Predicting The Stability Of Rockpasses From The Geological Structure

Stacey, T. R.
Organization: The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
Pages: 6
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2005
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Instability in rockpasses at deep levels often initiates as a result of stress induced fracturing of the rock on the walls of the pass. This may then progress to a stage at which the geological structure of the rock mass becomes dominant and permits large joint-defined blocks and slabs to become unstable. In this paper, a technique is described in which jointing parameters and their variabilities?orientations, spacings and lengths?are taken into account in estimating the extent of failure that may develop around a typical unsupported deep level gold mine rockpass. The results of this prediction are compared with the results obtained from a review of pass performance in the gold mining industry.
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