Chile Miners Must Move Tons of Rocks in Own Rescue

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Chile Miners Must Move Tons of Rocks in Own Rescue
Chilean miners must remove thousands of tons of falling rocks to aid their own rescue
By PETER PRENGAMAN Associated Press Writer
SAN JOSE MINE, Chile August 29, 2010 (AP)

The 33 trapped Chilean miners who have astonished the world with their discipline a half mile underground will have to aid their own escape — clearing thousands of tons of rock that will fall as the rescue hole is drilled, the engineer in charge of drilling said Sunday.

After drilling three small bore holes in recent weeks to create lines of communication with the miners and deliver basic food and medicine, Chile's state-owned Codelco mining company will begin boring a rescue hole Monday afternoon that will be wide enough to pull the men up through 2,300 feet (700 meters) of earth.

The first step will be to drill a "pilot hole" similar in size to the other three. Then much larger machine cutters will slowly grind through that hole, forcing crushed rock to fall down into the mine shaft area near the trapped men. Failure to keep the bottom clear of debris could quickly plug the hole, delaying a rescue that officials say could take four months.

"The miners are going to have to take out all that material as it falls," Andres Sougarret, Codelco's head engineer on the operation, told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

In all, the miners will have to clear between 3,000 and 4,000 tons of rock, work that will require crews of about a half-dozen men working in shifts 24 hours a day.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=11508711

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Sounds dangerous. Hope they will be completely safe doing this.

[truthisfreedom]

1. Hell hole.

[avaistheone1]

11. That's what I thought when I saw those poor men trapped in that mine.

I hope and pray they all can be saved. The Chilean people are showing such admirable strength and support to the courageous miners.

[Mika]

2. I just can't imagine.

Thank you for keeping us up to date.

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[sandnsea]

3. Sounds dangerous?

"Hope they will be completely safe doing this?"

I don't understand what you mean by that comment? It's yours isn't it?

[Judi Lynn]

5. You bet, it's mine. I aimed to say I hope they will survive the rescue. Thanks. n/t

[sandnsea]

7. Okay, me too

It sounded a little strange because surely that isn't going to be safe. But they've got no other choice. I can't believe their courage. It's humbling.

[Mika]

10. Socialism rules in situations like this. No "rugged individualism" down there.

All for one, one for all.

It is humbling indeed. :thumbsup:

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[pezDispenser]

4. what an awful situation

This may work out in their favor. I would think having productive work to keep them busy will help them mentally. I've read that astronauts on the space station have fully packed days.

[Posteritatis]

6. NASA actually has people at the site for that reason. (nt)

[Lisa0825]

17. This is true. They have a better chance at keeping it together

psychologically if they have tasks to focus on, rather than being helpless and waiting for outside forces to work. The fact that they will be participants in their rescue is actually good news.

[tomm2thumbs]

8. it will also keep their minds & bodies focused on a goal, which will aid them over the next months

sitting and waiting for rescue for months would be catastrophic for the mind

hope they are able to keep their wits about them and rise to the occasion - no doubt they will be welcomed back to their country at the end of this as heroes

[Botany]

9. so what? from what I have read they can't go down the mine shaft .....

.... and so they have to drill a hole from which to pull the miners out. Gravity works and the rock has to fall somewhere and that "where" is where
the miners are trapped ..... they have earth moving equipment, a fresh air supply, food, and water ..... having 2 teams one on the top and one on the
bottom both working on this project seems to make sense to me. Miners are very good @ moving rock underground.

1 ton of stone




? how do you eat an elephant? 1 spoonful @ a time.

[Judi Lynn]

15. I had the frightening image of people trying to pull large stones out of the way while new ones

were falling down upon them.

Thanks for the illustration of what one ton can look like. Not all that terrifying, if it doesn't fall on you!

[Botany]

16. The stones should be in pretty small chunks

btw i don't mean to downplay the real dangers and hard work the miners will have to
endure.

[Recursion]

12. That's probably good from a psychological standpoint

Being trapped in the dark for four months with nothing to do can be very bad for your mind. Having anything to do that's aiding in your rescue is probably going to be good for you.

[quiet.american]

13. Wow. What a story to tell their grandkids when this is all over. Pretty amazing.

Glad they're alive and that there is a plan to get them out. But I can't help but wonder how strong my state of mind would be if I were in that situation. These guys strike me as being pretty strong.

[CJvR]

14. Actually...

While this might seem like a bad thing it might just be a blessing. Having something constructive to do will be far healthier, at least mentally, than just sitting around thinking dark thoughts and with 33 men there should be plenty of manpower for the job. It sounds like it should be mostly gravel and small stuff that needs to be cleared away.

[bloomington-lib]

18. If they're trapped in a small crowded room, where are they supposed to put it?

[Judi Lynn]

19. If you click to the 3rd photo on this page you'll see the spiral mine shaft,

and note these guys are about half-way down the spiral, with the entrance blocked, but a lot of space lower down the mine shaft beyond them:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2010/aug/23/chile-san-jose-mine-trapped-miners

Looks like there's quite a bit of room there.

[rabs]

20. Sunday night update on the miners

-- A powerful Strata 950 drill will begin perforating a 66-centimeter shaft on Monday. The heavy-duty machine is manufactured in Australia and belongs to CODELCO, the Chilean government giant copper producer. The machine is said to be capable of drilling about 20 meters a day; the miners are 702 meters below the surface.


-- The miners were told to move 300 meters deeper into the mine because of the heat and humidity where they are now. There is a l.5 km shaft going deeper into the mine where there is less humidity.

-- On Sunday the miners were inoculated against diphtheria and tetanus. One of the miners has basic paramedical training and he gave the shots to all. The vaccines were lowered down the 4-inch shaft that located the miners a week ago. The shaft is to be expanded to 12 inches.

-- Vaccine against pneumococcus (pneumonia) is to be lowered Monday. On Wednesday, the miners will get flu shots.

-- Video games and soccer films are being lowered. Also lowered were socks lined with copper to help fight bacteria that forms fungus and body sores on the miners' skin.

-- For the first time on Sunday, the miners were allowed to talk with family members. Each miner got 1 minute.

-- In his Sunday sermon in Rome, the pope sent the miners a message of solidarity.

[Judi Lynn]

22. So good hearing these steps which have been taken. That should bring them real relief, comfort.

It should ease their minds considerably knowing people are really thinking hard about them, trying to anticipate and head off any additional hardships. I've never heard of copper socks! Amazing.

And they've gotten to hear from their loved ones by phone. Better than notes!

Thanks for these details. Haven't seen a word on them elsewhere. Much appreciated.

[rabs]

23. Copper-Lined Socks

Aetrex Worldwide Inc has introduced its new sock line made with copper sole technology. Aetrex copper socks have been tested in FDA-certified labs and have been found to eliminate 99.9% of several bacteria and fungi to control odor. Unlike any other sock, these socks rejuvenate the skin and improve texture and appearance. In addition, the socks wick away moisture to keep feet healthy, cool, and dry. All Aetrex copper socks are made with Cupron Yarn.
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I too had not heard of copper-soled socks until tonight while reading the Chilean media's stories on the miners. Apt, too, because Chile is the world's largest producer of copper and the miners are trapped in a copper/gold mine.

People should realize that the rescue effort that begins tomorrow (Monday) has never been done or even attempted anywhere.

Think if anyone can pull it off and haul the miners to the surface, it will be the Chileans.

[FMBM]

21. Like everyone here...

I hope and believe that this will end well, that all will be saved, returned to those that wait and love above... Let it be... let it be..

[alp227]

24. 2300 miles down? That's why it's gonna take 3 months.

I'm thinking about the oil spill/how BP plugged the leaking well. I'm hoping for survival. Such a sad story.

[rabs]

25. They are 700 meters below the surface

in feet, 2,296.59.

Today the miners were provided with special nicotine patches and gum. It will be a cold-turkey quitting for the smokers. Same with alcohol; some of the miners are said to be heavy drinkers. Folic acid tablets and Vitamin B are being lowered to the drinkers.

A Chilean Navy submarine commander by the name of Navarro is coordinating the well-being of the miners. The rescue operation has been named "Operation San Fernando," after a martyred saint from ancient Roman times.

[KamaAina]

26. I so want the movie rights to this

assuming they all get out safely, that is.