Rock Salt Block Extraction Using Conventional Rock Mining Methods

ABSTRACT Rock salt is produced in large quantities in Pakistan's Salt Range region. Salt tiles, blocks, and lamps are the primary rock salt exports, whilst household usage and the chemical sector are the main local consumers. The size, shape and quality of the block play a role in how profitably salt may be produced for value addition. When the blocks have very few cracks, adding value to the salt is simpler. The current method of extracting salt includes drilling and blasting that causes unintended cracks in the blocks. The extraction of rock salt blocks using traditional cuboid-shaped block mining techniques is the main topic of this research. The methods include blasting with low-yield explosives, expansion agents, and wedges and feathers. The in-situ experiments resulted in wedges and feathers approach being the most effective way to mine rock salt blocks of the correct size and form, while reducing cracking. Using core drilling at the block's edge, the quality of the blocks for the various procedures was evaluated. INTRODUCTION Rock salt is mined using traditional drill and blast methods in both underground mining and quarrying operations. In general, automated mining processes make it possible to recover minerals using mechanical excavators, brine pumping, and evaporation techniques. Nonetheless, the room-and-pillar method of conventional underground mining of large deposits is the most time-tested and widely used method for extracting salt. The salt recovery is about 40%, rest is left in the mine to support the roof (Hustrulid, 2001). With an annual production of roughly 2.16 Mt, Pakistan is a country that produces rock salt (Department of Mines & Minerals, 2015). Just 15% of salt produced is thought to be export quality, with the remaining salt being of low value because of cracks created during mining. Globally, Himalayan rock salt is a very well-liked product. There is high demand for a variety of products, including salt blocks, salt lamps, tiles, salt block slabs, and materials for medical slabs (Naz and Haleem, 2010; Rashleigh et al., 2014).