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Highwall concerns
A number of innovative solutions are available to address slope instability and rock-fall hazards. There are several geological hazards that are encountered during the life of a quarry or open pit mine. Most of these hazards are included in a mine’s Ground Control Plan (GCP). The GCP ensures adequate geotechnical planning, safe mine operation and reclamation goals. Some measures of consideration in the GCP should include geological structures and their influence on wall stability; strength of the rock mass; rain or water inflow issues; surface drainage; mine dewatering procedures; geometry of the pit; pit wall stability; and appropriate drilling and blasting procedures for final walls. The first step toward preventing wall instability and rock-fall hazards is to begin with sound engineering and planning to ensure the long-term stability of highwalls. Equally important is the need for ongoing refinement, based on geological changes within an active mine. As mining advances and mine design standards undergo operational changes, it is crucial any geotechnical assumptions be reviewed and modified by an experienced engineer… Keep Reading
