Stability assessment for stope-and-fill mining operations

C. Newman, Z. Agioutantis

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Over the past decade, as conventional underground deposits have been depleted, mining operations have been forced to produce at greater depths and in more geologically and geometrically challenging conditions. As such, there has been a global increase in the application of cemented paste backfill (CPB) in tabular deposits utilizing open stope mining method with a delayed backfill placement. Despite the extensive use of CPB, many fundamental factors affecting the design of safe and economical fill structures are still not well understood. A critical issue in the design of backfilled stopes is the determination of stress states within the fill material itself as well as the surrounding rock mass. Analytical equations provide a means of quickly evaluating the effectiveness of a given design. However, in developing these equations large assumptions are implemented to simplify the design problem. It is important that one understands these simplifications as well as their effect on the overall design. This paper investigates common analytical equations utilized in the evaluation of single vertical backfilled stopes and their assumptions through comparisons to numerical modeling results.

Original languageEnglish
StatePublished - 2018
Event2018 SME Annual Conference and Expo and 91st Annual Meeting of the SME-MN Section - Vision, Innovation and Identity: Step Change for a Sustainable Future - Minneapolis, United States
Duration: Feb 25 2018Feb 28 2018

Conference

Conference2018 SME Annual Conference and Expo and 91st Annual Meeting of the SME-MN Section - Vision, Innovation and Identity: Step Change for a Sustainable Future
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityMinneapolis
Period2/25/182/28/18

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2018 by SME.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

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