Bogala graphite mine pneumatic stope drilling: wet drilling dust suppression and safety?
What pneumatic jackleg drill operating pressures and water-flush systems prevent respirable graphite dust hazards inside Bogala underground stopes?
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3 Answers from travellers
Underground vein graphite mining at Bogala requires drilling blast holes into hard host gneiss and graphite veins using pneumatic rock drills (jacklegs). Because respirable crystalline graphite dust causes chronic pulmonary anthracosilicosis, wet drilling is mandatory under mining safety laws. Water is fed under pressure through the center of drill steels directly into the cutting bit tip, instantly trapping rock and carbon dust into a heavy slurry before it becomes airborne.
Miners wear approved half-mask cartridge respirators underground as a redundant safety layer against ambient carbon particulate exposure.
Ventilation airflow velocity through working stopes is checked weekly by ventilation safety officers using digital anemometers.
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