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This paper sets out the information required from a site investigation necessary for the successful design and construction of shafts which need Artificial Ground Freezing (AGF) for ground stability control and or groundwater ingress prevention during sinking.

This paper reviews past mine projects where an innovative approach has been adopted using
Artificial Ground Freezing (AGF) on a large scale for their successful completion. The importance of the process of AGF in the mining world cannot be overstated. In fact,
without ground freezing in many cases, such construction works would not have been possible.

Artificial Ground Freezing (AGF) has long been established as a reliable technique for the stabilization of weak and/or water-bearing strata, as an aid to excavation for shafts and tunnels, many engineers still regard it as a high-cost solution of last resort. This paper attempts to identify some of the salient factors which influence the cost-effectiveness of the AGF process versus the use of grouting.

Ground Freezing’s history, components (Analysis and design, Drilling and installation, Coolant distribution manifold, Refrigeration plant, Instrumentation, and Excavation), and historical and current use cases and implementations.