Methods of Determining Rock Mass Freezing Depth for Shaft Sinking in Difficult Hydrogeological and Geotechnical Conditions/Określenie Głębokości Zamrażania Górotworu Dla Potrzeb Głębienia Szybów W Trudnych Warunkach Hydrogeologicznych I Geotechnicznych

Abstract

Abstract Methods of determining the depth of rock mass freezing for the purpose of shaft sinking in solid rocks in difficult hydrogeological and geomechanical conditions are analyzed in this paper. There are presented factors on the basis of which the freezing depth can be determined in heterogeneous rocks media. The author focuses on the source of problems with establishing parameters used for defining the freezing depth. A method of interpreting hydrogeological and geomechanical source data is presented on two examples of weak and medium compact sandstones freezing for the purpose of shaft sinking in the Legnica-Głogów Copper Mining District, south-western Poland. Moreover, a general algorithm for determining the rock mass freezing depth is given. The following main criteria of freezing depth evaluation have been assumed: hydraulic conductivity values, porosity, rock quality designation index (RQD) and Protodiakonow’s rock compaction index. The outflow of drilling fluid in the exploration borehole was taken into account as a complementary criterion. The practical use of the algorithm was exemplified by a geological profile.