Method of developing permeable underground zones

Claim 1

A method of developing a permeable zone within an underground mineral deposit comprising the steps of: a. driving an access entry at a level below the top of the deposit, b. driving a zone entry transversely from said access entry at said level into the deposit, c. drivIng a plurality of crosscuts from said zone entry to form in combination with said zone entry a cavity undercutting the deposit, and d. expanding a designated block of the deposit overlaying said cavity to fill said cavity and form said permeable zone.

Claim 2

A method of developing a permeable zone within an underground mineral deposit comprising the steps of: a. driving an access entry at a level below the top of the deposit, b. driving a zone entry transversely from said access entry at said level into the deposit, c. drivIng a plurality of crosscuts from said zone entry to form in combination with said zone entry a cavity undercutting the deposit, and d. expanding a designated block of the deposit overlaying said cavity to fill said cavity and form said permeable zone.

Claim 7

A method of developing a mining layout of multiple adjacent permeable zones within an underground deposit comprising the steps of: a. driving at least one access entry at a level within the deposit, said at least one access entry being in communication with the surface at at least one of its ends; b. driving a plurality of spaced apart zone entries transversely from said at least one access entry at said level, said zone entries penetrating said deposit and terminating therein; c. driving at least two spaced apart crosscuts from each of said zone entries into said deposit and terminating therein so that said at least two crosscuts in combination with a respective one of said plurality of zone entries form a cavity of predetermined areal extent undercutting said deposit, thereby forming a plurality of separate adjacent cavities separately undercutting said deposit; and d. expanding designated blocks of said deposit respectively overlaying said separate cavities into said cavities to form said permeable zones.

Claim 8

A method of developing a mining layout of multiple adjacent permeable zones within an underground deposit comprising the steps of: a. driving at least one access entry at a level within the deposit, said at least one access entry being in communication with the surface at at least one of its ends; b. driving a plurality of spaced apart zone entries transversely from said at least one access entry at said level, said zone entries penetrating said deposit and terminating therein; c. driving at least two spaced apart crosscuts from each of said zone entries into said deposit and terminating therein so that said at least two crosscuts in combination with a respective one of said plurality of zone entries form a cavity of predetermined areal extent undercutting said deposit, thereby forming a plurality of separate adjacent cavities separately undercutting said deposit; and d. expanding designated blocks of said deposit respectively overlaying said separate cavities into said cavities to form said permeable zones.

Claim 9

A method of developing a system of adjacent permeable zones within a subterranean deposit comprising the steps of: a. driving at least two substantially horizontal spaced apart main entries along parallel paths at the base of the deposit, said main entries forming the boundaries of the system; b. driving a plurality of parallel access entries interconnecting said main entries; c. driving a plurality of zone entries transversely from each of said access entries into said deposit; d. driving at least two crosscuts from each of said transverse zone entries at spaced intervals so that said at least two crosscuts in combination with a respective one of said plurality of zone entries form a cavity undercutting said deposit, thereby forming a plurality of adjacent cavities separately undercutting said deposit; and e. explosively fragmenting designated blocks of said deposit respectively overlaying said adjacent cavities so that said designated blocks are expanded respectively into said cavities to form said permeable zones.

Claim 10

A method of developing a system of adjacent permeable zones within a subterranean deposit comprising the steps of: a. driving at least two substantially horizontal spaced apart main entries along parallel paths at the base of the deposit, said main entries forming the boundaries of the system; b. driving a plurality of parallel access entries interconnecting said main entries; c. driving a plurality of zone entries transversely from each of said access entries into said deposit; d. driving at least two crosscuts from each of said transverse zone entries at spaced intervals so that said at least two crosscuts in combination with a respective one of said plurality of zone entries form a cavity undercutting said deposit, thereby forming a plurality of adjacent cavities separately undercutting said deposit; and e. explosively fragmenting designated blocks of said deposit respectively overlaying said adjacent cavities so that said designated blocks are expanded respectively into said cavities to form said permeable zones.

Claim 11

A method of developing a system of adjacent permeable zones within a subterranean deposit comprising the steps of: a. driving at least a pair of spaced apart vertical shafts from the surface to a level below the top of a subterranean deposit; b. driving a main entry from the bottom of each of said at least two vertical shafts respectively, said main entries generally extending in a similar direction and along generally horizontal paths; c. driving at least two substantially parallel access entries each interconnecting and communicating with said main entries; d. driving a plurality of zone entries transversely from each of said at least two access entries into said deposit; e. driving at least two crosscuts from each of said plurality of transverse zone entries at spaced apart intervals, said at least two crosscuts penetrating said deposit and terminating therein, each of said at least two crosscuts forming with a respective one of said plurality of zone entries a cavity undercutting said deposit thereby forming a plurality of separate adjacent cavities separately undercutting said deposit; and f. explosively fragmenting designated blocks of said deposit respectiveLy overlaying said plurality of separate cavities so that said designated blocks are expanded respectively into said plurality of separate cavities to form said permeable zones.

Claim 12

A method of developing a system of adjacent permeable zones within a subterranean deposit comprising the steps of: a. driving at least a pair of spaced apart vertical shafts from the surface to a level below the top of a subterranean deposit; b. driving a main entry from the bottom of each of said at least two vertical shafts respectively, said main entries generally extending in a similar direction and along generally horizontal paths; c. driving at least two substantially parallel access entries each interconnecting and communicating with said main entries; d. driving a plurality of zone entries transversely from each of said at least two access entries into said deposit; e. driving at least two crosscuts from each of said plurality of transverse zone entries at spaced apart intervals, said at least two crosscuts penetrating said deposit and terminating therein, each of said at least two crosscuts forming with a respective one of said plurality of zone entries a cavity undercutting said deposit thereby forming a plurality of separate adjacent cavities separately undercutting said deposit; and f. explosively fragmenting designated blocks of said deposit respectiveLy overlaying said plurality of separate cavities so that said designated blocks are expanded respectively into said plurality of separate cavities to form said permeable zones.

Claim 14

A method of preparing underground retorts for in situ combustion operations within an underground mineral deposit comprising the steps of: a. driving at least one access entry at a level below the top of said underground deposit, said access entry being in communication with the surface at at least one of its ends; b. driving a plurality of zone entries transversely from said at least one access entry at said level into and terminating within said deposit; c. driving at least two spaced apart crosscuts from each of said plurality of zone entries into said deposit and terminating therein so that said at least two crosscuts in combination with a respective one of said plurality of said zone entries form a cavity undercutting said deposit, thereby forming a plurality of separate adjacent cavities separately undercutting said deposit; d. explosively fragmenting designated blocks of said deposit respectively overlaying said separate adjacent cavities so that said designated blocks are expanded respectively into said separate cavities to form a plurality of permeable zones; and e. providing a plurality of air inlet means communicating respectively with the top of each of said permeable zones.

Claim 15

A method of preparing underground retorts for in situ combustion operations within an underground mineral deposit comprising the steps of: a. driving at least one access entry at a level below the top of said underground deposit, said access entry being in communication with the surface at at least one of its ends; b. driving a plurality of zone entries transversely from said at least one access entry at said level into and terminating within said deposit; c. driving at least two spaced apart crosscuts from each of said plurality of zone entries into said deposit and terminating therein so that said at least two crosscuts in combination with a respective one of said plurality of said zone entries form a cavity undercutting said deposit, thereby forming a plurality of separate adjacent cavities separately undercutting said deposit; d. explosively fragmenting designated blocks of said deposit respectively overlaying said separate adjacent cavities so that said designated blocks are expanded respectively into said separate cavities to form a plurality of permeable zones; and e. providing a plurality of air inlet means communicating respectively with the top of each of said permeable zones.