4. Ground-Control Planning ? Introduction

Successful ground control is an essential part of all viable underground mining operations. To a large extent ground conditions influence the choice of mining methods, percentage and cost of extraction, and often the degree of safety that can be achieved. Utilizing the computer for ground-control planning offers great potential under many diverse conditions as not only are computations facilitated, but also details of the often complex geologic and structural framework of the mine can be readily stored and retrieved. Two basic approaches have been developed for applying the computer in solving ground-control problems. The first uses an analytical method, such as the finite element technique, for solving a specific problem. The second is more general and involves storage of geologic data and application of general design equations. The latter has found wide application in stratified deposits. It is the purpose of this chapter to describe both approaches as they are used for improving the ground-control aspects of mine planning.