Abstract: Upon completion of dislodging and transporting mine material from an underground mine, the mine is converted to a repository for the disposal of hazardous waste. The mine includes a network of connected chambers each formed by surrounding sidewalls into which parallel spaced boreholes are drilled to dislodge mine material from a seam in the rock formation. For use as repository, each borehole is lined with a layer of water permeable material. Drums containing hazardous waste are encapsulated within spherical cement modules. The modules are positioned in spaced relation within the boreholes. Shock absorbing reinforcing material fills the voids within the boreholes surrounding the modules to protect the modules from damage due to seismic disturbances in the underground formation. Each of the cement modules is ventilated to dissipate heat through an air plenum into the central chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to the recovery of valuable minerals from deposits thereof in the earth and is particularly directed to a method of mining which affords recovery of at least a major portion of a seam of valuable mineral lying relatively near the surface of the earth without seriously involving the destructive effects upon the environment, inherent in surface mining. In practicing the method a relatively small proportion of the overburden covering a seam of useful mineral is removed, for later replacement, and a proportion of the valuable mineral in the seam much greater than that underlying the removed overburden is recovered by operations conducted in the pit formed by removal of overburden from selected areas, the recovery of these portions of the mineral seam being conveniently accomplished by what is known as augur mining from spaced pits disposed in predetermined patterns relatively to the mineral seam.