Preliminary studies of the effectiveness of water jet cutting on frozen ground

Cutting of artificially frozen gravel and ice was performed under laboratory conditions at pressures ranging from 3000 to 15000 psi (20.7 to 103.5 MPa) and flow rates below 4 gpm (0.24 L/s). During the second stage of this preliminary study additional cutting and "drilling" were conducted in the permafrost tunnel at Fox, at pressures ranging from 2000 to 4400 psi (13.8 to 30.4 MPa) and flow rate up to 40 gpm (2.4 L/s). The erodability of the material (energy required to remove a unit volume of material) was calculated and used as a basis for finding the optimum conditions for frozen gravel disintegration. Recommendations for further studies are also included.Foreword -- Table of Contents -- Abstract -- 1.0 Introduction -- 1.1 Background -- 1.2 Literature -- 2.0 Laboratory studies on artificially frozen gravel and ice -- 2.1 Description of material tested -- 2.2 Sample preparation -- 2.3 Equipment used -- 2.4 Test procedures -- 2.5 Range of parameters tested -- 2.6 Test results -- 2.7 Conclusions regarding laboratory jet cutting tests -- 3.0 High pressure water jet field studies -- 3.1 Test facility description -- 3.2 Testing program -- 3.3 Test results -- 3.4 Analysis of data and observation -- 4.0 Conclusions and recommendations -- List of figures -- List of references -- List of tables

Applicability of siberian placer mining technology to Alaska

The result of Perestroyka and Glasnost has been an awakening of potential for cooperation between East and West. Nowhere has that been better demonstrated than between Alaska and Magadan Province, USSR. This report summarizes a one year effort financed by ASTF, with participation from several technical organizations, to establish contacts with the Siberian placer mining industry. The purpose of the project was to provide initial assessment of the Soviet technology for placer mining in permafrost. A ten day trip to Magadan province by an ASTF team and a similar length visit to Alaska by the Soviet mining group representing the All Union Scientific and Research Institute of Gold and Rare Metals, (VNII-I), Magadan are described. The report also reviews translated data on mining in permafrost and describes surface and underground placer mining technology developed by the Soviets. The report also lists relevant publications on Soviet mining research and state of the art Soviet mining technology and expertise

Preliminary studies of frozen gravel properties related to underground mining

1. Introduction -- 2. Literature review -- 3. Testing -- 3.1. Description of material used -- 3.2. Sample preparation -- 3.3. Uniaxial compressive tests -- 3.3.1. Testing procedure and test results -- 3.3.2. Conclusions -- 3.4. Water jet cutting tests -- 3.4.1. Equipment used -- 3.4.2. Test procedures -- 3.4.3. Details of test parameters -- 3.4.4. Range of parameters tested -- 3.4.5. Test results -- 3.4.6. Conclusions regarding jet cutting tests -- 4. Final remarks and conclusions -- References.This report describes research conducted by Drs. Frank J. Skudrzyk, Clark R. Barker and Marian Mazurkiewicz over a period of time from February 15 to April 15, 1982 for the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The scope of the project, established through discussions with Dr. Chris Lambert, representing the UA, was to conduct pilot studies of frozen gravel properties related to underground mining in permafrost: high pressure water jet cutting characteristics and uniaxial compressive test (uniaxial compressive strength and Young's modulus measurement). It has been agreed that the tests would be conducted on an artificial material simulating the frozen gravel