Geotechnical Design for Sublevel Open Stoping

Presenting topics according to the conventional process used by most mining houses, this book covers the design and operation of sublevel open stoping. Summarizing state-of-the-art practices encountered during his 25+ years of experience, the author discusses increases in sublevel spacing, improvements in slot rising, and rock mass characterization, as well as methodologies to design open spans and pillars, rock reinforcement, and fill masses. He also addresses in situ stress concentration minimization, dilution control action plans, and techniques to back-analyze and optimize stope wall performance.

The first comprehensive work on one of the most important underground mining methods worldwide, Geotechnical Design for Sublevel Open Stoping presents topics according to the conventional sublevel stoping process used by most mining houses, in which a sublevel stoping geometry is chosen for a particular mining method, equipment availability, and work force experience. Summarizing state-of-the-art practices encountered during his 25+ years of experience at industry-leading underground mines, the author:

• Covers the design and operation of sublevel open stoping, including variants such as bench stoping
• Discusses increases in sublevel spacing due to advances in the drilling of longer and accurate production holes, as well as advances in explosive types, charges, and initiation systems
• Considers improvements in slot rising through vertical crater retreat, inverse drop rise, and raise boring
• Devotes a chapter to rock mass characterization, since increases in sublevel spacing have meant that larger, unsupported stope walls must stand without collapsing
• Describes methodologies to design optimum open spans and pillars, rock reinforcement of development access and stope walls, and fill masses to support the resulting stope voids
• Reviews the sequencing of stoping blocks to minimize in situ stress concentrations
• Examines dilution control action plans and techniques to back-analyze and optimize stope wall performance

Featuring numerous case studies from the world-renowned Mount Isa Mines and examples from underground mines in Western Australia, Geotechnical Design for Sublevel Open Stoping is both a practical reference for industry and a specialized textbook for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate mining studies.