrz Chlorite sericite Schist containing some

Magnitite. The ore body are essentialy monomineralic with the Uranium
occurring as Uraninite (U3O8.).
Page 16
Structural Geology of the region:

The rocks of the iron ore series have been strongly folded and highly metamorphosed. The
principle tectonic movement were from North to South and the body were folded into well
defined anticlines and synclines.The Singhbhum Thrust Belt of which the area forms a part is
structurally an anticlinorium of isoclinally folded northernly-dipping rocks, with over thrusting
along the southern limb of the geo-anticline caused by tectonic movements directed from North
to South. The Thrust Zone which has an arcute trend has brought the Chaibasa Stage rocks in the
North in juxta position with the Iron ore stage rocks in the South. This thrusting is accompanied
by crushing, mylonitisation, drag folding, intense shearing, fracturing and brecciation. The most
important structural features are the cross folding generally indicated by the wobbling trend of
the outerop. In addition minor upward crenulations are observed particularly in the Gara Nala.
The area is traversed by few transverse fault, particularly in the eastern part.
The general strike cross folding and the subsequent disturbances have given rise to several sets
of joints sub parallel to and transverse to the strike. They may broadly group as under:-
Strike of the ore body - N600W-S600E
Dip of the ore bode
1. Main Band - 240-380 due NE
2. Khundungri - 310-400 due NE
a. Striking N 600 700 W-S 600 700E and inclined to south around 600 800 (J1)
b. Striking N 100 200 W S 100 200 E and inclined to east around 600 (J2)
c. Striking N 600 700 E S 600 700 W and inclined to west around 600 800 (J3)
Such pattern of joints along with weak foliation planes give rise to rhombohed ral and irregular
blocks during blasting and poses of roof support problem in stopes.
Mineralisation :
Uranium was discovered by Atomic mineral Directorate for exploration and Research. As is the
case with other deposits in the Singhbhum belt, the uranium mineralization in the Narwapahar
area is confined to the zone of thrusting and shearing. It is considered to be of hydrothermal type
of high temperature oxide phase, having been emplaced subsequent to the apatite -magnetite
lodes but much earlier than the low temperature sulphide phase of mineralization. It is
considered that the mineralization took place through the agency of solutions probably
emanating from the soda granite, of which there are outcrops north of the Singridungri and west
of the area under consideration.
Considerable felspathization is also observed in the cores of the bore holes drilled all over the
deposit.
The uranium mineralization is found to be associated with chloritization, sercitization, fels

pathization and minor biotitization. It appears to have been controlled by the principle cross
folds, and the loads were probably thickened by subsequent cross folding and thrust faulting.
Page 17
The mineralization is in the form of peppered disseminations, mainly of minute grains of

uraninite deposited along the shear planes and partly associated with flakes of chlorite. The ore
bodies are generally lensoid and show an en echelon behavior with respect to each other.
The general inclination, of the formation and the contained mineralised bands is observed to be
29 to 35 degrees from horizontal. The uraniferous mineralisation appears to follow the rock unit
and true foliation at a higher angle. This indicates -
The mineralisation follows the shear planes. Sum total effect, slips and shears results in upward
shift of mineralisation along foliation in dip direction. Wrapping of the formation is in dip
direction. Drag folding and minor crenulations are the result of shearing. According to
Avinogradov, Tugarinov, Zhjkov, Stapnikova, Bibikova and Khores the absolute age
determinations of major events of mineralization in Singhbhum Thrust Belt are as follows:
Uranium and Copper Mineralization 1600 m.y.
50
Apatite and Magnetite Mineralization 1950 m.y.
100
Singhbhum granite 2100 m.y.
200
Page 18
Ore Reserves and estimation :
The Uranium deposit at Narwapahar was explored and proved by AMD. The ore reserves were
initially estimated at 0.040 % e U308 as cut off grade. It was estimated to have 8.66 million
tonnes of ore having an average grade of 0.058 % e U308. These reserves were jointly evaluated
by a team of Geologist from AMD and UCIL. Later on UCIL has calculated the ore reserves at
0.030% e U308 as cut off grade and it is estimated to have 17.6 million tonnes of ore having an
average grade of 0.047 % e U308. AMD has not estimated the reserves at 0.030 % e U308 as cut
off grade.
In 1985 AMD revaluated the deposit of Narwapahar at 0.020% e U308 as cut off grade and the
report was submitted to UCIL. The reserves at 0.020 % e U308 cut off were examined by a team
of Geologist from AMD and UCIL and they agreed that Narwapahar has ore reserves of 26.65
million tonnes of ore having average grade 0.044 % e U308.
Initially the mine was designed to produce ore following 0.040% as cut off grade but after
working for a few months it was realized that for better productivity it is necessary to work at
0.030 % e U308 as cut off grade, because at 0.040% cut off grade, the ore body was thin, highly
irregular and discontinuous. Since then Narwapahar mine is producing ore at 0.030% e U308 as
cut off grade. At 0.030% e U308 the ROM is fluctuating in between 0.040 % - 0.042 % e U308, 8-
12 % dilutions cannot be avoided. UCIL has not agreed to work at 0.020 % cut off grade mainly
because it is not economical to produce ore at that cut off grade because ROM will further fall to
0.037 %, if 0.020% cut off grade is
implemented. It will adversely affect the recovery of Yellow cake (Magnesium Di -
Urinate).
Narwapahar is an underground mine which started producing incidental ore, in 1992, but
the mine was commissioned in April 1995. The ore production target was initially 700
TPD which has been gradually increased to 1500 TPD in due course of time. The mine has
produced 4.31 million tonnes of ore having an average grade of 0.043 % e U308 up to 31st
March 2010. In financial year 2010-2011 the mine has produced additional amount of
4242725.00 tonnes of ore having average grade of 0.043 % e U308. Thus the total ore
produced up to 31st March 2011 is 4.74 million tonnes of ore having an average grade of
0.043 % e U308. In Narwapahar Mine the ore is being produced mainly by the horizontal
cut and fill with the post pillar method, where the amount of ore lost in the post pillar,
crown/sill pillar and rib pillars is 20% of the total reserve.
Important Lodes
a) Main Band
b) Band no. 2
c) Band no. 3
d) Band no. 4
e) Band no. 5
f) Hang wall lode West of Fault
g) Hang wall lode East of Fault
h) Khundungri
Uranium minerals and by-products

Uranium minerals present Uraninite, Pitchblende (Traces)
Page 19
By Products Magnetite.
Host of Uranium Mineralization

The mineralisation is hosted by Quartz chlorite sericite schist containing some
Magnetite. The ore bodies are essentially monomineralic with the Uranium occurring as
Uraninite (U3O8).
Chemical composition of host rock
Mineralogical Composition of Host Rock
Uranium-bearing minerals from the Singhbhum copper-uranium belt.
Mineral Composition Reported from Reference

Uraninite (U41-xU6+x) O2+x The hypogene uranium ores Karkhanawala
Unaffected by supergene
process. Also in several sulfide
and apatite-magnetite
deposits
Leaching efficiency of Narwapahar Ore.

The uranium mineralization all along the Singhbhum thrust belt is characterized by low
grade but relatively high tonnage. Considering the ore reserves of Narwapahar mine,
80% of total reserve comes from Main Band, 12 % occupied by Khundungri Lode and rest
of 8% is being consisted of Band No. 3. Leachability % of U3O8 in type of rocks according
to average grade is as follows.
Page 20
Uranium Genesis
Genesis of Uranium minerals in the thrust belt has been broadly, in two phases. An earlier phase,
a right temperature oxide phase, consists of apatite, magnetite, ilmenite and uraninite. The later
phase, a lower-temperature sulphide- phase, consists of sulphide minerals proper. Uranium in
the form of uraninite and pitchblende is associated with the higher temperature oxide phase.
The mineralizing fluids have been localized by the axial-plane shears and thickened up by the
crossfolds and confined to the zone of shearing. Usually along the thrust belt uraninite showings
are to the hang-wall side of
the copper showing.
Petrographic study:
Fermor noticed incrustations of uranium mica on the apatite-magnetite ores at Sunrgi* from the
same area some green and yellow incrustations containing uranium on apatite-magnetite ores
were reported by Pascoe (1930). Dunn (1937) identified as Torbernite a mineral shown to him
by E. C. Murray, a free-lance Prospector and miner, who had collected the mineral from the belt,
Ore body
boundaries are sharp to gradational. No definite wall rock alteration is discernible around the
ore bodies. Locally, as at Jaduguda, Bhatin and Narwapahar however quartz and Na-feldspar
reddened with hematite dusts and occurring either as disseminated grains or discrete veinlets
have been noted, but it is difficult to correlate the intensity of hematitisation with uranium
mineralisation even in these deposits. Uranium occurs in several other phases in small
proportions, as:
a) A participant in the structure,

b) Minute inclusions of uraninite / pitchblende in some other minerals,
c) Ions adsorbed in such phases or iron oxides, hydroxides etc.
Rock Mechanics properties:
Page 21
Page 22
Surveying is one of the major works of any mining activity. It helps in app roximately locating the
ore body. It is rightly called as eye of the mines.
Some salient features:

A surface survey is done first. For that, a base line (or 2 base points) is required. Length
and bearing of this line is measured.
Grids are made first on a paper before drawing a plan on it.
Plan is made with the help of survey done of the mine. Required co-ordinates are taken
and accordingly plotted on the paper.
True north is known and its inclination with the grid north is noted on the plan.
National grid has been set up at Ghatsila and that is the reference grid of the plans.
The surveying instruments available here are:
Micro theodolite
Digital theodolite
Total station
Auto level (dumpy)
GPS not used for surveying underground as it cannot send or receive signals below the earth.
Total station is used for most of the purpose due to its versatility compared to other instruments.
CONFIGURATION OF THE ORE BODY
The Narwapahar ore lenses occur in discontinuous fashion as separate patches all along the
strike. The shape of almost all the lenses is highly irregular and varies continuously along dip.
This affects mining with ore not occurring in expected horizon limited control on dilution and
waste generation affecting production adversely. The deposit has 6 distinct ore bands as per AMD
borehole indications. They are Main band-1, Main band-2, and Band no-3, Hang wall lode west of
fault, Khundungri-1, and Khundungri-2.
Page 23
Map showing the orientation of the ore body
Ore production from each singhbhum stratigraphical zones
Page 24
At Narwapahar Mines we are dealing with radioactive minerals like Uranium (solid) and Ra don
gas. The radioactive minerals are easily distinguished by their physical property of radioactive
decay and help effectively in performing qualitative and quantitative estimations. Three types of
rays are emitted during the radioactive decay: -
Alpha rays- These are helium atoms with 2 orbital systems stripped off i.e. He2+ ions. These are
very heavy in nature and stopped by the rocks in the mine itself.
Beta rays- These are electrons and slightly more penetrating than the alpha rays.
Gamma rays- These are very high frequency electromagnetic radiations which have the power to
penetrate even a few centimetres of lead.
Basic principle of radiometric measurements- Uranium undergoes a series of transformations

due to emission of rays forming isotopes of various elements called daughter products until a
stable end product i.e. Lead (Pb) is formed(as shown below in the equation).
Fig:-The equation for nuclear fission
Generally all very radioactive rocks having primary uranium contain all these radioactive
daughter products (except lead) in a fixed proportion to the parent i.e. uranium. Such a state is
called an Equilibrium state and the intensity of any of any three radiation measured is directly
proportional to the parent element. This is the principle behind radiometry.
As alpha and beta radiations are not suitable for making in-situ measurements therefore using
simple detecting systems, the intensity of gamma radiations is measured. It helps us in
determining data regarding grade and thickness of the ore body (in situ) in a short time. The
different detectors used are as follows: -
Geiger Muller (GM) counter-
This consists of an evacuated glass tube filled with a mixture of argon and ethyl alcohol or
halogen at a low pressure. There is a wire in the centre of the tube which acts as an anode
Page 25
and the coaxial cylinder acts as the cathode. The application of high voltage of the order of
500V across the electrodes establishes an electric field. The gamma rays are intercepted by
the cathode and the resulting interactions produces ionization in the tube and small
electric signals (pulses) are produced.
Scintillation counter-
This consists of a thallium activated sodium iodide crystal and an electronic device called
photo-multiplier tube. Whenever a gamma ray passes through the crystal, a part of the
energy of the ray is absorbed in the crystal. This absorbed energy produces excitation in
the crystal resulting in small spaces of light called scintillations. These are picked up by
the photo-multiplier tube, which in turn produces small electric signals (pulses).
Thus both the above detectors convert the gamma rays into pulses. Since these pulses are too
small, they are amplified and shaped to equal amplitude pulses by means of electronic circuits.
These signals can be counted directly by an instrument called scalar, or converted into a current,
which is measured by a counting rate meter. Thus for any measurement, a detector, a high
voltage supply and a scalar or a counting rate meter are essential.
Applications in mine
Face scanning: For mining of uranium ore, since it is not visible, it is essential to have an idea of
thickness and grade of the mineralised portion of the rock, so that the waste cutting is reduced to
the minimum, thereby effectively controlling the grade. This is being done as a matter of routine
in all development faces to direct the course of subsequent blasts and in all stope faces. The
procedure consists of scanning the mine face with a directional probe (called shielded probe).
This probe consists of a G.M. Tube fixed in semi-circular lead shield of about 2.5cm. The shield
enables to cut-off the radiation coming from all directions except from the portion where the
probe is kept. The G.M. Tube is connected to a counting rate meter. The probe consisting of the
G.M. Tube is moved at regular interval of 15cm along a diagonal line drawn perpendicular to the
foliations. The instrument is precalibrated in % of eU3O8. Once the values in terms of eU3O8 is
known, one can delineate the ore zones as per the cut-off grade.
Shot hole logging: Sometimes the ore body is quite wide and the HW contact is not exposed in
the drive itself. In such cases, regularly spaced exploratory holes are drilled at right angles to the
foliations and are logged with G.M. detector attached to a long conduit pipe. The detector is
inserted in the holes and readings are taken at regular intervals. From these readings the
thickness of mineralised zone can be known. By plotting these readings one can easily get an idea
of the profile of the ore body in various horizons.
Page 26
Bore hole logging : As a part of exploration work, boreholes are drilled using diamond drilling
machines at different levels. These boreholes are also logged with a G.M. detector housed in
waterproof brass housing with a built-in pre-amplifier. The probe is also used along with a
counting rate meter.
Channel Assay: in order to estimate ore reserves, grade and thickness of the ore body, channel
assay is done in newly developed drives using shielded probes. Data so obtained is plotted to
prepare the channel assay plan.
Bulk Uranium ore Analyser (BUOA) : In order to keep the grade of the broken ore above a
particular cut-off value, BUOA has been installed in main tramming level (555 ML) just before
the ore pass. Here the more efficient scintillation detectors are used along with a microcontroller
based system. The detectors are placed in specially designed collimated lead shield; so that the
maximum area of the individual tube is looked into. The unit is calibrated to give the grade in
terms of % eU3O8. Thus one can know the grade of the material drawn from various stopes and
development points before it is dropped in the ore pass.
Powdered Sample Assay: The mill draws a sample of the classified overflow product, and a
portion of it is chemically assayed in the Control Research and Development (CRD) laboratory of
the mill and the other portion is radiometrically assayed by Physics section. Thus a tally of the
tonnage and grade of the ore supplied to the mill and the tonnage feed to the mill with the
corresponding chemical U3O8 value of the ore is made.
Page 27
Introduction:
One of the major parts of any mining activity is taken care by the Mechanical Department. The
mechanical department looks after the different mining vehicles and equipment. The functioning
of mechanical department can be differentiated into 2 categories.
Mechanical
Diesel Utility
(Mining Vehicles) (Rock & Drill Shop)
The Geologists and the Surveyors after a thorough study of the mine provide the plan and the
necessary details of the mineralised zone to the concerned officials of the mechanical
department. Those working in the diesel section go through the details of the mine and decide on
the heavy mining vehicles to be used for carrying out the necessary operations like drilling,
transportation etc. Some of the mining vehicles include drill jumbo, scoop tram, mine truck etc.
The concerned authorities under the utilities section finalise the other equipment other than
the vehicles such as ventilators, compressors, pump and others.
The manufacturers then provide the various vehicles and equipment. However, the job does not
end here for the mechanical department. All the machines, vehicles and equipment are to be
maintained and used appropriately. Providing services and ensuring the intactness of all the
machines used is their primary job.
Diesel (Mining Vehicles)
Functions of the diesel section:
Decide on the vehicles to be used for the mining purpose

Maintenance of the vehicles, making sure they are in working condition all the time
Security of all the staff members
Major functions of the vehicles:
Drilling of the underground rock/ore body

Mucking
Stowing
Vehicles used have been imported from the foreign countries. Vehicles of the following two
companies are being used:
Atlas Copco (yellow coloured)

Page 28
Sandvik (red coloured)
The mining vehicles in function are :
DRILL JUMBO
BOLTEC
SCOOP TRAM
MINING TRUCK
PASSENGER CARRIER
DIAMEC 232
Page 29
Drill Jumbo
Model:
Atlas Copco
Boomer 281/282 with carrier DCI5
1. Rock drill
2. Feeder
3. Boom
4. Front jacks
5. Rear jacks
6. Cable reeling unit
7. Water-hose reeling unit
8. Protective roof
Engineof theJumbo drill used is manufactured by Deutz (German company). It is a 4 cylinder

engine with an RPM of 2800 and a power rating of 55.1 KW. Its electrical system is rated as
440V/50Hz. The jumbo drill runs with the application of electrical power and hydraulic pressure.
It is capable of drilling a hole of 45mm diameter and can achieve a length of 3.4m. Average life of
the drill is 1500m. Button bits of tungsten carbide are used.
A schematic diagram of the DC15 carrier and the positioning equipment of the drill are given
below.
Page 30
Figure: Location of controls, DC15 Carrier

A: Operators area with control panel
B: Levers for operating protective roof
C: Levers for operating jacks
D: Levers for diesel positioning
E: Drilling and positioning panel
Page 31
Figure: Boom, feeder and rock drill

1: Rear boom cylinders
2: Telescopic unit
3: Feed extension cylinder
4: Front boom cylinders
5: Rotary actuator
6: Feed lookout cylinder
Some technical data of the jumbo drill are as follows:

Length of rig in transport position : 9.9-11.7m
Width of rig in transport position : 1.95m
Height of rig with protective roof : 2.3-3.0m
Weight : 17-20 tonnes
Diesel engine power : 58 KW
Maximum lateral inclination : 0 degree
Max longitudinal inclination : 14 degrees
Ambient Temperature : 0 90 degree Celsius
Noise level at operators station : 124 dB
Radiated acoustic power : 124 dB
Vibrational level floor : 0.12 m/s
Page 32
Boltec
A fully mechanised rock bolting rig with direst control system for high
productivity and precision. For bolt lengths 1.2-6 m and effective I roof heights
up to 12 m.
All dimensions in mm
Page 33
Specifications:
Rock Drill:
Impact power, max 11 KW

Hydraulic pressure, max 200 bar
Rotation Speed 0-300 rpm
Water consumption 1.25 l/s
Weight 75 kg
Bolting Unit:
Mechanical Bolt Unit

Magazine capacity 10 bolts
Max size of face plates,
rectangular 150*150 sq.mm
Bolt length 1.5-6.0 m
Electrical System:
Total installed power 63 KW

Main electrical motor 55 KW
Voltage 400-1000 V
Frequency 50-60 Hz
Page 34
Scooptram (ST710)
All dimensions in mm
The ST710 is a compact 6.5 metric ton Scooptram with an ergonomically
designed operators compartment especially for narrow-vein mining.
Page 35
Specifications
Motion times
Boom
Raising 6.1 s
Lowering 4.6 s
Bucket
Dumping 1.3 s
Rolling back 1.7 s
Engine
Deutz diesel
Rock tough purifier and silencer
Dry type air cleaner
Exhaust heat protection
Remote engine oil drain
Power rating at 2300 rpm 149KW/200HP
Max torque at 1400 rpm 805 Nm
Brakes
Fully enclosed, force cooled multiple wet discs at each wheel end.
Electrical system
Voltage, system start and accessories 24V
Hydraulic system
Bucket float
Cylinders: double acting, chrome plated stems
Two steer cylinders diameter 80mm
Two hoist cylinders diameter 160mm
Stabilizer cylinder diameter 180mm
System pressure, dump and hoist 20.7 MPa
System pressure, steering 22.4MPa
Hydraulic tank capacity 87 litres
Fuel
Fuel tank capacity 191 litres
Fuel consumption, full load 41 litres/hour
Page 36
Scooptram (ST-3.5)
Page 37
Atlas Copco 6 Tonne Capacity Scooptram
Main Components
Canopy MSHA-ISO ROPS/FOPS Certified
Bucket Volume 3.1 m3 (Standard)
Engine Deutz Diesel
Axles Rock Tough
Brakes SAHR
Technical Specifications
Capacity
Tramming Capacity 6000 kg (13,200 lbs.)
Engine
Deutz Diesel F8L-413FW
136 kW (185 HP)
Exhaust System
Catalytic Purifier Plus Exhaust Silencer
Brakes
Service SAHR
Spring Applied Hydraulically Released; Fully Enclosed,
Oil Cooled, Multiple Wet Discs at Each Wheel End
Parking and Emergency SAHR
Tires
Tire Size, Front & Rear 17.50 x 25, 20 Ply, L-5S
Operators Arrangement
Side Seating for Bi-Directional Operation & Maximum Visibility,
MSHA-ISO ROPS/FOPS Certified Canopy
Operating Weight (Approximately)

Empty 17510 kg (38,600 lbs.)
Page 38
Diamec 232
DIAMEC 232 is an all-hydraulic drill, ideally suited for coring and drilling grout holes in narrow
tunnels and small underground spaces or surface applications in confined areas. Its compact
design and light weight, makes the DIAMEC 232 quick and easy to move between sites and set -up
for drilling, without interrupting mine production or grouting sequences in dam galleries.
Main features
Single operator all hydraulic operation
Mechanized rod handling. No tools are required
Equipped with a power take-off for driving a flush pump
Electric or diesel powered
Variable hydraulic motor for step-less regulation of

spindle speed and constant power output
Page 39
Some technical data
Max depth 150 m

Diameter 50 mm
Max speed 2,200 rpm
Max torque 250 Nm
Feed force 20 KN
Pull force 15 KN
Feed length 850 mm
Mine truck (MT2010)
The Mine truck MT2010 is a 20 metric tonne underground truck developed for small to medium -
scale underground operations and high speed development. This vehicles standard features
make it a superb mine truck in its class.
Technical data
Tramming capacity
Tramming capacity in metric tonnes 20
Measurements
Width, dump box 2435 mm
Height, cabin 2530 mm
Engine
Cummins diesel engine
6 cylinders in line
Rock tough purifier and silencer
Water cooling
Power rating 224 KW/ 300 HP at 2100 rpm
Torque, max 1369 Nm at 1350 rpm
Page 40
Electrical system
24/12 V converter
System voltage, start and accessories 24 V
Hydraulic system
Hydraulic system type Open center
System pressure 15.5
Pilot operated Hydraulic
Hydraulic tank capacity 223 l
Fuel system
Fuel tank capacity 379 l
Primary fuel filter 7 micro meter
Page 41
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological material from the earth,usually
from an ore body, vein or seam (coal). Material recovered by mining includes base metals,
precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock salt, potash, etc. Mining
in a wider sense comprises extraction of any non-renewable resource (e.g., petroleum, natural
gas or even water).
The author and his team mates also went to Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL)
Narwapahar, East Singhbhum (Jharkhand) to know the underground mining methods. The
uranium ore is found here is in the mineralized zone of the Singhbhum Thrust Belt which is about
160 km in length and 1 to 10 km in width in the east and west Singhbhum
districts of Jharkhand.The rock in the zone is highly folded and sheared. Uranium bearing
minerals mainly Uraninite occurs in very finely disseminated form. The ore lenses are hoisted in
metamorphic rock that is chlorite-schist of Proterozoic age. Grade control and identification of
ore in the mine are carried out by using Geiger Muller counters and Scintillating Probes.
DEVELOPMENT SEQUENCE
a. Development of the lower drift access to the stope. Depending on the location of the closest
drift, the stope can be accessed from the hanging wall, the footwall or a drift can be driven
parallel. If the access is perpendicular to the stope, it has to be long enough to accommodate at
least three mine cars.
b. A raise is developed in the ore to an elevation of 6 m to 12 m (20 ft to 40 ft) higher than the
main level elevation. This raise will be the chute raise.
c. The stope undercut is developed.
d. A second raise is developed to serve as a manway. In longer stopes, a second
manway is driven.
e. A chute is built.
MINING SEQUENCE
Once the development is completed, then excavate one slice of ore and filling back the
same with waste rock, mill tailings etc. This fill forms the platform for machinery, and
men to work to excavate the next slice. At Jaduguda and Narwapahar both slices will be
taken from lower to upper horizon.The breaking is achieved by blasting and drilling.
The manway and the millhole are covered with burlap to retain the backfill. In order
to avoid spills, wooden sticks are placed on top of the hole and covered with the
burlap. The equipments are attached to the back of the stope . Hydraulic fill is poured
in the stope to a distance of 2.4 m (8 ft) from the back. Cement is added for the last
foot of fill to create a solid floor for the mucking or scraping. Once the fill is completed,
the equipment is brought down. The excavation continues up to the sill pillar limit
which is recovered by longhole retreat.
CLASSIFICATION OF MINING METHODS

Basically there are two mining methods
a. Open Cast Mining
b. Underground Mining
All these methods are dependent and adopted on the structural control of the area,
rock type and overburden and nature of the mineral.
Page 42
Open cast mining

For huge, thick deposit with shallow depth they are planned. Also surface mining or
open cast mining is done only for the removal of overburden .
Loading
Up to depth of 50-100ft, its economical when labour is cheap lifting by bucket can be
employed and skidding arrangement made by lowering and loading the broken ore into
wagons or tub. Sometimes draglines are used.
Underground mining: It is employed when depth is more
OPEN STOPES
1) Breast stoping: In this type a working face is vertical, while a maximum width is about 10 -
12ft. The stope advances horizontally. Its usually used in horizontal low dipping ore bodies.
2) Gophering: This term is applied to small size

irregular unsystematic underground
working. It may just comprise of drift or
other opening which follow the ore shoot or vein
filling.
3) Open over hand stoping: In this type

stoping in started from a raise in the lower level
and progress upward, towards the next
higher level.
Underground Mining Operation
4) Open under hand stoping: It is best
suited to narrow steeply dipping veins with strong wall sand where the ore requires no sorting.
5) Pillar & chamber method: In this type the chambers may be opened up either as under hand
stopper, glory hole or as over hand stopes. When ore body is large, massive and strong its
applicable.
6) Sub level stoping: For deposit of uniform grade it is used. In these method two raises, ore
hanging wall side and another on footwall side is driven. And then, sub levels are made. The
broken ore fall into the footwall raises.
FACTOR INFLUENCING CHOICE OF MINING METHOD

When mining methods are applied in a new area, some fundamental factors are taken in to
consideration during the choice of mining methods. Choice of mining method depends upon the
following factors.
a. Economic factor
b. Safety factor
c. Strength wall rock and ore body
d. Shape and size of ore body
e. Dip and strike of ore body
f. Depth of ore body
g. Grade of ore body
Page 43
A. TUNNELING
There are two reasons to go underground and excavate:
i. to use the excavated space, e.g. for storage, transport etc.

ii. to use the excavated material, e.g. mining and quarrying operations.
In both cases tunnelling forms an integral part of the entire operation.

The main difference between tunnel blasting and bench blasting is that tunnel blasting is done
towards one free surface while bench blasting is done towards two or more free surface.
Various drilling patterns have been developed for blasting solid rock faces, such as:
wedge cut or V cut

pyramid or diamond cut
drag cut
fan cut
burn cut
Wedge cut
Blast hole are drilled at an angle to the face in a uniform wedge formation so that the axis of
symmetry is at the centre line of the face. The cut displaces a wedge of rock out of the face in the
initial blast and this wedge is widened to the full width of the drift in subsequent blasts, each
blast being fired with detonators of suitable delay time. The apex angle is as near as possible to
600 (Figure 1)
This type of cut is particularly suited to large size drifts, which have well laminated or fissured
rocks. Hole placement should be carefully pre-planned and the alignment of each hole should be
accurately drilled.
Figure 1: Wedge cut (after ICI)
Page 44
Pyramid or diamond cut

The pyramid or diamond cut is a variation of the wedge cut where the blast holes for the initial
cavity may have a line of symmetry along horizontal axis as well as the vertical axis
(Figure 2).
Page 45
Figure 2: Pyramid or diamond cut (after ICI)
Drag cut
The drag cut is particularly suitable in small sectional drifts where a pull of up to 1 m is very
useful (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Drag cut
Fan cut
The fan cut is one-half of a wedge cut and is applicable mainly where only one machine is
employed in a narrow drive. Generally the depth of pull obtainable is limited to 1.5 m (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Fan cut
Page 46
Burn cut
A series of parallel holes are drilled closely spaced at right angles to the face. One hole or more at
the centre of the face are uncharged. This is called the burn cut (Figure 5). The uncharged holes
are often of larger diameter than the charged holes and form zones of weakness that assist the
adjacent charged holes in breaking out the ground.
Since all holes are at right angles to the face, hole placement and alignment are easier than in
other types of cuts. The burn cut is particularly suitable for use in massive rock such as granite,
basalt etc.
Figure 5: Burn cut (after ICI)

B. SHAFT SINKING
In mining, shafts form a system of vertically or inclined passageways, which are used for
transportation of ore, refill, personnel, equipment, air, electricity, ventilation etc. In quarrying,
glory holes for transportation of materials such as at Perak Hanjoong. An important requirement
in shaft sinking is to provide optimum fragmentation of the rock so that it can be cleared quickly
from the congested shaft-face area. Blasting operation is carried out against gravity, and the
scatter of the broken rock is confined in the shaft. It is common to use generous distribution of
explosives throughout the rock using a large number of small diameter (35 42 mm) shot holes.
The number of holes N required for sinking a shaft of cross sectional area A in m2 is given by:
N = 2.5A + 22
The drilling patterns for shaft sinking are basically the same as those used in tunnelling but
generally the cone cut is favoured (Figure 9 and 10).
Another commonly used pattern, unique to shaft sinking, is the bench cut.
Page 47
Figure 9: Full-face blast hole pattern for shaft sinking.
Figure 10: Shaft sinking with cone or pyramid cut.

The explosives used in shaft sinking must always be water resistant. Even if the ground is dry, the
flushing water from the drilling machines will always stay in the blast holes. Suitable explosives
such as Emulex 150 or any suitable NG based explosives are easily tamped to utilize the hole
volume well.
The powder factor in shaft sinking is rather high, ranging from 2.0 kg/m3to 4.0 kg/m3
(Olofsson).
Page 48
If charges are fired electrically, great care must be taken in wiring the circuit. Since more than
100 detonators can be involved in each blast, they are connected either in parallel or in series -
parallel.
It is therefore, important to ensure that the resistance of the circuit is properly balanced and that
no charged hole is omitted from the circuit.
Page 49
EXPLORATORY MINING
Dunn & Deys regional geological survey (1928-35) indicates presence of apatite veins south of
Narwa hill, as an indication to possible mineralisation. Radioactivity was first detected in the area
during 1950-51, over a length of 400 m, by Sri S.K.Ramaswamy, of GSI.
Exploratory mining in Narwapahar was carried out by AMD in late 60s up to 76. Initially mine
was designed to produce 1000 tonnes per day. The Uranium deposit at Narwapahar was explored
and proved by AMD. The ore reservers are initially estimated at 0.040% U3O8 as cut off grade. It
was estimated to have 8.66 million tonnes of ore having an average grade of 0.058% U308. But
the instructions of the Government of India, Jaduguda was sufficient enough to meet the
requirement of Nuclear Reactor plant of the country and hence Narwapahar mine was stopped
for further production. Later on with the installation of new reactor Plants in India again
Narwapahar, Bhatin and Turamdih mines were opened after 1985 to meet the requirement.
In1985 itself AMD revaluated the report of Narwapahar at 0.020% U3O8 as cut off grade and
report was submitted to UCIL. The reserves at 0.020% U3O8 cut off were examined by a team of
Geologist from AMD and UCIL and they agreed that Narwapahar has ore reserves of 26.65 million
tonnes of ore having average grade 0.044% U3O8. Narwapahar mine was then designed to
produce 1500 TPD and the mine started its production in 1995.
COMMERCIAL MINING
After mining which was carried out by AMD, the mine was handed over to UCIL for further
commercial mining and now the mine is producing 1500 TPD of ore and 300 TPD of waste with a
ROM (Run of Mine) grade of 0.03% UO.
Suggested Mining Method For The Study Area Narwapahar

Narwapahar area (22042N and 86016E) falls under toposheet number 73J/6.It is 25 km away in
the south-east direction of Jamshedpur city which is served by Tatanagar railway station.It is
thickly forested and highly undulating as well as the great depth of ore body so, undergro und
mining method is adopted there. Narwapahar underground mine was commissioned in April
1995.It is one of the highly mechanized and is the most modern trackless underground mine in
the country. There is using latest technology in mining.Diesel traction and Electro-hydraulic Drill
Jumbos are used for drilling.The mucking of blasted ore and waste is carried out by diesel
powered Load-Haul-Dump Loaders and transported by Low-Profile-Dump-Trucks. There are two
opening for transportation for men power and materials vertical shaft and incline
Vertical shaft Narwapahar underground mine, installed a vertical shaft which is imported
and highly mechanized. It consists of 1 lift and 1 skip. It can transfer men and material
simultaneously. Lift is used for transportation of men and equipments in mine but skip is used
for only bring out ore from mine.
Page 50
Decline - It is mode of entry for vehicles by which men and excavated material can be carried
out. Narwapahar mine has a 70 access decline. Decline entry and ramps in stopes provide
means of large scale mechanization underground as large machines can be easily taken in and
out of the mine working without dismantling.
ROOF SUPPORT
Roof support need for the giving additional strength, which protect most valued em ployees as
well as equipments. A method for providing secondary roof support in an underground mine such
as to reduce the hazard of localized crumbling or deterioration of a mine roof and used to
improve the stability and maintain the load bearing capacity of rock near to the boundaries of an
underground excavation. The primary objective of a support system is to mobilize and conserve
the inherent strength of the rock mass so that it becomes self-supporting. The choice of the type
of support installed in a particular underground excavation depends upon the extent of the zone
of loosened or fractured rock surrounding that excavation.
The following roof supports are used in both jaduguda and narwapahar
a. Rock bolting
Rock bolting in 1.5m1.5m grid pattern is done in the mine using
bolts of diameter 16mm, length 2m. A pull out test is carried out
to test strength of the bolts. Since the amount of loosening does not
usually penetrate very far into the rock mass, the support is only
required to hold up the dead weight of the loose material.
Mechanically anchored rock bolts, with the addition of mesh
where small pieces of rock are likely to fall out between bolt
heads, provide very effective support for these conditions. Fig. Rock Bolting Rock
bolts are inserted perpendicular to the foliation (see Fig.).
b. Wire mesh
Wire mesh is used to support small pieces of loose rock and broken rock
from Falling .It is easily attached with the roof reinforcement with extra
faceplates and nuts. It is easily repaired. Mesh is held in place with
additional faceplates or washers and nuts on rock bolts or using
Fig Wire mesh separate pins (see Fig.7.6).
c. Crib Slippers are placed one above the other to provide support to the roof.
MINE PLANNING
Mine planning can be broadly divided as follows
1.Mine layout
It can be broadly divided into mine entries, mine development and different levels
of the underground mine.
Page 51
Narwapahar
The inclines are made more or less along the dip. Two inclines are present in Narwapahar which
is needed for safety. Here trackless mining is used. 8 decline/ 7 declin. If 7 decline, then for 1m
vertical depth we need to go 56/7 i.e. 8m horizontally and for 8 decline , for 1m vertical depth,
we need to move 56/8 i.e. 7m horizontally. In Narwapahar mine trackless haulage is used. Thus
the drive dimension is 4.5 m 3.2 m. The mine has been developed in levels- 3rd , 4th
level , 5th level , 6th level and 7th level . The levels are separated by a distance of 45 m. In
general , it is 50 m interval . As the level interval increase, the recovery increases (see Fig.).
Fig. Mine Layout Narwapahar Mine

Mine ventilation
The amount of aim Ventilation in underground is about 22m3 /min./person. In
narwapahar boundary split ventilation system is adopted. Mechanical ventilation is
through 3 main fans at the surface and booster fans in underground. Booster fans are
employed in working areas for better ventilation. In some stopes pneumatic fans are
also used. Totally there are 3 main fans located at the three extremities of the mine,
which are used ass exhaust fans (see Table 7.1). They are given below
a. West ventilation fan house.
b. East ventilation fan house.
c. Knd ventilation fan house.
Page 52
MINING TERMINOLOGY
Figure: Schematic diagram of Narwapahar underground mine.
Shaft: A vertical or inclined excavation in rock for the purpose of providing access to an ore
body. It is usually equipped with a hoist at the top which lowers and raises a conveyance for
handling workers and materials.
Drift - The passage through which air is drawn into the mine.
Drive To excavate a passage.
Crosscut - A horizontal opening driven across the course of a vein or structure, or in general
across the strike of the rock formation; a connection from a shaft to an ore structure.
Stope - An excavation in a mine from which ore is being or has been extracted.
Decline- A sloping underground opening for machine access from level to level or from surface;
also called a ramp
Incline - In mines, an inclined drift driven upwards at an angle from the horizontal.
Raise - A vertical or inclined underground working that has been excavated from the bottom
upward.
Chute - An inclined opening usually constructed of timber and equipped with a gate, through
which ore is drawn from a stope into mine ecars.
Page 53
Grizzly - A grating (usually constructed of steel rails) placed over the top of a chute or ore pass
for the purpose of stopping the larger pieces of rock or ore.
Ramp- A portion of a thrust fault that cuts across formational contacts in a short distance.
Adit - A passageway or opening driven horizontally into the side of a hill generally for the
purpose of exploring or otherwise opening a mineral deposit. An adit is open to the atmos phere
at one end, a tunnel at both ends.
Winze - A vertical or inclined opening sunk from a point inside a mine. It is similar to a shaft,
but the latter starts at the surface.
PROPERTIES OF ROCK AND ORE BODY:

1. Ore strength: Moderate
2. Rock strength: Weak (schist)
3. Shape of the ore: Discontinuous lens shaped, irregular
4. Dip of ore body: 35 at Narwapahar,
5. Size of the ore: narrow
6. Ore grade: Low (since occurrence of uranium in India is very rare)
7. Uniformity of ore body: Variable
8. Depth of ore body: Moderate
Based on nature, depth, and geological conditions prevailing there, thickness of the ore body, the
horizontal cut and fill method and room and pillar method had been chosen.
MINING METHOD
a. Cut and filled method
The method would be suitable and safe when the

walls of the lodes are likely to be weak and
subject to collapse, since good ground control is
almost immediately provide by hydraulic
filling. Effective ground control, as the weak
walls are supported and general stability of Cut and fill Method the
mine as maintained by backfilling. Hence no support pillars need be left and their recovery at
an uneconomical cost is eliminated (see Fig).
Page 54
b. Room and pillar method
With the help of room and pillar method mining can

be carrying on around. It proves space for
mining. Pillars are 10x10m dimension. For
stability of roof pillars are made and around
pillar ore is mined (see Fig.).
Room and Pillar Method
Narwapahar mine uses horizontal cut and fill post pillar method of mining. It is a method
to excavate one slice of ore and filling back the same by waste rock, mill tailings etc. this fill
forms the platform for men and machinery to work on to excavate the next slice. At
Narwapahar, slices are taken from lower level to the upper level leaving requisite Crown pillar.
The following sequences of operations are followed at Narwapahar Mine for the horizontal Cut
and Fill.
The ore drive of approximately 4.5m x 3m is developed along the footwall contact from
one end of the proposed stope block to other end along the strike.
The ore drives as developed above are widened to expose the hang wall subjected to a
maximum of 10 m, above this width regular pillars of 4m x 4m are left in the dip direction
systematically.
The drift along the strike in the footwall rock approximately 20 m to 40 m away from the
footwall contact of the re drive maintaining a lag of about 50 m. This is done to provide
permanent access to the level and serves as the hauling roadway as the ore drives get
filled on commencement of stopping operations.
At both extremities of the stopping block, raises are put up to connect the lower level to
upper level.
A ramp is developed in footwall rock to provide access to the trackless equipments like
jumbos and LHDs to the stope. Ramp is developed either from upper level to lower level
or from lower level to upper level.
The back of the ore drive is stripped up to a height of 5m to provide access to Geology and
Physics personnel to establish the vertical geometry of the ore body. This helps in planning
the distances at which footwall drift needs to be developed.
The above completes the development and stopping commences by cyclic slicing and
filling. This progresses from lower level to upper level.
MODE OF ENTRY
The mine has two entries
Page 55
(1) Decline- It is a portal entry of the mine having an inclination angle of 7 connecting each
level from the surface up to 20mL (6th level). It is a arch shaped having dimension of 5 m width
and 3.2 m height. It provided entry to the mine for both man and material
(2) Vertical shaft- It is also an entry to the mine which is connected from each level up to
275mL (7th level).The diameter of the shaft is 5m and length is 355m from the surface. It is
used for transportation of man and material.
MINE LAYOUT:
It can be broadly divided into mine entries, mine development and different levels of the
underground mine. The inclines are made more or less along the dip. Two inclines are present in
Narwapahar which is needed for safety. Here trackless mining is used. 8 decline/ 7 decline.
In Narwapahar mine trackless haulage is used. Thus, the drive dimension is 4.5 m* 3.2m. The
mine has been developed in levels-3rd , 4th , 5th , 6th and 7th levels. The levels are separated by
a distance of 45m. In general, it is 50m interval. As the level interval increase, the recovery
increases.
There are total nine levels in Narwapahar Mines.
1. FIRST LEVEL 0 ML
2. SECOND LEVEL -75ML
3. THIRD LEVEL -100ML
4. FOURTH LEVEL -140ML
5. FIFTH LEVEL -185ML
6. SIXTH LEVEL -230ML
7. SEVENTH LEVEL -275ML
8. EIGHTH LEVEL -295ML
9. NINETH LEVEL -315ML
First level and second level are stopped. Sixth level (-230ML) exploratory mining is just
started by MECL where the other levels are in development stage.
Page 56
Figure Schematic diagram of Narwapahar Mine
MINING EQUIPMENTS
Mining equipments which are being used in Narwapahar mine are:
A) Drilling
B) Loading
C) Hauling and transportation
DRILLING
Page 57
Jumbo drilling - They are high

capacity hydraulic, non-coring drilling
rigs used to drill holes in the mines. These
holes can be used further for the
blasting of the development faces or rock
bolting of the roof. It has a drilling
capacity of maximum 3m and it can drill in
all 360. Figure 4.3. Jumbo drilling
Jack hammer - It is the portable pneumatic

machine used for drilling non- coring
holes. It has the drilling best used n small ore
devices of 3m x 3m for the progressive
development of the faces. It is also used for
the rock bolting of the roof.
Fig Jack hammer
Scoop Tram (ST) - It is used for the

transportation of the broken muck pile
from the blasted face to mining truck
Mine truck (MT) - It is used for the
transportation of muck to the grizzly or
to the surface
Figure Scoop Tram & Mine truck
Scissor lift- It is a vehicle of truck type which has the lift of scissor type and can be used for
reaching the roof of the mine.
Page 58
Figure 4.6. Scissor lift
Alimak Raise climber - It is used for excavation of raise.
(a) (b)
Figure(a, b). Alimak Raise climber
Diamond Drilling machine - Daimec-232 of Atlas Copco make is used for exploration of ore
lenses. It is a hydraulic machine which operates under hydraulic pressure generated by it. It can
drill up to depth of 180m-200m horizontally. It is a coring machine. Cores obtained from it is of
diameter 34mm and the hole diameter is 36mm.
Loading & Transportation:
After the ore extraction, the ore is transported using tubs mainly, to the grizzly. The ore is then
passed through the grizzly, so that the larger oversize blocks are caught, and treated; whereas
the smaller particles passes through the grizzly to the crusher where the ore is graded into finer
particles. This ore is then passed to the raise, where the ore is collected. The ore is then taken
Page 59
by the skip and is transported to the ground surface. The ore is transported to the mill, using
the conveyer belt for further treatment and ore extraction.
In Narwapahar, the 3rd level has grizzly attached directly to the ore pass raise, but for all the
other levels, it has grizzly attached first to the finger raise, followed by the ore pass raise. This
is done for safety of the mine workers.
Conveyer Belt- It is used for the transport of the mining materials from the mine to the mill, in
Jaduguda. Underground mining operations utilize portable conveyors to move material from
active mining seams to a central material handling facility. The conveyors must be easily
assembled and disassembled to facilitate quick turnaround times when moving operations from
a depleted seam to a fresh seam.
Cage- Cage hoisting is for men, materials and minerals. By the use of cage, both me n and
materials are transported in large volumes, safely, reliably, effectively and efficiently. It is a cost
effective solution to any mine shaft configuration.
Gran by car- Used for conveying ore up the mine shaft. Its capacity is 3.5 tonnes.
Tub- A bucket used for conveying ore or coal up a mine shaft. Its capacity is 1.1 ton.
Track Haulage - It is used for movement or transportation of excavated or mined materials in

cars or trucks that run on rails.
Trackless Haulage- In trackless haulage, more sophisticated and larger vehicles are used.
Trackless haulage is practiced in Narwapahar mine
MINE VENTILLATION
Decline ventilation- Initially during the blind heading development of decline, auxiliary
ventilation will be provided by axial flow ventilation fan of 10m/sec. Capacity at 1.9kpa through
760mm dia. Ventilation ducts. Booster fans same capacity will be provided at 180m interval.
Existing underground workings are being dewatered. Incline no.2 connecting surface with
underground working will be fitted with the exhaust fan of 28.32m/sec at 0.75kpa.
When decline reaches the elevation of the first level a connection will be made with existing
first level (at 45m depth from surface) after which the first level will serve as the return airway
exhausting through incline No.2. Similar process will be repeated up to the existing third level
(at 105m depth). This will reduce the return path at periodic interval with use of proper
ventilation stoppings.
Page 60
Electrical department is responsible for the supply of power to all the mining activity in the form of
electricity. Not only it serves the mining area but also the residential township of Narwapahar gets its
power supply from the Main receiving station (MRS), which is the supply station of the Narwapahar.
The conversion of the main supply of 33KV to 6.6 KV can be understood from the following
flowchart.
Current transformer reduces current from 400 A to 1 A

Potential transformer or voltage transformer increases the voltage from 33 kV to 110 kV.
2 nos. of 7.5/10 MVA transformers are responsible for the working of the ventilation fan.
3 sub stations reside inside the mine, which possesses auxiliary transformers of
6.6kV/415V rating.
2 DG are placed in the MRS acting as generators supplying power in times of emergency.
A pumping motor of 15 HP power is provided (no load condition 32A, normal condition
25A)
Problems to be avoided for the sake of protection: overcurrent, overload and earth
leakage fault.
Page 61
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REPORT ON NARWAPAHAR MINE IN UCIL BY IIT KHARAGPUR STUDENTS

UCIL takes its commitments and responsibilities very seriously. It is dedicated to

Location and Accessibility:

Figure 1: Location and accessibility of study area

Physical and Chemical properties of Uranium

Pattern of Uranium Distribution in Earth:

There is a general tendency of younger granites to be richer in uranium which is in accordance

1. A1+ (U02)2+ (R04)3- xH2O

Where A = K, Na, H; B = Ca, Ba, Mg, Cu, Fe2+, Pb; R = P, As,V.

enter a given crystal lattice more readily.

Hydrogen Ion Concentration (pH):

Oxidation-Reduction Potential (E.,):

Singhbhum sheer zone:

The Singhbhum craton is bounded by the Mahanadi Graben,(SukindaThrust), Son Narmada

Stratigraphy of Singhbhum Sheer zone:

Regional Geology of Singhbhum Sheer Zone :-

Fig. Geological map of the Singhbhum provenance showing the location

Fig. Satellite Image showing

Physical boundaries of Narwapahar:-

C. Dhanjori Stage (2000)My. Foot wall Quartzite of the Narwapahar Hill

B. Iron ore Stage ( 2400) M.Y. Chlorite Sericite Schist

A. Chaibasa Stage ( 2600)M.Y. Chlorite Schist

Fig. Geological Map Of Narwapahar

Lithology of the area:

The rock units are broadly classified as follows:

The mineralization in hosted Quatrz Chlorite sericite Schist containing some

Structural Geology of the region:

The uranium mineralization is found to be associated with chloritization, sercitization, fels

The mineralization is in the form of peppered disseminations, mainly of minute grains of

Ore Reserves and estimation :

Uranium minerals and by-products

Host of Uranium Mineralization

Mineralogical Composition of Host Rock

Uranium-bearing minerals from the Singhbhum copper-uranium belt.

Mineral Composition Reported from Reference

Leaching efficiency of Narwapahar Ore.

a) A participant in the structure,

Rock Mechanics properties:

Some salient features:

CONFIGURATION OF THE ORE BODY

Map showing the orientation of the ore body

Ore production from each singhbhum stratigraphical zones

Basic principle of radiometric measurements- Uranium undergoes a series of transformations

Fig:-The equation for nuclear fission

Geiger Muller (GM) counter-

Diesel (Mining Vehicles)

Functions of the diesel section:

Decide on the vehicles to be used for the mining purpose

Major functions of the vehicles:

Drilling of the underground rock/ore body

Atlas Copco (yellow coloured)

Sandvik (red coloured)

The mining vehicles in function are :

Engineof theJumbo drill used is manufactured by Deutz (German company). It is a 4 cylinder

Figure: Location of controls, DC15 Carrier

Figure: Boom, feeder and rock drill

Some technical data of the jumbo drill are as follows:

Impact power, max 11 KW

Mechanical Bolt Unit

Total installed power 63 KW

Atlas Copco 6 Tonne Capacity Scooptram

Operating Weight (Approximately)

Mechanized rod handling. No tools are required

Equipped with a power take-off for driving a flush pump