UST-JAIWA

Two freeze shafts with depths of 465 m and 422 m respectively were sunk at the Ust-Jaiwa project.

The water-bearing overburden was frozen down to a depth of 245 m. This required 45 freeze holesper shaft with high drilling precision requirements.

The construction of the two shafts was basically done in parallel but staggered by about six months. Shaft sinking and equipping works were completed in December 2019.

The sinking work was done using the final headframe and double-drum sinking hoists, which were disassembled after completion of the construction of the shafts. The sinking and lining work was performed using a multi-level work platform, operated by 2 sinking winders.

Shaft construction proceeded in several sequential steps in the frozen part of the shaft.

Redpath Deilmann completed the shaft center hole drilling, which included a complete geotechnical report. The complete shaft design included all approval documentation as per Russian mine regulations for the project.