Technology News

from the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior

Technology newl describea tested developmen from Bureau of Mine program • • It il publiahed to encourage the
transfer of this information to the minerala industry and its application in commercial practice. Mention of company
or product names II for documentat on only nd doe not imply endorsement of a pecific firm or product.

Bure u of Mines research is performed and reported under mandate of the United States Congress. For a fr. .
• ubacrlptJon to Technology New., write to Office 0'
Technology Tran,'er. Bure.u of Mine•• MS 8201,
810 7th St, NW., Wa.hlngton, DC 20241-0001.

No. 435, May 1994

Mine Closure Guidelines

Objective
P rovide the National Park Service (NPS) with guide-
lines for closing abandoned mine openings sucb as shafts
and adits.
Approach
The NPS needed alternative methods of closing a
varie ty of abandoned mine openings on National P ark
lands. Because the U.S. Bureau of Min~s (USBM) has a
long history of mining-related experience, the NPS
requested that the Bureau provide them with technical
m ine closure information. USBM engineers compiled in ~
formation on various types of mine closures and prepared
technical illustrations of those closure techniques. Mul-
tiple closure options, by type of opening, were pre pared as
one-page field guides to assist NPS field personnel in
determining the most appropriate closure method for a
given situation and detailing the (.:unstruclion of the closure
method.
Results
G uidelines provided to the NPS included a description
of the method, use applications, conslruction techniques.,
technical illustrations, and technical support information.
The following provides a brief description of 11 m ine
closure techniques ideotified for u~e by NPS personnel.
Most of the closure metbo~ except the backfill methods,
allow for construction tbat can provide access to the mine.
However) providing access makes the closure susceptible
to vandalism. Most closure methods require periodic
monitoring for subsidence and corrosion or deterioration
of construction materials.
Adit Backfill· -Backfill closure consists of filling the
portal area of an arut with on~site or imported unclassified
fill and riprap. If the adit drains water, a noncorrosive
drainpipe must be installed. Tbb method provides
permanent closure of the mine opening.
Bat GaLe-Because many species of bats liVL: in ahan-
doned mines, it is often necessary to provide a means for
bat acc.e·~ while preventing human access. To accomplish
lhis, a steel grate supported by a rigid steel frame is
cl.'menled or bolted into roek at the min, portal Site-
specific sized openings in the steel gate allow passage of
bats and other wildlife and provid~ natural ventilation.
This closure method is used where the abandoned mine
provides habitat for threatened and endangered speCies of
bats and where tbe portal is in competent rock that will
support the stee) structure. Bat gates are effective at
preventing accidental or intenlional entry by the public.
The gates, however, can be breached by persistent vandals
and must be murutored.
Cable Net Closure-Steel cabk. is formL.d into a mesh
with locked intersections to prevent spreading of the mesh.
The steel net is anchored in competent rocl surrounding
the mine opening with rock bolts or re bar anchors. Cab le
net closure i~ adaptable to large, odd-shaped openings,
including those with historic resources. Steel netting
allows bats and other small wildlife to pass and can be
modified to allow passage of larger animals. This type of
mine closure is intended for temporary closure. Steel nets
can bl; cut with cable cutters but not wilh bolt cutters.
Concrete Block Bulkhead-A bulkhead of concrete ma-
sonry blocks and cement grout is built ioto the adit portal
or inclined sbaft coUar. This application is used where no
access is required for wildlife and there is not a nearby
source of competent stone for backfilling the opening.
The portal must be in competent rock, except for the
floor. Native rock can be mortared to the exterior wall to
lend a natural appearance.

Th' document wu prepared by the: U.S. Bureau or Mines. Neithe r the Un ited Slates Government nor any person Bcting on behalf of the U nited
SLil le$ Government illSumc Bny liability reiulling from the use of the infonnalion contained in this document, or warrants that such U5C be (ree from
privately owned right~.
 Concrete Bridge OIannels Cap-Preeast concrete bridge
sections are laid over the shaft collar and back.filled to
approximate original contours at the site. This method is
used where the shaft collar has 3.6 meters (ll feet) or less
of soil cover over competent rock and can be used to
cover large shaft openings.
Concrete Shaft Cap-A concrete cap is constructed over
the shaft collar. The cap is backfilled to approximate the
original contours at the site. This closure method is used
where the shaft coUar is in competent rock.
Hollow-Core Shaft Closure-A steel-reinforced concrete
shaft wall is constructed that will serve as a foundation for
a shaft cap and an optional corrugated steel culvert access.
This closure method can be used where the shaft opening
is in soil up to 12 meters (4{) feet) deep over bedrock. It
can be used where the soil coUar bas coUapsed, forming a
funnel-shaped surface opening.
Native Rock Bulkhead-A bulkhead of native rock and
cement grout is built into the adit portal or inclined shaft
collar. This method is used where DO wildlife access is
needed and a natural appearance is desired. The portal
must be in competent rock, except for the floor.
PUF Shaft Closures-Polyurethane foam (PUP) shaft
closures consist of installing a bottom form, spraying PUP
over the form to a required minimum thickness (depend-
ent on the size of the opening), and backfilling with
common fill. PUP is a permanent closure. Lightweight
construction materials are easily transported or baclc.-
packed to remote sites. The bottom form requires little
structural strength. Backfilled openings do not attract
vandals or casual visitors if returned to natural contours.
Riprop Bulkhead-Riprap is placed inside and around an
awl portal or inclined shaft collar to provide a permanent
and complete blockage of the opening. If the portal drains
water, a noncorrosive drainpipe must be installed. This
closure method is used for permanent closures where DO
access is required for people or wildlife. See illustration
below.
Shaft or Slope Backfill-Backfill mine closures consist of
filling shafts or stopes with on-site or imported unclassified
fill, riprap, and clay barriers where it is necessary to isolate
aquifers. Backfill closures are intended for use as perma-
nent closures where no access is required for people or
wildlife.
For More Information
Further details or additional information. including
technic.a1 drawings, about any or all of these closure tech-
niques may be obtained by cont.acting the principal inves-
tigator for this project: Michael Gobla, U.S. Bureau of
Mines, Intermountain Field Operations Center, Denver
Federal Center, Bldg. 20, P.O. Box 25086, Denver, CO
80225, Tel: (303) 236-0423.

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