Empirical Design Methods For Underground Mines

The ultimate objective of the course is to assist the mine operator in making decisions employing sound geotechnical input with reference to case histories for relevance to safety, weak rock mass assessment, reduction in dilution, and backfill.

This course provides the operators of underground mines with the tools required to make on site pillar and opening stability assessments in order to ensure a safe and cost effective mine operation. Tools for assessing opening stability are provided. Empirical methods for considering the complex interaction of stress, opening geometry, structure, and rock mass are provided. Ample time is given for solving stability problems and participants are strongly encouraged to bring case histories or questions from their own operations.

Case history data brought to class should include stope or pillar geometry, depth, and estimated stress levels as well a description of the rock mass and photos as possible.

Participants will learn how to:

make decisions on site stability assessments of openings and pillars;
develop an understanding of the critical field data required for stability assessment;
judge the influence of rock mechanics on the stability of planned openings; and
understand the influence of rock mechanics on overall mine design.
For details of topics covered see the course schedule.

Over four hundred participants throughout North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia have taken this course over the last twenty years; it is recognized by mining operations in North America as providing “common core” training for onsite personnel in the field of rock mechanics.

People interested in this course may also want to register for Rock Mass Characterization for Mine Design, scheduled to run in the same week.