In a message dated 26/07/01, wildboar@.............. writes:

> Thanks for your informative reply.  We do realize that there is "settling" 
> of structures that would produce cracks, etc.  However, the mine was dormant
> for several years and development pursued.  

       Is it an underground mine or opencast? What is it producing? What sort 
of soil /  bedrock are you on? How far away from the mine are you and are 
there any special regulations about this, or for your area? Where are you 
located?

       If it is an underground mine, the actual blasting may be a 'red 
herring' in that it is much more likely to be the subsidance as underground 
workings are collapsed that does the damage. This should also appear on the 
seismic monitor.

       Opinions are NOT evidence and you DO need evidence! You may have to 
form an association to spread the cost of seismic monitoring, but a lot needs 
to be done by yourselves. Ask the moitoring company what additional evidence 
may be helpful or needed? In these days of digital cameras, can you get one 
which records the date of the pictures? Alternatively, you may need to 
include a dated newspaper in the first and last photos of a series. However, 
one of these cameras would enable you to take detailed pictures of your 
property at least on a weekly basis and then overwrite the card/ disk taken a 
fortnight ago. It will also make you very conscious of what and when things 
actually happen. Keep a written diary. It is a lot of work and you won't get 
success in just a few weeks, but the benefits could be very significant.

       It would be a good idea if you collected together all incidences of 
damage and actually photographed them now and then at intervals. Cracks may 
tend to widen and extend. The Al sticky tape that is used to detect window 
breakage can be useful here. On an outside brick / mineral block wall, you 
can drill and fit rods with flat tops on either side of the crack. You then 
stick a narrow strip of thin glass to the heads with epoxy. Any significant 
movement breaks the glass. You can also use Al strip or thin Cu wire to 
electrically monitor for a break.

       Can you visit a comparable location, but which is not effected by this 
mine and do a comparison survey looking for damage similar to that which you 
experience? Have you plotted the damage on a local map with colour coded 
stickers?
 
>> The "governing" authority for mines is the State Fire Marshall...and the 
laws governing mining are full of loop holes at best.  The immediate problem 
is that the mine self-monitors their blasting activities through a 
subcontractor.  First, many in the community do not believe that the mine 
always makes aware the State when they are to blast and second, we do not 
believe the reported results are accurate.

       Is the State Fire Marshall elected, or who appoints him? Can you put 
up an opposition candidate? If the records of your quakes do not tally with 
those supplied to the State, the State should act, but it may not, which is 
why you need to develop any available political clout. You need to make 
officials aware of problems. This involves a lot of people writing a lot of 
letters and keeping records.

       Have you made enquires of other places which have successfully got 
mining damage repaired? Are ther any national associations that you can ask 
for advice? You may be able to get the mine to carry out repairs without 
admitting liability. However, if you don't organise, you are much less likely 
to succeed.

       Good Luck,

       Chris        
In a message dated 26/07/01, wildboar@.............. writes:



Thanks
 for your informative reply.  We do realize that there is "settling" 

of structures that would produce cracks, etc.  However, the mine was dormant

for several years and development pursued.  



       Is it an underground mine or opencast? What is it producing? What sort 

of soil /  bedrock are you on? How far away from the mine are you and are 

there any special regulations about this, or for your area? Where are you 

located?



       If it is an underground mine, the actual blasting may be a 'red 

herring' in that it is much more likely to be the subsidance as underground 

workings are collapsed that does the damage. This should also appear on the 

seismic monitor.



       Opinions are NOT evidence and you DO need evidence! You may have to 

form an association to spread the cost of seismic monitoring, but a lot needs 

to be done by yourselves. Ask the moitoring company what additional evidence 

may be helpful or needed? In these days of digital cameras, can you get one 

which records the date of the pictures? Alternatively, you may need to 

include a dated newspaper in the first and last photos of a series. However, 

one of these cameras would enable you to take detailed pictures of your 

property at least on a weekly basis and then overwrite the card/ disk taken a 

fortnight ago. It will also make you very conscious of what and when things 

actually happen. Keep a written diary. It is a lot of work and you won't get 

success in just a few weeks, but the benefits could be very significant.



       It would be a good idea if you collected together all incidences of 

damage and actually photographed them now and then at intervals. Cracks may 

tend to widen and extend. The Al sticky tape that is used to detect window 

breakage can be useful here. On an outside brick / mineral block wall, you 

can drill and fit rods with flat tops on either side of the crack. You then 

stick a narrow strip of thin glass to the heads with epoxy. Any significant 

movement breaks the glass. You can also use Al strip or thin Cu wire to 

electrically monitor for a break.



       Can you visit a comparable location, but which is not effected by this 

mine and do a comparison survey looking for damage similar to that which you 

experience? Have you plotted the damage on a local map with colour coded 

stickers?

 

>> The "governing" authority for mines is the State Fire Marshall...and the 

laws governing mining are full of loop holes at best.  The immediate problem 

is that the mine self-monitors their blasting activities through a 

subcontractor.  First, many in the community do not believe that the mine 

always makes aware the State when they are to blast and second, we do not 

believe the reported results are accurate.



       Is the State Fire Marshall elected, or who appoints him? Can you put 

up an opposition candidate? If the records of your quakes do not tally with 

those supplied to the State, the State should act, but it may not, which is 

why you need to develop any available political clout. You need to make 

officials aware of problems. This involves a lot of people writing a lot of 

letters and keeping records.



       Have you made enquires of other places which have successfully got 

mining damage repaired? Are ther any national associations that you can ask 

for advice? You may be able to get the mine to carry out repairs without 

admitting liability. However, if you don't organise, you are much less likely 

to succeed.



       Good Luck,



       Chris