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broken rock into loading chutes, tuggers (air or electric) to hoist or lower personnel or supplies <br />and diamond drills (air or electric) to drill exploratory holes to test for the location and value of a <br />vein. <br />2.3 Ventilation <br />Air is usually supplied to working areas of the mine to provide an adequate volume of fresh air <br />or to dilute or remove noxious gasses from blasting. This is done using electric powered fans that <br />bring fresh air from the surface and distribute it using vent tubing. Most of the existing and <br />future entries at the Revenue Mine are in some cases naturally ventilated but three new shafts <br />will be drilled to the surface for ventilation and secondary escapeways for mine safety. These are <br />discussed in the section on Ventilation Shafts. <br />2.3 Shrinkage Stoping Mining Method <br />Shrinkage stope is a generic term used in mining to describe the process of mining upwards from <br />a lower to an elevated horizon. At the Revenue Mine shrinkage stoping is the primary method of <br />mining the ore veins. The mining process leaves broken rock (muck) in the excavation created as <br />a working platform and assists in stabilizing the excavation by supporting the walls. When the <br />stoping is completed and all the ore has been mined in the block, the muck is then pulled out of <br />the stope from the bottom using electric slushers and hauled to the mill. Shrinkage stoping relies <br />on gravity to keep the broken ore moving to the draw points, so it only works in steep dipping <br />ore bodies or openings. There is no ground support used during the stoping process so the wall <br />rock must be strong and competent. <br />The type of shrinkage stoping that will be used at the Revenue Mine is known as a modified <br />shrink stope. To achieve the projected rate of production (250 tons /day) at the Revenue Mine we <br />will have to have three stopes being prepped, three stopes being mined, and three stopes on draw <br />at the same time. <br />Revenue Mine August 2012 D - <br />