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A review on utilisation of coal mine overburden

dump waste as underground mine filling
material: a sustainable approach of mining

ARTICLE in INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MINING AND MINERAL ENGINEERING · JANUARY 2015

DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2015.070380

2 AUTHORS, INCLUDING:

Anup Gupta
Indian School of Mines
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Retrieved on: 03 September 2015
172 Int. J. Mining and Mineral Engineering, Vol. 6, No. 2, 2015

A review on utilisation of coal mine overburden

dump waste as underground mine filling material:
a sustainable approach of mining

Anup Kumar Gupta* and Biswajit Paul

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering,
Indian School of Mines,
Dhanbad 826004, India
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
*Corresponding author

Abstract: This paper reviews the application of coal mine overburden (OB)
dump material for backfilling in underground mine voids created due to coal
mining in deeper seams/horizons. Backfilling, which is commonly known as
stowing, provides stability of ground by preventing land subsidence, reducing
mine fire and improving the coal production by increasing extraction of coal
pillars. Different materials have been used for backfilling in underground mine
voids such as river sand, fly ash, mine tailing and waste foundry sand (WFS).
From last few decades, coal mining industry in India is facing scarcity of river
sand owing to some new mining legislations and its heavy demand in
infrastructure development. The existing coal mine overburden dumps might be
a good alternative for sand and provide a sustainable mining practice.
Geotechnical and physicochemical characterisation is required to evaluate the
suitability of OB dump material to be used as an alternative of river sand.

Keywords: backfill; land subsidence; mine fire; overburden dump; OB;

sustainable mining.

Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Gupta, A.K. and Paul, B.
(2015) ‘A review on utilisation of coal mine overburden dump waste as
underground mine filling material: a sustainable approach of mining’,
Int. J. Mining and Mineral Engineering, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp.172–186.

Biographical notes: Anup Kumar Gupta is a Research Scholar (JRF) at the

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE), Indian School
of Mines, Dhanbad. He has completed his Master’s Degree in Environmental
Science and Bachelor’s Degree in Science from VBS Purvanchal University
(UP), India. He has also qualified the national eligibility test (NET) conducted
by UGC in 2011 and 2012. As a researcher, he is working on sustainable waste
management (waste rock or overburden dump material). He has a key interest
in sustainable development aspects of mining, water pollution and their
conservation.

Biswajit Paul is an Associate Professor, having teaching experience of about

nine years at the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering,
Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India. He received his BTech (Mining
Engineering) and PhD (Mining Environment) from Indian School of Mines,
Dhanbad, India. He has lot of work experience as mining manager in mine
backfilling, sustainable mining and mine reclamation. He has key research
interest in the field of mining environment (mine fill surface and underground),

Copyright © 2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

 A review on utilisation of coal mine overburden dump waste 173

land reclamation, soil mechanics, mine fire and environmental planning

for mines. He has a number of patents in the field of mining and presented a
number of research papers in various seminars, symposium and conferences.

1 Introduction

Coal is a key energy resource of power production in India as most of the other countries
like USA, China and Australia. The power sector in India is dominated by coal, which
accounts for more than 70% of total electricity generation (Chikkatur, 2005). As we are
the second most populated country of the world, there is a need to produce coal in a large
scale to fulfil the energy demand of the country. Coal seams are found lying beneath the
surface of sedimentary rock mass or lying very near to the surface. Opencast mines
(blasting and digging) are used to extract the less deep coal seams whereas the coal seams
that are found deeper are mined out with underground mining practice.
Opencast mining is a dominated mining process that generates huge amount of rock
waste along with valuable minerals (Table 1). Waste rock material generated along with
mining is called mine overburden (Prashant et al., 2010). Generally, the amount of waste
rock is more in case of open pit mining rather than underground mining (Lu et al., 2012).
The US coal mines produce more than 150 million tons of coal refuse annually
(Karafakis et al., 1996). Dumping or management of this mine refuse is a big
environmental problem for the mining industry. Most of this waste is disposed of at the
surface, which inevitably requires extensive planning and control to minimise the
environmental impact of the mining.

Table 1 Global production of land won minerals including waste and overburden

Production net weight, % Increase since Materials moved gross % Increase since
Year 1.000 tons 1975 weight 1000 tons 1975
2000 20,933070 47.7 62,265038 48.2
1998 20,610531 45.4 60,015452 42.9
1995 19,735291 39.3 57,548678 36.8
1988 18,607294 31.1 56,864321 35.4
1985 16,942603 19.5 52028252 23.9
1980 16,196957 11.4 47407590 12.8
1975 14,172463 4200725
Source: Sustainable mining practices a global perspective,
Rajaram et al. (2005)

Opencast mining is a developmental activity, which is bound to damage the natural

ecosystem by several mining activities. During opencast mining, the overlying soil
is removed and the fragmented rock is heaped in the form of overburden dumps (Ghosh,
2002). OB dump is considered as a major contributor to the ecological and environmental
degradation as soil erosion and environmental pollution (Yaseen et al., 2012). Presently,
most of this OB material is disposed temporarily over valuable land mass, which
inevitably requires extensive planning and control to reduce their negative impacts over
174 A.K. Gupta and B. Paul

environment (Barapanda, 2001). It also results in non-productive use of land and

atmospheric pollution.
OB generated along with valuable mineral shows a specific ratio (mineral/OB) called
stripping ratio. It may vary from place to place with the change in topography. The
average stripping ratio in Indian coal mines is found to be about 1.97 m3/t in the last few
decades (Chaulya et al., 2000).
Underground mining that accounts for about 15–20% of total coal production in India
produces huge mine voids simultaneously (Sivakugan et al., 2004).
Mine voids created during the underground mining should be filled otherwise it may
cause land subsidence owing to collapse of the upper strata (Figure 1). Thus, to provide
ground supports to minimise the land subsidence problems and mine safety aspects,
backfilling is the valuable part of mining (Kesimal et al., 2002; Barret et al., 1978). River
sand is widely used, as it is easily available and economically feasible and the most
important is its geotechnical properties.

Figure 1 Cross section of subsidence trough, a zone of shattered roof beds over mine excavation
(see online version for colours)

Source: Kratzsch (1983)

On the other hand, its overexploitation may negatively affect the riverine ecosystem as
well as the productivity of nearby land mass. Some legislations are there going to be
implemented in India (Kumar et al., 2003) to overcome these implications owing to
overexploitation of river sand. In this way, this is a challenge for mining industries to find
other materials as alternative of river sand for backfilling.
Fly ash, WFS, mine tailings, etc., have been used as the alternative of the sand
(Mishra and Rao, 2006) but they do not at least provide the economic value of the
production. It is often observed that sand or mill tailings as backfilling material remain
loose and merely serve as temporary working platform rather than offering any lateral
stress on the opening walls to improve the stability situation. Another drawback with the
sand backfilling is its cost and is estimated that it tends to be 10–20% of the total
operating cost of the mine and the additive cement represents up to 75% of that cost
(Grice, 1998).
Backfilling with mine overburden or waste rock material may provide an alternative
for river sand. Utilisation of these nearby mine overburden dumps as backfilling material
in underground mine voids might be a good alternative of river sand (Prashant et al.,
 A review on utilisation of coal mine overburden dump waste 175

2010). Backfill underground mine voids with OB material are not only significant to the
environmental restoration and mining condition, but also beneficial for disposal of OB or
waste rock generated during mining (Lu et al., 2012). Backfilling with mine refuse and
waste rock also includes the elimination of the environmental, health, safety and social
problems associated with surface disposal (National Academy of Sciences, 1975).

2 Selection of an alternative material for backfilling

Selection of an alternative material to be used for backfilling in underground mine void is

based on its physical and geotechnical properties. Different backfilling techniques
such as paste backfilling, rock backfilling and hydraulic backfilling have been developed
(Grice, 1998).
A sharp difference between mine cycle time period with slurry backfill and paste
backfill has been reported (Mark et al., 1990). They performed a hypothetical mining
practice, i.e., vertical retreat mining (VRM) where stops were backfilled first with a paste
(Figure 2).

Figure 2 Comparative study of mining cycle between using paste backfill and slurry backfill
in a VRM stope (see online version for colours)

Source: Mark et al. (1990)

2.1 Backfilling suitability assessment (BSA)

Selection of any alternative material to be used for backfilling should be examined for its
short- and long-term mechanical properties and expected behaviour following placement.
Kortnik (2003) postulated a brief description about suitability assessment for the waste
materials to be used for backfilling in mine voids. This includes the following partial
approaches.
• assessment of the suitability of waste material composite (WMC) as backfilling
materials
• assessment of the rock as a geological/technical barrier after backfill installation
• assessment of the geotechnical properties of backfill.
176 A.K. Gupta and B. Paul

3 Techniques in mine filling

Different techniques have been successfully implemented in mine filling worldwide.

Some of the important techniques are as follows.

3.1 Mechanical backfill

Mechanical backfilling technique involves introduction of conveyors into underground
mining operations and has been used for backfilling of the waste rock and for the
construction of pack walls with less effort and permits fast placement of material in
underground.

3.2 Pneumatic backfill

Pneumatic backfill technique involves transportation of a material through pipeline in the
presence of air pressure and finally dumping the material in mine voids. Material used for
pneumatic backfill must be dry and free flowing. Pneumatic backfill techniques strictly
require air pressure to pump the material at destination.

3.3 Paste backfill

Paste backfilling is a technique of backfilling, which involves high solids content; this is
usually conducted with a density of 75–88% solids by weight (Amaratunga and
Yaschyshyn, 1997). The best part of this technique is placing about 100% mine tailing in
mine voids.
Significant reduction of tailing waste and reduction in rehabilitation costs is some
other important advantages of the paste backfill (Kesimal et al., 2002). Mine tailings
contain different types of minerals such as sulphide and pyrite that are unstable in the
presence of air and water posing the environmental problems. Aref et al. (1992) proposed
a conceptual model for designing a high-density paste backfill system (Figure 3), which
shows main aspects of backfilling material for determining their sources, transportation
and placement requirements and should be reconciled so as to satisfy backfill quality and
schedule requirements.
Underground cemented paste backfill (CPB) is an important component of paste
backfill (Figure 4) used for underground stope extraction (Landriault et al., 1997; Naylor
et al., 1997). It not only provides ground support to the pillars and walls but also helps to
prevent caving and roof falls and enhances pillar recovery therefore ultimately improves
productivity (Belem et al., 2004). Self-support stresses govern backfill design and the
conventional design has been that of a free standing wall that demands a uniaxial
compressive strength (UCS) equal to the overburden stress at the bottom of the filled
stope (Belem et al., 2004). However, in many cases, the adjacent rock walls can actually
support the fill through boundary shear and arching effects that mutually supports the
backfill and rock wall (Mitchell, 1989). In backfilled stopes, when arching occurs, the
vertical pressure at the bottom of filled stope, an analogy similar to a trap door, is less
than the weight of overlying fill (OB weight) owing to horizontal pressure transfer
(Martson, 1930). Sulphur content of mine tailing may cause acid mine drainage (AMD)
thus utilisation of mine tailing as backfilling material reduces the problem.
 A review on utilisation of coal mine overburden dump waste 177

Figure 3 Flow chart for conceptual design of mine back fills system (see online version
for colours)

Source: Aref et al. (1992)

Figure 4 Underground paste backfilling mechanism (see online version for colours)

Source: Landriault et al. (1997)

Advantage and disadvantages of Paste backfill

Advantages:
• shorter mine cycle owing to earlier development of higher compressive strength
• reduced binder need for equivalent or better slurry backfill strength. High tailings
usage thereby reducing surface disposal needs.
Disadvantages:
• requires superior dewatering facilities and greater technical precision. Presence of
increased pipeline pressure.
178 A.K. Gupta and B. Paul

3.4 Hydraulic backfill (hydraulic stowing)

Hydraulic stowing or backfilling involves filling of mine voids with slurry or fluid
density in the range of 55–75% solids for weight, as much as 30% of the total initial fills
volume is lost by dewatering (Amaratunga and Yaschyshyn, 1997). Hydraulic sand
stowing (HSS) is one of the most popular mine fill techniques used for backfilling in
underground mine voids (Grice, 1998; Prakash et al., 2009). Transportation of sand slurry
from surface to underground mine voids is one of the important stages of hydraulic
stowing. Successful slurry transportation is based on the number of physical and
geotechnical properties of the slurry (Table 2). Hydraulic stowing is mainly performed
with pump-based transportation and gravity transportation. Gravity transportation is the
widely used technique for the same, which is based on gravity system to move material
down through vertical or inclined chutes, boreholes or pipes. These techniques are
currently used to move material to depths of up to 600 m, e.g., in the Doubrava Mine of
Czechoslovakia.

Table 2 Physical and mechanical parameters of backfill slurry

Factor Value
Density of cement/(gcm–3) 3.00
–3
Unit weight of cement/(gcm ) 1.30
Density of gangue/(gcm–3) 2.65
–3
Unit weight of gangue/(gcm ) 1.41
Density of fly ash/(gcm–3) 2.44
–3
Unit weight of fly ash/(gcm ) 1.02
Density of mixture/(gcm–3) 2.62
–3
Unit weight of mixture/(gcm ) 1.42
Mediate size of mixture/mm 0.32
Average size of mixture/mm 0.83
Density of backfill slurry/(gcm–3) 1.77
Mass fraction of backfill slurry (%) 72.0
Volume fraction of slurry (%) 49.5
Mass ratio of solid-liquid of slurry 2.57
Volumetric solid liquid ratio of slurry 0.98
Volume liquid solid ratio of slurry 1.02
Particles whose diameters are less than the mediate size make up half of total backfill
mixture Zheng et al. (2008).

Pipe diameter, particle size, slurry density, etc., are some of the parameters that influence
the slurry transportation through this technique. The most effective pipe diameter is
300 mm when the material is up to 80 mm diameter with some clay content. The best part
of the gravity transport systems is its ability to be installed in ventilation shafts, thus
easing congestion in roadways, etc. All methods of gravity transport generally require the
lowering of backfill via the vertical or declined pipe, which is accompanied by
continuous unloading at the bottom via some discharge/feeder mechanism.
 A review on utilisation of coal mine overburden dump waste 179

4 Backfill materials

Different materials have been implemented as mine fill or backfill material in

underground mine voids. This mainly includes fly ash, bottom ash, WFS, river sand,
mine tailing, etc. Backfilling materials must have some specific geotechnical and
physical properties to fulfil the filling requirements and should be economically
beneficial.

4.1 Waste Foundry Sand (WFS) as backfilling material

WFS is another good alternative of river sand used for mine filling (Deng et al., 2007).
WFS has been practised in different sectors earlier as related to infrastructure engineering
and rehabilitation works such as highway embankment construction (Ham
et al., 1990; Javed et al., 1994) and ground improvement (Vipulanadan and Sunder,
2000); all of these alternative and beneficial uses of waste are economically as well as
environmental friendly.

4.2 Fly ash as backfilling material

Huge amount of fly ash is generated from thermal power plants. This is dumped in ash
ponds, nearby land mass or in river stream that imposes negative impacts over water
quality and damages the nearby land fertility. Typically, it has been used for soil
stabilisation (Chu et al., 1955), as an embankment material (Raymond, 1961), structural
fill (Digioia and Nuzzo, 1972) and as injection grouting (Joshi et al., 1981). Utilisation of
fly ash in underground mine fill may provide land subsidence control (Maser et al.,
1975), as effective stabilisation to the coal pillars and minimise the risk of subsidence
(Fawconnier and Korsten, 1982), to improve the strata control (Galvin and Wagner,
1982). With paste backfilling technology, 60–70% of coal combustion by products
(CCBs) and coal processing waste is possible to inject into underground mines (Chugh
et al., 2001). A combination of fly ash with additive such as lime and gypsum at 15%–
20% and 0%–5% by weight, respectively, may be used as good alternative material for
backfilling in mine voids (Mishra and Rao, 2006).

4.2.1 Advantages and disadvantages with fly ash utilisation

Fly ash, which is used for backfilling in underground mine voids, has a number of
positive and negative points. Mass utilisation of fly ash in mine backfilling provides
a suitable waste management option. It will reduce some of the environmental problems
related with its transportation and dump, and provides an alternative of river sand, etc.
On the other hand, negative part of fly ash utilisation in mine backfilling is related
with ground water contamination; leaching and cost is another factor.

4.3 OB, mine refuse or waste rock as backfilling material

A number of researches have been performed based on the possible utilisation of coal
mine overburden dump as a material to be used in mine backfilling. Prashant et al. (2010)
and Karafakis et al. (1996) have performed their work based on characterisation of coal
mine refuse or waste rock utilisation in underground mine backfilling. Waste crushed
180 A.K. Gupta and B. Paul

rock and OB material are found to be useful in backfilling in underground mine voids as
an alternative of river sand. Prashant et al. (2010) concluded that most of the physical and
geotechnical parameters like bulk density and specific gravity are comparable with river
sand while porosity will achieve the same with washing efforts (Table 3). Grain size
distribution results show that finer particles present in OB sample hinder some properties
such as percolation but by washing it can also be achieved near to river sand at
150 micron cut-off size.

Table 3 Physical properties of OB dump material

S. no. Parameters OCP I OCPII OCP III River sand

1 Specific gravity 2.51 2.57 2.51 2.56
2 Bulk density (g/cc)/ 1.51/40 1.54/40 1.51/40 1.54/40
Porosity (%)
3 Percolation rate (cm/h) 236.6 195.9 310.19 276.8
Source: Prashant et al. (2010)

4.3.1 Importance of physicochemical analysis

Physicochemical properties of OB material have their own importance in different
manners such as reaction takes place owing to the presence of different elements in the
OB and simultaneous combustion of OB. Presence of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P),
sulphur (S), etc., causes different chemical reactions to the environment. Presence of
various elements in OB material may lead to different types of chemical changes with
available water sources and result to AMD or may cause some of the atmospheric
pollution by simultaneous combustion.

4.3.2 Physical and geotechnical properties of OB

A number of geotechnical and physical properties are there to be tested to check the
suitability of any material for backfilling in underground mine voids. Karafakis et al.
(1996) found that slake durability, plasticity, particle size analysis and triaxial
compression test are some of the key tests that must be performed for backfilling material
(Table 4). Some of them are as follows.

Table 4 Desired properties of coal refuse as backfill material

Test Desired properties

Slake durability test Id1 greater than 95, Id2 greater than 85
Plasticity Refuse should not be plastic
Grain size analysis Minus 0.075 mm material should not exceed 10% for hydraulic stowing
systems, the minus 3 mm material should not exceed 20% for pneumatic
stowing systems, Cu greater than 4, Cc between 1 and 3
Permeability Coefficient of permeability should be at least 2.78 × 10–5 m/s
Triaxial Residual angle of internal friction should be at least 30º confined modulus of
compression deformation comparable to modulus of deformation of a failing coal pillar
Source: Karafakis et al.(1996)
 A review on utilisation of coal mine overburden dump waste 181

• Grain size analysis

There is a significant importance of grain size over geotechnical assessment of filling
material. Backfilling material, which contains well-graded particles, should offer more
resistance to displacement and settlement than one with uniformly graded particles.
Kesimal (2004) found that particle size distribution analysis is one of the most important
parameters for backfilling materials. Maximum grain size of a grain used in filling should
be less than 1/5th of the pipe bore to limit the critical velocity of flow in pipe (Prashant
et al., 2010). Sieve analysis result (Table 5) of OB samples from Jharia coal field shows
that there is significant amount of sand, i.e., about 60–74% (Arvind et al., 2011). Because
of the presence of higher amount of sand particles in the OB samples, there will be fast
removal of water passing through the dump material that is one of the characteristic
features of stowing material (Ghosh, 2002). The amount of water flow through coal mine
refuse can be empirically related to its gradation and void ratio (Senyur, 1989).
Permeability decreases with a decrease in the effective size of the material. An indication
of the gradation of the refuse can be computed from a grain-size distribution curve for
grain sizes larger than the 0.075 mm sieve using the coefficient of uniformity (Cu) and
coefficient of curvature (Cu). Both values can be calculated provided that not more than
10% of the grain sizes are less than 0.075 mm (Bowles, 1979).

Table 5 Grain size distribution of overburden samples

S. no. Sampling sites Gravel (%) Sand (%) Silt + Clay (%)
1 Nudkhurkee 31 68 0.8
2 Muriadih 25.6 73.6 0.8
3 Akashkinaree 28.9 69.7 0.6
4 Mudidih 24.9 71.3 0.8
5 Nichitpur 26.2 70 2.4
Source: Arvind et al. (2011)

• Atterberg limit testing

This is required to check the consistency of the material to be utilised as backfilling
in mine voids. Consistency of the material is measured with Cassagrand apparatus
(IS: 2720, Part 5, 1995). An unconsolidated material with lattice or no clay such as
gravel and clean sands will not exhibit plasticity and is considered as non-cohesive
(Sowers, 1979). Such type of non-cohesive material should be used as backfilling. Dunn
et al. (1980) and Morgenstern and Eigenbrod (1974) reported that there is a relationship
between liquid limit and amount of slaking of argillaceous rocks. Liquid limit has also
correlation with compressibility of soils.
• Slake durability test
There is possibility with the backfilling material that it may experience a cyclic change of
wetting and drying during flowing placement, which can degrade the particles and
subsequently alter the fill mechanical properties. Thus, this is important to examine
the slake durability of the material to be used as backfilling material. It provides a
qualitative assessment of the resistance offered by weak rocks, as shales, mudstone, silt
stone and clay-bearing rocks, to weakening and disintegration during the cycle of drying
182 A.K. Gupta and B. Paul

and wetting. This is an index test and can be used to compare the slake properties of two
different materials (ASTM D 4644-87). Gamble (1971) proposed that there is a direct
relationship between slake durability and the Atterberg limits. Rocks with low slake
durability index should be subjected to the plasticity test to characterise better their
potential behaviour with water. He proposed a classification based on the results of slake
durability as well as Atterberg limits test, whereby analysing the durability index for first
and second cycles (Id1 and Id2). We can give each sample with a general durability
ranking on Gamble’s slake durability ranking (Figure 5).

Figure 5 Gamble’s (1971) classification for the test of slake durability of coal mine refuse
(see online version for colours)

• Standard proctor compaction test

Compaction analysis is important to determine the moisture content of the refuse
material, which will achieve the maximum dry density for a material that has been
compacted with a given compactive effort. It can analyse the potential of the stowing
materials. For two different soil samples, it can provide an indication that which material
may achieve higher densities following compaction by whatever means, including by
failing mine roof and pillars.
• Falling head permeability test
Permeability is the ability of a porous material to allow a liquid to pass through its pores.
Since the pores are connected with each other, the flow of a liquid takes place through the
pores if there is difference in head at the two ends of the sample. Permeability is an
important parameter to check the suitability of a material to allow fluid flow through it.
For backfilling material, it is important to analyse the nature of water flow through an
unconsolidated material, as it has a great effect on its physical properties and its flow
behaviour. Higher permeability value ensures fast water seepage from slurry thereby easy
and quick consolidation of the slurry. It also provides fast out flow of water from
barricading. Falling head permeability test is performed with IS: 2720 (Part: XVII). This
test is important for the calculation of seepage through earth dams or under sheet pile
 A review on utilisation of coal mine overburden dump waste 183

walls, seepage rate from waste storage facilities (landfills, ponds, etc.) and for the
calculation of the rate of settlement of clayey soil deposits.

5 Conclusions and future prospects

This paper provides a brief overview on the importance of backfilling in underground

mine voids. It briefly discussed the advantages, disadvantages of different materials and
possible alternative materials. A number of materials have been used for backfilling in
underground mine voids to reduce the mining problems such as subsidence, roof fall,
mine fire etc. River sand is the widely used material in mine filling but the resource is
reducing due to its high demand in construction sectors. Thus there is a scope for finding
a suitable material that may be used as an alternative of river sand, which should be
eco-friendly and cost effective. The OB waste generated during mining activities is
temporarily dumped on valuable land for long period due to lack of any proper
management and causes various environmental problems. This OB dump material might
be a good alternative of river sand.
However evaluation of heavy metal contents of the OB material is required before its
utilisation in backfilling to reduce leaching impacts in ground water.
Thus utilisation of OB waste as backfilling material will replace river sand, reduce
negative impacts of sand mining in river ecosystem and ensure a sustainable method of
mining.

Acknowledgement

Authors are highly grateful to the Head of Department, Department of Environmental

Science and Engineering, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India. We also like to
acknowledge lab mates and friends, S.K. Mritunjay, Jitin Rahul, A Chowdhury (ISM
JRF) for their help.

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