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Kahatagaha graphite mine air winze engineering: operating at 600 meters below surface?

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M
Mark Mineral•910 rep

How do pneumatic lift shafts and natural geothermal ventilation systems function in Sri Lanka’s deepest commercial mine at Kahatagaha-Kolongaha?

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5 Answers from travellers

✓Accepted Answer

Kahatagaha-Kolongaha in Kurunegala District operates the deepest operational mine shafts in South Asia, plunging over 600 meters (2,000 feet) into Precambrian high-grade metamorphic gneiss. Navigating these depths requires double-drum electric winding hoists operating within vertical timbered shafts. Due to geothermal gradients, ambient rock temperatures at the 600-meter bottom level reach 38°C to 42°C with 95% humidity. Ventilation is maintained via forced-draft centrifugal intake fans pushing fresh surface air down primary haulage shafts, while interconnected air winzes exhaust warm, stale air via natural convection chimney effects.

37
E
Eng Jayasinghe•1860 rep

Miners drill blasting holes using pneumatic jackleg drills lubricated with water to suppress fine graphite dust, preventing explosive carbon particulate buildup.

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M
Mark Mineral•910 rep

Veins at this depth consist of solid, metallic-silver graphite sheets up to 1 meter wide, displaying pristine slickenside shear surfaces.

17
B
Bandula GSMB Y•1760 rep

Emergency backup diesel generators at the surface are mandatory; any grid interruption stops drainage pumps, risking shaft flooding within 12 hours.

15
P
Pradeep•1690 rep

Underground shifts are strictly limited to six hours to prevent severe dehydration and heat exhaustion among mining personnel.

12
C
Chaminda•1780 rep

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