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SITE INVESTIGATIONS

The need for balance

CONTENTS

Investigation techniques covered by others The need for balance and focus Key learning's from other projects MRMR

Key failure
Extensive geotechnical investigations are conducted that are not focused on practical mining engineering design input parameters for the project

Investigation rules

Aikhal principle What am I getting out of this ? Every investigation must have an project input deliverable Every piece of data must related to investigation input deliverable The above must have an audits trail Use only established investigation methods

Investigation audit trail


1.

2.
3.

Measurement of RQD Input into RMR & MRMR Drift support measures determined from empirical tables using the above values

When are investigations needed ?

Laubschers rules (1993)


Greenfield's projects New mining blocks/ore bodies (Brownfield's) Pit/underground transition When geotechnical environments cause the need to review the current mining method

Aims of investigations

Geotechnical investigation data is used to determine: -What is it going to be like mining down there ? -Caving method selection -Cavability assessment -Subsidence/ glory hole definition -Mine infrastructure location and design -Mining layout design -Support design -Caving hazard assessment data (e.g. soil assessments for mudrushes -Estimates of mine water inflows -Fragmentation and production build-up studies

Project stages

Desk top study Scoping study Pre-feasibility study Feasibility study

Desktop study

General geological information Information from previous studies Internet sites (SIMRAC) Other mines Estimates of rock parameters Estimates classification values from geology Limited confirmation mapping or core logging

Internet information
ROCK TYPE Amphibolite Banded Ironstone Chromitite Dolerite Dolomite Granite/gneiss Kimberlite Massive sulphide Metagabbro Pyroxenite Quartzite Sandstone Schist Shale Ventersdorp lava RMR 55 67 55 75 47 54 57 63 68 71 60 84 35 55 63 74 50 66 53 80 58 80 38 58 25 55 55 69 55 72 Q 3.4 12.9 3.4 31.3 1.4 3.0 4.2 8.3 14.4 20.1 5.9 85.2 0.37 3.4 8.3 28.0 1.9 11.5 2.7 54.6 4.7 54.6 0.51 4.7 0.12 3.4 3.4 16.1 3.4 22.4

SCOPING STUDIES

General information Classification mapping and logging Basic definition of geotechnical domains Where is the weak area in the ore body Above required for block attack Some rock test parameters Geological and structural information Understanding the geotechical complexity MRMR can be used to scoping study accuracies Some AE measurements

General information

Other studies Information from pit/other mines Classification values Structural trends Major structures Rock parameters Mine pumping information Shaft sinking history/ decline development Caving history Excavation support history Major failures

Structural data

Faults. Dykes, weak zones, contacts, shear zones Off-setting of ore body Faults/contacts, tectonic stresses Chimney caving areas Pre-mature caving/ cave triggering areas Massive wedge failure causing infantries destruction Weak area, cave initation zones, dilution ingress zones Faults/ contacts areas of point load destruction

Key learnings

Put general information together before geotechnical investigations start Construct GDM or MRMM Use general information to focus new studies Check quality of previous core logging Check quality of new logging & mapping (30%) Fully log all geotechnical core Train geologist in reasons for data collection

Full geotechnical log

RQD Hardness Number of joints/ joint spacing Small/ large scale condition Joint infilling Alteration Data can be turned into ratings

Pre-feasibility/ feasibility studies


Major drilling Programmes 30% of geological holes geotechnically logged Definition joint sets, 200 reads per set Joint data statistical distributions Additional holes for major structures Mapping of exploration adits Construction of GDM/MRMM Full range rock parameters (e.g. UCS , E etc) Addition investigations for shafts & declines Additional exploration of major structures Hydrological domain model and data Rock commutation data/ AE or instu stress measurements

Investigation outputs

Classification results:
- GDM/MRMM Weak areas for cave initiation/ cavability Infrastructure location/ stability subsidence glory hole definition Support estimates Draw point spacing

Joint data : - Statistical distributions for trace length, spacing, dip/direction


Fragmentation & hang-up for production ramp deterministic analysis (back wedge) support design Blasting fragmentation analysis Advance numerical modeling inputs (UDEC/3 DEC)

Outputs (continue)

Rock parameters : -UCS values for classification results


- numerical modeling parameters - Shear strength values for wedge analysis for support design - cavability assessment

Rock stress data :


- Stress trends and directions - Modes of excavation failure - direction of cave front retreat - Numerical modeling data inputs -cavability assessment

Outputs (Continue)

Hydro geological/ rainfall data:


- Rock mass classification data inputs
- Mine pumping requirements - Flood/ mud rush assessment risks - support design inputs (weathering rock)

Mineral logical
Weathering potential mud rush potential Swelling/ squeezing plastic deformorming rocks Shot Crete bonding

Rock mass classification


Use 3 rating systems MRMR


Support design Draw point spacing Cavability Glory hole definition Rock mass strength estimates (DRMS values)

Bartons Q
- ore pass stability assessment (Stacey 2001) - check support design, shotcrete thickness - Decline/ shaft support through soft near surface rocks

RMR/GSI
- Modeling input parameters

Key learning's

Define the drilling geometry at scoping Avoid joint set bias Avoid drilling basis Understand the environment before detailed work starts Know what the key deliverables are Use models to understand the environment Use models to understand geotechnical variability To avoid project cost blow outs , -We know how to design for poor ground
-We need to know where the bad ground is -We need to know how much bad ground there is

Mining Rock Mass Rating


Classification system design for caving Laubscher 1977 & 90 RMR values is adjusted to account for the mining environment Powerful tool Proposed new system 2000 New system called IMRMR New system not correlated Not popular in Australia
- System difficult to understand by engineers - Original papers difficult to understand - Adjustments subjective - Adjustments require experience in caving

- Consultants will not tell how they get the adjustment values

MRMR SYSTEM

RQD

Concern of different measurement methods 3 main methods of RQD measurement 25% RQD error results in a 4 rating point error in RMR 52% RQD error results in an 6 rating point error in the RMR Changes the caving Hydraulic Radius by 3 to 6m RQD may not be the problem ?

MRMR SYSTEM

Critical points are the adjustments Adjustments make the rock mass worse or better Total worse case adjustment to rating is downgrade by 50% Eg MRMR = 25 for RMR of 50 Therefore when the cave is being developed does weathering. Stress, blasting and joint orientation have a +/- effect on the rock mass
-An adjustment of 1 or 100 has no effect -Joint orientation and stress hardest adjustments to apply -A stress or joint adjustment of 85% means very effects -120% stress adjustment has a confining effect on the rock mass -Major error to use caving adjustments for support design

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