Operations
Round timber poles are used for upright support in an underground mine.
for mining. Knutron points out that the
number of times the timber is treated
usually depends on the expected life of a
particular mine.
There are many different timbers available
on the market, with some being a better
choice for certain applications than others.
In the case for timber in mining, Knutron’s
article highlights that red oak, yellow
poplar, basswood and cucumber are among
the prominent choices for timber used in
mining. He adds that the choice of timber
is usually driven by the availability of
timber in the local area close to the mine.
In South Africa eucalyptus poles and sawn
timber are the predominant choice of
timber used in underground mines.
products use by coal mines’, in which they
broke down the different categories of timber
products in underground coal mines. The
article was published by the Forest Products
Journal and stresses the importance of wood
in the coal mining industry.
‘Coal cannot be mined from underground
without supporting the roof and often the
sides of the mining shafts. For this use,
wood is a valuable resource,’ the article
reads. De Haas shares the same views
saying, “Timber, when used as a part of the
total support system, is recognised for its
unique support properties.”
The first product category is a round prop
which has the main purpose of supporting
mine roofs. The article describes how the
prop is loaded in a perpendicular angle to
the roof and the floor to achieve maximum
strength. ‘Props are used in faces, mine
Different timber products
Although timber in mining is predominantly
used in underground mines, there are uses for
timber in surface mining operations as well.
According to Robert Stone, Christopher
Risbrudt and James Howard, timber is used
for temporary building, props and blocking
as well as other miscellaneous applications
in surface mining operations. The three
individuals co-authored the article ‘Wood
www.africanmining.co.za
Timber is mostly used to provide roof support in an underground mine.
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