Developments in stiff ground support in deep
potash operations at the Vanscoy Mine
By Tim Coleman
Nutrien’s Vanscoy potash mine is the
ground, cutting down of bad ground,
date the large deformations typically
deepest (>1,100 metres) conventional
or installation of ground support. The
seen. The softness of the ground sup-
evaporite mine in North America.
two former approaches often result in
port system at potash operations was
extended interruptions to production,
typically achieved by utilising point
whereas installation of ground sup-
anchored mechanical rockbolts, par-
port allows access to be maintained
tial encapsulation of resin rebar bolts,
and production to continue.
or by introducing a softer element
The majority of the underground excavations at Saskatchewan potash mines are unsupported and rely upon the principle of stress control to manage ground conditions. Ad-
The time-dependent creep prop-
verse ground conditions are typically
erties of the evaporites led to the
addressed in three ways: changing
historical approach of using a soft
mining horizon to avoid disturbed
ground support system to accommo-
36 PotashWorks 2020
into a fully encapsulated resin rebar support element. At Vanscoy a wood washer was used. SRK’s experience with the improve-
