Slope Stability

In his third article on tailings storage facilities, Adriaan Meintjes looks at how technology can address the challenges.

In my previous two articles for Mining Mirror on tailings storage facilities (TSFs), I Read more... about Tailings dams technology: learning from failure (Part 3)

When Hoek-Brown failure-criterion (H-B) is selected, their parameters are determined as the ones that better fit data; therefore, depends on the method of fitting, the experimental error and statistical sufficiency of data. If these uncertainties are considered, H-B parameters are random Read more... about Influence of Hoek-Brown linearization and input cross-correlation in slope Probability of Failure Calculation

• All mining excavations should have an appropriate geotechnical design that takes into account the rock mass structure
• Acoustic Televiewers (ATV) and Optical Televiewers (OTV) provide rapid and accurate high resolution orientated images of the borehole walls in both cored and

Groundwater interaction is recognised as one of the key variables influencing slope design and management and is particularly significant in weaker rock masses. Understanding groundwater and pore pressure behaviour in rock masses is generally based on accepted theory related to flow through Read more... about Implications of groundwater behaviour on the geomechanics of rock slope stability

Cerro Vanguardia is a gold-silver mine located in the central steppe of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. The deposit consists of several veins 3.5–10 m in width and 19 km in length. Mining is currently carried out by means of open pits averaging 100–200 m in depth and, more recently, underground Read more... about Geomechanical analysis of open pits at Cerro Vanguardia

It is well known that low strength natural materials under foundations and in slopes can cause bearing capacity and slope failures. With the increased use of manufactured materials such as HDPE liners and geotextiles, similar conditions can inadvertently be built into the structure. These Read more... about Interface Shear: The Significance in Geotechnical Structures

In open pit mines, bench and berm design plays a critical role in minimising kinematic failures and reducing and controlling rockfalls.  Where kinematic failure mechanisms and rockfall risk—rather than rock mass failure—are the dominant controlling factors for slope failure, benches and berms Read more... about Comparison of methods for estimating volume of failed wedges