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Spotlight: Mining Safely in Canada
In many regions, the glacial till—a water-bearing layer of clay, sand and stone—and the Blairmore Group—a mixture of sand, shale and water under a geological pressure of 700 psi, that can be 400 feet thick—present a challenge for mining companies. For instance, if an attempt is made to excavate or drill through these layers, the materials can flow into the shaft in liquid condition and the excavation or shaft will collapse. The solution has been to mechanically freeze the ground below the surface using a -40° Fahrenheit/Celsius calcium chloride brine solution pumped through CIMCO chiller packages. This technique has also been used by CIMCO in the construction of underground foundations for multi-story buildings and airport runways.
Did you know? CIMCO was behind the first mine freezing ever done in Canada and the first salt mine freezing ever done in North America.
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