Upward Backfill Mining Technology for Gold Mines

Gold mines are often characterized by complex ore body shapes, poor surrounding rock stability, and deep burial depths. Traditional mining methods are prone to high dilution rates, significant safety hazards, and environmental damage. Upward backfill mining, with its strong adaptability, high resource recovery, and safety and environmental protection advantages, has become the mainstream technology for gold mining under complex conditions, providing core technical support for the high-quality development of the industry.

The upward backfill mining method is based on "bottom-up layered mining with simultaneous mining and backfilling." After the lower layer of ore is mined, the goaf is immediately filled with backfill material. Once the backfill reaches its design strength, it serves as a support and working platform for the next layer of mining. The backfill not only effectively supports the surrounding rock and prevents roof falls and spalling, reducing the incidence of roof falls by more than 90%, but also controls surface subsidence to within 30mm, significantly reducing the damage to the surrounding ecosystem. Furthermore, by utilizing tailings and waste rock as backfill materials, the resource utilization of mine solid waste is achieved, aligning with green mining requirements.

Compared to traditional methods, this method allows for precise control of the mining boundary, keeping ore dilution below 8% and loss rate below 5%, maximizing the preservation of high-grade gold ore value. Through seamless integration of the "mining-backfilling-preparation" process, the mining cycle can be shortened by 15%–20%, balancing mining quality and efficiency. In practical applications, standardized technical parameters and operating procedures apply to everything from panel layout and pre-cutting to backfill system construction and mining implementation: backfilling materials are primarily tailings, precisely proportioned with cement, and different strengths of backfill are adjusted according to mining needs; mining employs shallow-hole blasting and mechanized transportation for efficient ore recovery, with the working face height controlled at 2–3 meters, ensuring a robust safety barrier for on-site operations.

Today, as gold mining extends to deeper and more complex ore bodies, the upward backfilling mining method is increasingly integrating intelligent equipment and digital mining technologies, continuously optimizing backfill material formulations and precisely controlling mining parameters. This technology not only provides gold mining companies with replicable and scalable mining solutions, but also promotes the upgrading of gold mining towards high efficiency, safety, greenness and sustainability, achieving a win-win situation for both resource utilization and ecological protection.