The process of backfilling empty stopes or goafs with barren rock, sand, or cemented tailings. Stowing provides critical ground support, preventing the collapse of the overlying strata and reducing surface subsidence. It also offers a convenient way to dispose of waste material underground rather than hauling it to surface dumps.
Heard on the job
The pneumatic stowing in the lower panels is keeping the convergence to a minimum.
Also heard as
- backfilling
- packing