A ventilation study of the Detroit Salt Mine

摘要

The Detroit Salt Mine is an underground rock salt mine located in urban area within the city of Detroit, Michigan. Development of the mine started with the sinking of a shaft in 1906, and continues today as a modern industrial mineral mine producing over a million tons of crushed and screened rock salt per year. On September 27, 2003, a comprehensive ventilation investigation was performed at this historic salt mine. The purpose of the study was to determine the existing operating parameters of the mine's current ventilation system, including main fan characteristics, pressure and air quantity, shaft resistance and brattice wall leakage. This paper will discuss the results of this study in regards to historical ventilation; future mine planning and ventilation upgrades concerning underground mining's new health and safety regulations.