2.

History of bolting

In 19th century, tunnels supported with timber and steel sets

Enlargement of a 19th century railroad tunnel

using the Austrian system of timber sets Cast iron lining – Tower subway
1869
2.1 History of bolting

• First documented use of bolts in mining – 1936 in St Joseph

Lead Mine in the US (Weigel 1943)
• Major use of bolts followed after 1947 with the success of
the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme in Australia
– Engineers used 4 m long bolts with expanding anchors for the first
time
– Also developed methods to grout the bolts
2.2 History of bolting
• USBM promoted bolts in the US coal mines in 1947 to
reduce fall of ground accidents
• In 1949, bolts were used in 200 US mines!

Roof falls are the No. 1 killer in the Mining Industry, but not one fatality nor
one lost time accident was attributed tot that cause in the East Delaware
Tunnel, in which 124,350 pins were installed to support 65,000 linear feet of
roof. One reason for the good record is that the bolts can be applied much
closer to the face than steel sets.
USBM article, circa 1954
2.3 History of bolting

• In South Africa, West Driefontein Gold Mine started to

experimental use of mechanical anchors in 1951
• Widely accepted in 1958 in gold mines and coal mines
followed after this
Two rock bolts provide more support than a massive steel set!
2.4 Early types of bolts used on ERPM
• Split bolt and wedge (1954)
• Claims that it will support at least 10 tons!
2.5 Early types of bolts used on ERPM

Expanding cone type (1954)

Installed in stope – stoping width 45 in

2.6 Typical problems experienced in 1954

Hangingwall broken away from bolts

Bolt pulled out