Diaphragm Wall Technique Used in a Different Way â€“ Cutting Trenches up to 823 ft (251 m) for an Exploration and Bulk Sampling Program-PPT Presentation

PPT Presentation

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The FalCon project at Fort à la Corne Forest, Canada, used a Bauer diaphragm-wall cutter for deep mining exploration and bulk sampling. Commissioned by Rio Tinto, the program excavated 10 trenches through overburden and diamond-bearing kimberlite, reaching depths of 225–251.1 m (up to 823 ft). Each trench was 1.5 m wide and 3.2 m long.<br /><br />The goal was to obtain high-quality samples for statistical analysis supporting potential diamond-mine development, while demonstrating a new sampling technology. A 2017 suitability test cut concrete blocks of varying strengths containing diamond tracers. The resulting material was assessed for chip-size distribution and diamond breakage.<br /><br />During the project, material was cut in intervals based on the kimberlite’s geological characteristics, separated, and stored. Each bag was weighed and labelled. In total, 6,848 bags containing 8,271 wet tonnes of material were collected, and the cutter excavated 11,025 m cumulatively. Sampling quality was evaluated against a chip-size-distribution criterion established during the suitability test; results across the 10 trenches ranged from 38.3% to 95.4% meeting the criterion.<br /><br />The completed trenches were backfilled, including installation of bentonite plugs.

Keywords

FalCon project

Fort à la Corne Forest

Bauer diaphragm-wall cutter

kimberlite exploration

bulk sampling

Rio Tinto

diamond-bearing kimberlite

deep mining trenches

chip-size distribution

diamond mine development