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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................ 4 1.1 DOSSIER DETAILS ......................................................................................... 5 2.0 GUIDELINES FOR DATA COLLECTION .......................................................... 6 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 EXPLORATION AND PREFEASIBILITY STAGE ..................................................... 6 FEASABILITY AND DESIGN STAGE ................................................................... 8 SEISMIC STUDIES........................................................................................ 11 UNDERGROUND MINING AND KNOWN VOIDS ................................................. 12 ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS ....................................................................... 12 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 12 RISK ASSESSMENT ..................................................................................... 12 IDENTIFICATION OF POSSIBLE FAILURE MECHANISMS ..................................... 12 SLOPE DATA COLLECTION AND INTERPRETATION ........................................... 13 STABILITY ANALYSIS METHODS .................................................................... 13 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 15 VISUAL INSPECTIONS................................................................................... 15 SURVEY MONITORING TECHNIQUES.............................................................. 15 INSTRUMENTAL MONITORING TECHNIQUES ................................................... 16 PIT W ALL AND PIT FLOOR PILLAR MONITORING ............................................. 16 MONITORING TECHNIQUE REVIEWS .............................................................. 16 VOID INVESTIGATION ................................................................................... 17 VOID INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES ............................................................... 18 GUIDELINES FOR VISUAL INSPECTION OF VOIDS ............................................ 18 GUIDELINES FOR PROBE DRILLING FOR VOIDS .............................................. 18 GUIDELINES FOR SURVEYING OR GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATION OF VOIDS....... 19 GUIDELINES FOR MINING THROUGH FOR VOIDS ............................................. 19 GUIDELINES FOR PIT PLANNING ................................................................... 20 DRILL HOLE SURVEYING, LOGGING AND PRESERVATION OF DRILL CORES ....... 20 PHOTOGRAPHY OF DRILL CORES ................................................................. 20 STANDARD CODES AND DATABASE ............................................................... 24 GEOTECHNICAL DATABASE SYSTEM ............................................................. 29
7.0 APPENDICES .................................................................................................. 30 7.1 APPENDIX 1 EXAMPLE OF A SLOPE STATUS REPORT ................................... 31 7.2 APPENDIX 2 EXAMPLE 1 SLOPE RISK AND HAZARD MATRIX ...................... 32 7.3 APPENDIX 2 EXAMPLE 2 SLOPE RISK AND HAZARD MATRIX NATURAL SLOPES ..................................................................................................... 33 7.4 APPENDIX 2 PROFORMA SLOPE RISK AND HAZARD MATRIX ROCK SLOPES 34 7.5 RANKING GUIDELINES AND EXPLANATORY NOTES ROCK SLOPES ................ 35
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1.0 OVERVIEW
A Slope Stability Dossier is a collection of data and documents on a slope or group of slopes organised and stored in a standard way. Its purpose is to make it easier to: Rapidly access or check previous work on the slope Keep track of the status of each slope Monitor progress of work on slope stability issues. It is a requirement of the Slope Stability Standard that a Slope Stability Dossier be maintained for all slopes as part of the Slope Management System and that all data and documents relating to slope stabilities be indexed and stored in the slope stability dossier. The Slope Standard also requires that the Guidelines for Data Collection be followed which in turn specifies the indexation and storage of data, reports and documents in a slope dossier. On a typical mine/project site there may be several dossiers covering different groups of slopes, for example: Dossier 1 Pit XXXX slopes Dossier 2Pit YYYY slopes Dossier 3 Stockpiles Dossier 4Dumps Dossier 5 Water and tailings storages Dossier 6Natural and modified slopes The grouping of slopes into different dossiers is recommended to allow ease of access, reporting and clear identification of responsibilities. Grouping also allows a dossier to be closed and archived. For ease of use, all slope dossiers have a standard structure with the following sections: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Slope status reports Slope identification plan Slope risk and hazard assessment Cross reference index of the document collection Incident reports Minutes of slope status meetings Slope management instructions Action plans
All file notes, drawings, photographs, SWPs and relevant reports will be contained in a document collection The physical document collection should be securely stored in a cupboard or filing cabinet with an index and a section for recording all material borrowed from the collection (Item, borrower, date taken, date returned).
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Soil slopes, waste dumps, leach pads, stockpiles and earth embankments (ordinary and water retaining structures) Tailings storage embankments Natural slopes An example of a completed matrix, proformas for the four matrices and the guidelines are given below. There are a variety of additional risk assessment tools that can be used to compliment the Risk and Hazard Assessment. Section 4 - Cross Reference Index of the Document Collection The purpose of this index is to ensure that all related technical information/data is clearly referenced and can be easily found when required. Sites will need to develop their specific index headings. Suggested headings include: Slope Stability Analyses Geological structures and structural analyses Risk areas identified in reports requiring further investigation Materials test work Hydrology, hydrogeology and groundwater Seismic risk assessments Slope design parameters and slope reinforcement designs Slope stability monitoring and leading indicators Slope failures Slope remedial works Section 5 - Slope Incident Reports This is a compilation of all incident reports. Section 6 - Minutes of Slope Status Meetings These may be the full minutes or extracts from the minutes of slope status meetings. Section 7 - Slope Management Instructions This is a compilation of slope management instructions. Section 8 - Action Plans This is a compilation of action plans relating to slopes.
2.0 GUIDELINES FOR DATA COLLECTION 2.1 Exploration and Prefeasibility Stage
It is important not to lose the opportunity to collect information that later developments on the site may obscure. This information may have a bearing on the course of future investigations and ultimately slope stability and safety. Further earthworks may obscure fault or shear exposures, sinkholes, old mine workings, old
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landslides and groundwater seeps. Copies of all reports, maps, logs, photographs and records shall be preserved for future reference in a secure place. There are four areas where opportunities to collect data may be lost due to the development of the site:
2.1.1
All available exposures in the project area and vicinity are geologically and geotechnically mapped and interpreted if sufficient data is available: Feature checklist: Rock or soil types Nature and orientation of structures: faults and shear zones, joints, veins, bedding and foliation. Lineaments and drainage lines Exposure checklist: Outcrops and stream beds Costeans Road and drilling pad cuttings Exploration adits and other workings.
2.1.2
Topographic Mapping
All topographic features should be mapped, and relevant local history regarding the mapped features recorded. Aerial and site feature photographs should be retained of the undisturbed site. Feature checklist: Topography and surface features Sinkholes and caves Mine workings Landslides and slips Surface water ponding, channels, springs and groundwater seeps.
2.1.3
Drill Cores
It is important that for any potential mining project, all drill holes are surveyed, and the cores properly logged, photographed and stored, so that information may have a bearing on the course of future investigations and ultimately slope stability is not lost. The Guidelines for Core Logging and Exposure Mapping (see below).shall be followed. The following basic geotechnical data shall be logged: Interval (from to) Core recovery Rock type Alteration Weathering Fracturing, crushing or shearing All the properties required for rock mass classification in all major classification systems, vis the NGI (Bartons) Q system, CSIR (Bieniawskis) RMR system, GSI (Hoek) and the MRMR (Laubschers) Mining Rock Mass Classification system.
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All major structures should also be individually logged as geotechnical zones if wide enough, or as single features with the following items recorded: Depth or depth interval (or distances) Intersection angle (alpha angle) or orientation Structure type (fault, shear zone etc.) Brecciation, shearing, infill strength and width Wall rock alteration and weathering Evidence of water Additional geotechnical items to be logged if present: Stress induced core discing, borehole caving or borehole breakouts Variations in rock densities and porosity.
2.1.4
Complete histories of rainfall and stream flows are important: As soon as a presence is established on site, start recording rainfall and water flows Collect and record historical and anecdotal rainfall and water flow data Monitor groundwater levels and quality in drill holes Drawdown measurement with groundwater pumping tests.
2.2.1
Topographical Mapping
Detailed ground or aerial topographical survey maps are essential prerequisites for other data collection. These should show all surface features including: Cuttings, embankments and drains Sinkholes Mine workings Landslides and slips Surface water ponding areas and groundwater seeps and springs. The scale of the maps should allow all surface features to be shown in sufficient detail for project planning and with contour intervals that allow for recognition of drainage courses and areas of potential flooding. Ideally, the maps should be prepared in the following formats:
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Drafting film for working plans Digital strings for importation into mine planning software Digital GIS model for data presentation and other studies.
2.2.2
Geotechnical Model
A geotechnical model is a simplified representation of the real rock and soil properties in the project area, in which the area is subdivided into several zones (or domains) with similar geotechnical characteristics. It is based on an analysis and interpretation of the results of geological and geotechnical mapping and logging programmes. All available exposures and drilling data should be looked at and considered in this interpretation. A well-distributed and representative range of exposures, costeans and diamond drill cores should be selected and geologically and geotechnically mapped or logged. The specific objectives of this mapping and logging are to: Understand project area geological structure the distribution and relationships of the main rock and soil types, the nature and location of faults, folds and inflections, facies changes, effects of weathering, etc. Determine the location, orientation, and nature of major structures (e.g. faults, shear, and crush zones, material contacts and weak beds) Identify and define structural domains and characterise the materials within them. The required standard for the geotechnical mapping and logging is the Basic Geotechnical Logging Standard (see detailed description below). The proportion of the surface exposures and exploration and resource evaluation diamond drill holes that should be geotechnically logged is site dependent. In all cases, it should be sufficient to identify all major structures and to define domains and characterise the rocks within them. In some cases additional geotechnical holes may be required to investigate specific structures or fill in gaps in the distribution of source data.
2.2.3
Materials Testing
Tests are required to form the basis for estimates of the physical properties of the soil or rock in each domain. Durability tests to check the potential for loss of strength due to exposure, desiccation etc. may be required. Elastic moduli may also be required for modelling of stress in rock slopes. The test work should comprise both field index tests and laboratory tests on a suite of representative samples of all major materials. The choice and numbers of tests are dependent on the project ground conditions. Tests are to comply with Australian or International Standards. Ideally, sufficient tests should be performed on each material to provide confidence in the estimates of the material strengths. 2.2.4 Detailed Structural (Defect) Surveys and Analyses In hard rock domains slope stability is likely to be structurally controlled with the main failure mechanisms being toppling, planar, wedge or steppath failures on
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faults or shears, bedding and joints or a combination of these. For the design of slopes in these materials the orientation, spacing, continuity and shear strengths are required for: Major structures, faults, shear and crush zones Bedding planes and weak strata Foliation partings Joints and veins. The data collection programme should include: Structural and geotechnical line or face mapping of representative exposures and costeans. Estimates of joint continuities can only be obtained from exposure mapping Geotechnical and structural logs of orientated diamond drill cores which are representative of the rock types in each of the hard rock domains Special geotechnical drill holes where required to provide an unbiased sampling of the structures and to fill in any gaps in the coverage In poor ground where the core orientation is not possible, applicable downhole geo-physical and sonic logging techniques such as the sonic. Televiewer should be considered. The Structural Mapping and Orientated Core Logging Guidelines (see below) shall be used for the geotechnical mapping and logging. This also details the requirements for orientated core drilling. The proportion of the surface exposures, exploration and orientated cores that are mapped or logged, should be sufficient to identify and characterise the joint sets and major structures in each domain. The drill holes should be orientated to ensure that critical joint sets and bedding or foliation planes are adequately sampled. In some cases supplementary geotechnical holes may be required to investigate specific structures or fill in gaps in drilling coverage.
2.2.5
Stress Regime
High stresses can affect pit slope stability. Evidence of high stresses may be seen in discing in drill cores or borehole breakouts (frequently called caving). If high stresses are indicated, stress measurements may be required.
2.2.6
Hydrogeology Investigations
Groundwater pressures can have a significant effect on the stability of slopes. These have to be taken into account in slope stability analyses and slope design. The design may incorporate water controls, slope drainage and/or depressurisation measures where appropriate. The following aspects should be determined: Sources of water Current water table(s) Potential phreatic surfaces Design criteria for wall rock drainage or wall depressurisation The potential for slope destabilisation by surface water ingress, erosion, flooding.
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Checklist of items to be investigated: Cavities, caves and channelled water Underground mine workings Paleochannels Perched water tables Location and nature of aquifers and aquitards Water quality. Test work may include packer, pump and air lift tests to determine porosity, permeabilities, storativity of the main aquifers and water bearing structures.
2.2.7
Surface Hydrology
Slope stabilities can be affected by erosion arising from storm and floodwaters and the replenishment of groundwater. Adequate drainage and floodwater control measures should be incorporated in the site planning. The catchment area should be monitored for changes, which may increase the flood risk or modify the groundwater levels. Checklist of items to be investigated and monitored: Stream catchment areas Rainfall data Snow and ice accumulations Stream gradient profiles, bed characteristics and debris accumulations Lakes and depressions Man made modifications bridges, dams, embankments, road formations and subsequent alterations Stormwater and water supply pipelines. Reports and aerial photographs and/or GIS models of the catchment and project areas shall be placed in the Slope Stability Dossier for the purposes of change monitoring.
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mechanisms:
3.3.1
Circular failures Non circular failures Combined failure slip circle and a weak substratum or fault Two wedge e.g. for spoil piles Liquefaction.
3.3.2
Rock Slopes
Rotational failures on substratum or fault Planar failures Step-path failures Wedge failures Toppling failures Ravelling failures Rock falls.
3.4.1
Granular Materials
Mohr-Coulomb strength parameters are usually required. In fine-grained soils, these can be determined by laboratory triaxial strength tests on undisturbed samples. These should be threestage drained or undrained tests as appropriate to the slope drainage conditions. In highly fragmented rock, the MohrCoulomb strengths can be estimated by an empirical method(s).
3.4.2
Rock Slopes
Joint orientation data, joint spacing and continuity data, joint shear strength test data, (or estimates of joint strength data from joint properties) are required.
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Analysis methods may include but are not limited to: Precedence or slope experience Empirical Kinematic Numerical (deterministic or probabilistic) Dynamic Time dependant. For example the following may apply:
3.5.1
Low-Risk Slopes
For these slopes it may be sufficient to use slope design charts such as described in Hoek, E. and Bray, J. (1981), Rock Slope Engineering, revised third edition, Institute of Mining and Metalurgy. Where there are no geological complications, Haines and Terbrugges RMR (1995) based slope angle charts can also be used. Haines A. (1993) Rock Slope Classification for Optimum design of monitoring networks in Swedzicki, T. 1993 Geotechnical Instrumentation and Monitoring in Open Pit and Underground Mining, Bulkema ISBN 90 5410 3213).
3.5.2
More rigorous processes including computer based methods should be used. In medium risk slopes these can be deterministic, but probabilistic methods should be included in higher risk slopes. There is an increasing number of computer packages for the analysis of slope stability. It is important to choose the most appropriate package(s) for the expected failure mechanism. Wherever possible, the analyses should be repeated on another package. The slope stability analysis packages should allow modelling the effects of the following: Position and depth of a tension crack Water in the tension crack Blasting and seismic loading Ground water pressures Different materials and properties Geological structures. In seismic risk areas, the effects of earthquake forces should be investigated. In medium risk slopes, it is sufficient to treat seismic forces as pseudo static forces, but in high-risk soil slopes dynamic modelling of the slopes may be required. The effect of topographic amplification factors should be considered. (Davis L. L. and West L. R. Observed effects of Topography on ground motion, bull. Sesm. Society of America, 63, 1, pp. 283289). In weaker rocks or high stress areas, two or three dimensional stress/strength analyses should also be performed. Destabilising effects of voids requires special and rigorous consideration.
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deteriorating surface conditions on the slope and sufficient should be installed to cater for the inevitable losses. The survey results should be graphed or mathematically analysed on a timedisplacement basis. Predictions of the time of failure are frequently possible by manual or mathematical extrapolation of the displacement rates. When progressive failure conditions become apparent, the monitoring frequency should be increased to improve the prediction accuracy. Other survey techniques may include: Precise levelling Global Positioning System Triangulation Photogrammetry.
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Open pit mining can proceed safely and stopes or remaining pillars do not collapse and destabilise the pit slopes above it The pit floor does not collapse into an underlying stope and endanger the safety of personnel operating in the pit Dumps and tailings storage facilities are not constructed over potentially unstable slopes For the feasibility study, a first pass estimate of the location, size and nature of the previous workings may be sufficient. This should include a review of the underground mine plans and stoping data while recognising that the actual limits of mining may differ from the plans due to subsequent mining or stope collapses. Through out this guideline the titles of Pit Supervisor, Geotechnical Engineer and Surveyor are used in a generic sense. Each operation may have a different title or name for this duty eg may be called Production Engineer or Mine Manager. The intent is clear in that a person shall designated to have specific responsibility for each of the steps or activities and be accountable for compliance with the step or process. It is critical that relevant experience or qualifications are held by the person charged with the responsibility.
5.1.1
5.1.2
Advanced Stage
In practice it may be necessary to make some conservative assumptions on the minimum distance in order to develop the pit to a position where the stopes can be investigated more fully. Probe and or geophysical techniques to determine: The location and size and nature of the voids or workings to a precision required for safe mining through the voids The state of the voids: the condition of the ground forming the back, walls and pillars the presence of stope backfill, its condition, the degree of stope filling and presence of water in the stope stope back reinforcement (cable bolting) and its condition The minimum distance that must be left between the open pit and stopes to ensure the stability of the stopes and stope pillars, open pit walls and floor. This would normally involve stress and displacement modelling with measured or estimated in situ stresses and rock mass strengths.
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Plotting of reported cavities and re-examination of plans sections etc to determine minimum safe approach distances and planning further investigation (Responsibility Geotechnical Engineer and/or Pit Supervisor) Maintenance of up to date plans sections etc to determine shoeing void outlines, minimum safe approach distances and maintaining up top date exclusion zone flagging (Responsibility Surveyors) SWPs shall be developed to ensure the safety of personnel undertaking the investigations. Precautions shall include: Standing instructions that no one shall enter an exclusion zone marked by red and white flagging tape except certain persons instructed to do so by the pit supervisor to undertake specific tasks (Responsibility Pit Supervisor) Safety training of persons required to work in an exclusion zone and provision of belts and safety lines etc for them (Responsibility Pit Supervisor) Maintenance of the exclusion zone markers (if any red and white flagging tape is cut or moved it shall be restored immediately) (Responsibility all pit workers).
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Safety training of persons required to work in an exclusion zone and provision of belts and safety lines etc for them (Responsibility Pit Supervisor) Backfilling of voids This will be a normal procedure except where the void is too small to fill effectively or there is an obstruction that cannot be removed safely that will prevent adequate filling of the void (Responsibility Geotechnical Engineer and Pit Supervisor). Standing instructions shall be developed for the placement of the back fill (back fill materials, direct tipping, bulldozing etc.) (Responsibility Pit Supervisor) Until the void is filled to the satisfaction of the Geotechnical Engineer and Pit Supervisor, the exclusion zone markers shall be maintained (if any red and white flagging tape is cut or moved it shall be restored immediately - Responsibility all pit workers) Drilling and Blasting Pillars above VoidsSafe and effective procedures shall be devised for drilling and firing pillars next to or above voids (Responsibility Geotechnical Engineer and Pit Supervisor). Standing instructions shall be developed for the drilling and charging (Responsibility Pit Supervisor) Until the void is effectively destroyed to the satisfaction of the Geotechnical Engineer and Pit Supervisor, the exclusion zone markers shall be maintained. The current Western Australia Department of Minerals and Energy Guidelines for Open pit mining through underground workings shall be consulted.
6.0 GUIDELINES FOR CORE LOGGING AND EXPOSURE MAPPING 6.1 Drill Hole Surveying, Logging and Preservation of Drill Cores
All drill holes used in slope stability assessments should have Collar positions surveyed Down hole traces surveyed. Before the core is cut for assaying, all diamond drill cores shall also be: Geologically and geotechnically logged Photographed (see Guidelines for Core Photography) Representative samples of relevant materials are preserved for later testing. The remaining cores after assaying are preserved for further inspection.
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Photograph core after core recovery has been measured, depth blocks have been checked and before the core is split Photograph in full sun, but avoid midday sun, as it is difficult to eliminate the photographers shadows, also avoid early morning and late afternoon as the colours may be distorted. Photographs on overcast days can produce acceptable results if colours are not critical to rock type differentiation Use colour print film and print on 100 x 150 mm paper is preferable but digital photos may be taken (1.3 to 1.5 megapixel/frame camera with prints reproduced by a colour laser printer on photoquality paper) A colour chart should be included in the header board to ensure consistent colours during printing. Use a frame to hold the camera directly above the centre of the core tray and heading board for best results, hand held cameras even disposable cameras can produce acceptable results if used with care Check that depth blocks are the right way up and not in deep shadow If the core is orientated, arrange core so that orientation line can be seen Arrange core tray to avoid shadows across it Use a heading board to record hole number, tray number and the start and end depths in the core tray and other comments (precollar depths, core loss, EOH etc.) Preferably place the heading board at the top of the tray, with the start of the core in the tray at the top left. Set camera focal length or distance so that the tray almost fills the frame. Check the other camera settings A light spray of water will enhance colours and help in rock type identification, however, if the rock is dark or black, structures are easier to see in photos of dry core Avoid artificial lighting (flash or fluorescent), especially if cores are wet. Standard Terminology for Geotechnical Mapping and Logging Drill Cores
6.2.1
Introduction
Geotechnical data forms the basis for modelling and is essential in the efficient running of mines. This guideline outlines the standard terminology for data. Several terms used in the descriptions below to describe natural breaks in the rock mass. Defects include schistosity, foliation, bedding, veins, joints and faults. Discontinuity and fracture exclude schistosity, foliation, but include bedding, veins, joints and faults. Joints is used in the normal geotechnical sense ie the common discontinuities which define the shape and size of rock blocks.
6.2.2
Data Fields
The following are a list of all the data fields currently used for geotechnical data. The codes only relevant to in-situ measurements are outlined: Recovered Core Length: total length of core recovered from interval (Recovery is calculated from it) Core > 10 cm: total length of all core > 10 cm (RQD may be calculated from it)
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Weathering: degree of weathering QSI: estimated rock strength (or Qualitative Strength Index) Fractures per interval: calculates Fracture per metre (FPM) or Joint Spacing Fracture Type: Type of discontinuity Joint Sets: degree of jointing Joint Roughness: the nature of the discontinuity wall Fracture Infill: the type of joint infill and its alteration Fracture Infill Mineral: the main mineral in the joint Fracture Thickness: the thickness of the fractures Fracture Length (only for in-situ measurements) Fracture Spacing (only for in-situ measurements) Fracture Termination (only for in-situ measurements) Seepage: water flow and free moisture in discontinuities or rock mass (Joint Water Pressure) (only for in-situ measurements) Stress Reduction Factor: weakness zones intersecting excavation (only for in-situ measurements) Angle to Core Axis: angle to core axis (Alpha angle) Rotation Angle: called also (Beta Angle) Outputs Geotechnical data is further processed for indexes to quantify rock mass quality. The main currently used indexes are RQD, Q, RMR and MRMR. RQD is the percentage of core length>10 for the interval. The other indexes require more complex manipulation as illustrated below:
Field Recovery Core >10cm Weathering Rock Strength Fracture/m (FPM) Type Number of sets Joint Roughness Alteration/ Infill Infill Mineral Infill Thickness Seepage Stress Reduction Factor Angle to Core Axis Rotation Axis () full Q index Q modified () RMR MRMR Structure
() ()
6.2.3
In Underground Mines, all diamond holes should be geotechnically logging within 20 m (true thickness) on either side of the orebody. In Open pits all diamond drill
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holes that intersect the current or possible future pit walls should be geotechnically logged. Logging forms shall designed to capture the following data to allow the rock mass to be rated in any of the above classification systems. For the hole: HOLE ID: Hole number LOGGED BY: Name of the logger DATE: Date of logging DIAMETER: The diameter of drill core. (Can be obtained from other drill hole information) HOLE COMMENT:Comment for hole. For logging intervals (specific to geotechnical logging-does not require to be the same as assay intervals) FROM: The start of the downhole interval for similar rockmass TO: The end of the downhole interval for similar rockmass CORE10: The total length of core greater >10 cm for RQD NO / FRACTURES: The number of fractures for interval for fracture frequency (FPM) QSI: The ISRM category for estimated UCS TYPE: The nature of the dominant fracture NO OF SETS: The number of discontinuity sets JOINT INFILL:The type of joint infill and its wall rock alteration (gouge, breccia carbonate cement, weathering, chloritic alteration, talcification, argillic or propylitic alterations must be recorded. The nature of the dominant infill if infill > 1 mm and wall rock alteration if infill < 1 mm THICKNESS: The thickness of the fracture ROUGH: The topography of the continuity COMMENT: Comment for interval. The above format is very similar to most current geotechnical core logging forms currently used within WMC. It has to be mentioned that the core recovery and dip and dip direction are not included. The recovery measuring the recovered core length can be either captured for the logged interval or for different intervals on a different form e.g. between the drillers core blocks. The dip and dip direction for oriented cores should also be included with the alpha and beta angles.
6.2.4
Exposure Mapping
In-situ mapping will be performed by line mapping or window mapping. The information is treated like a drill hole information and store in the drill hole Geodata\Geobase database. The following data is recorded for window mapping and the mapper may use the electronic Breithaupt Tectronic compass to reduce the data entry time. For the location (not recorded in electronic compass): FACERUN ID: The ID of the mapping location (e.g. Mine prefix + level + number) MAPPED BY: The mappers name
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DATE: The date of the mapping GRID_NAME: The name of the grid NORTHING: The northing of the start of line (or centre of the window) EASTING: The easting of the start of line (or centre of the window) RL: The RL of the start of line (or centre of window) AZIMUTH: The azimuth of the line or window LENGTH: The length of the line or window ROCK TYPE: The rocktype for the line or window mapping (rocktype can be assigned to interval for line mapping) SQI: The estimated UCS for the area (as for window can be assigned to line mapping if required) SET NO: The number of discontinuity sets PHOTO: The reference to a photograph of the location if any COMMENT: Comment on the location. For each fracture the following data is captured by electronic compass: TYPE: The nature of discontinuity INFILL: The nature of the dominant infill if infill > 1 mm and wall rock alteration if infill < 1 mm THICK: The thickness of the fracture ROUGH: The topography of the continuity SPACING: The category for the spacing of the discontinuity by category LENGTH: The category for the length of the discontinuity END: The nature of the discontinuity termination SEEPAGE: The water condition for the fracture. The data can be then summarised for the particular window and display in software such as Datamine or other geotechnical packages.
6.3.1
The recovered core length is the length (in metres) of core recovered for an interval. The most accurate way to measure it is by measuring the length of core between blocks. The recovery may have to be input by itself because the interval between the blocks is unlikely to fit the geotechnical domain interval.
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6.3.2
Core > 10 cm
The core >10 cm is the total of all the core greater than 10 cm in length, ignoring end of run and core tray breaks, within the interval. Joints that run parallel to the core axis are to be ignored.
6.3.3
Weathering
Weathering field records the degree of weathering on the rocks. The data entry system uses the following codes:
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6.3.4
The qualitative strength index is an estimating rock strength by index tests as listed below.
6.3.5
The fracture number per interval is the number of discontinuities for the interval. The fracture number per interval is processed to provide fractures per metre. Fracture Type A fracture is defined as any plane or surface which is now or has been in the past been broken. Fracture type include joints, veins, faults, shears and bedding planes. Care must be taken in identifying major structures such as faults and shears as these are the key controlling features in slope stability. Code joi: Joint con: Lithological Contact zon: Fault or Shear Zone fol: Foliation Discontinuity bed: Bedding Plane Discontinuity vei: Vein Parallel Discontinuity dis: Discrete Fault or Shear Joint Sets The joint sets field define the number of joint sets present.. Joints are common discontinuities which define the shape and size of rock blocks. The codes are based on the Barton Tunnelling Quality Index Q.
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Code mnf: Massive or few joints 1js: One joint set 1jr: One joint plus random 2js: Two joint sets 2jr: Two joint sets plus random 3js: Three joint sets 3jr: Three joint sets plus random 4js: Four or more joint sets, random, heavily joined cre: Crushed rock, earth like Joint Roughness Joint roughness refers to the nature of the discontinuity walls and to the small irregularities on the fracture surface. The codes are based on the Barton Tunnelling Quality Index Q. The RMR rating for joint condition is a combination of joint roughness, fracture infill and fracture infill thickness. Code rad: Rough and discontinuous smd: Smooth and discontinuous rau: Rough and undulatory ssd: Slickensided and discontinuous smu: Smooth and undulatory rap: Rough and planar ssu: Slickensided and undulatory or gouge filled and discontinuous smp: Smooth and planar gpu: Gouge filled with nor rock wall contact and planar and undulatory ssp: Slickensided and planar Fracture Infill The fracture infill records the type of joint fill and its alteration. The codes are based on the Barton Tunnelling Quality Index Q. Code non: None or tightly healed or hard, nonsoftening, impermeable, unweathered filling e.g.quartz una: Unaltered joint with surface staining only sli: Slightly altered or weathered joint walls, hard mineral coating, may include small clay free sandy particles mod: Silty or sandy clay coating, small clay fraction sof: Soft infill including low friction clay, platy mica, talc, gypsum and graphite bad: Soft and highly weathered swelling clay filling e.g. Montmorillonite Fracture Infill Mineral The fracture infill mineral field records the mineral in the fracture. The mineral codes are the standard WMC legend mineral codes. There are 586 mineral codes stored in the min.val file. Fracture Thickness
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The fracture thickness records the thickness of the fracture measure at right angle to the fracture. Code t<1: Thickness of infill < 1 mm t<5: Thickness of infill 1 5 mm t>5: Thickness of infill > 5 mm nwc: Sheared with no wall contact or thick zones of decomposed or highly weathered material. Fracture Length The fracture length records the length of the fracture in metres. This is recorded in mapping by in-situ measurements. Code l<.5: Length (m) < 0.5 l<1: Length (m) 0.5 1 l<2: Length (m) 1.0 2.0 l<3: Length (m) 2.0 3.0 l<5: Length (m) 3.0 5.0 l<7: Length (m) 5.0 7.0 l<10: Length (m) 7.0 10.0 l<20: Length (m) 10.0 20.0 l<40: Length (m) 20.0 40.0 l>40: Length (m) > 40.0. Joint Spacing The joint spacing records the spacing between the joints in metres. This is recorded in mapping by insitu measurements. Code sna: N/A - discrete feature s>8: Spacing >8.0 m s<8: Spacing 4.0 8.0 m s<4: Spacing 2.0 4.0 m s<2: Spacing 1.2 2.0 m s<1.2: Spacing 0.6 1.2 m s<.6: Spacing 0.4 0.6 m s<.4: Spacing 0.2 0.4 m s<.2: Spacing 0.06 0.2 m s<.06: Spacing <0.06 m. Fracture Termination Fracture termination is a measure of the continuity of the fracture. A fracture may be continuous across the core, terminate in the rock or terminate on another fracture. This measure is used in the in-situ mapping. Code tir: Terminates in rock low: Terminates in another set at <20 degrees hig: Terminates in another set at >20 degrees flo: Terminates by floor roo: Terminates by roof wal: Terminates by wall log: Indeterminable (logistically)
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cont: Indeterminable (continuity). Seepage - Joint Water Pressure The water seepage (or joint water pressure) field is an estimate of the water flow through the rock. Seepage is an in-situ measurement and is not used in core logging. However it can be used in window mapping. Code dry: Dry dmi: Damp or minor flow wet: Wet drp: Dripping mip: Medium inflow or pressure lpc: Large inflow/high pressure in competent rock lhp: Large inflow/high pressure ehd: Exceptionally high inflow decaying with time ehp: Exceptionally high inflow or pressure. Stress Reduction Factor The stress reduction factor is an indication of the weakness zones which may be loosening of rock mass when a tunnel is excavated. This is an in-situ measurement but it has been included in the list because it can be used for face run in future line or window mapping. Code sr3: single weakness zones containing clay (depth of excavation > 50 m) sr5: single weakness zones containing clay (depth of excavation < 50 m) sr2.5: single shear zones in competent rock (clay free) depth of excavation > 50 m sr5.0: single shear zones in competent rock (clay free) depth of excavation < 5 0m sr7.5: multiple shear zones in competent rock loose surrounding rock sr10: multiple occurrences of weakness with clay sr12: loose open joints, heavily jointed or sugar cube. Angle to Core Axis (Alpha angle) The angle to core axis is the angle between the core axis and the plane of the fracture. If the rotation angle (Beta angle) is measured, the true dip and dip direction can be calculated for the plane. Rotation Angle (Beta angle) A plan in the core has an elliptical trace on the surface of the core. The rotation angle is the angle between the reference line and the up hole apex of the elliptical trace. If the angle to core axis (Alpha angle) is measured, the true dip and dip direction of the planar fracture can be calculated for the plane.
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3. Send the transaction files either from the GLS or from the geotechnical data entry system to the Geodata logging update directory. 4. The data is then automatically loaded to the Geodata database (e.g. Once a day) 5. Geodata geotechnical logging information is then down loaded automatically to the drill_geotech table in Geobase 6. Data can be then retrieved automatically or inter actively to a Datamine/Surpac format and include in the current Datamine extract used by all operations. 7. Geotechnical data can be retrieved on plans and sections with Geoview. 8. Data can be extracted to a text file to load to Excel spreadsheet or other software package. 9. Added value can be input back into the database. For example, it is quite common to assign lode codes to an interval (e.g. Hole XXXX from 100.6 to 112.00 lodecode = HV1). Similar practices could applied to geotechnical data and domain codes could be defined and stored in the database.
7.0 APPENDICES
Rd3 Redeemer east wall Rd4 Redeemer west wall, southern section
25Oct1998
Pit slope under review with view to steepen batter slope Crack observed on berm at RL 220 on30/10/98 - crack about 35m long and 5 mm wide
Review of stability analysis required Monitor slope movement Develop and implement SWP for work in vicinity of slope
T. Li
3/11/98
25 Oct1998
1. 2/1i/98
7.3 Appendix 2 Example 2 Slope Risk and Hazard Matrix Natural Slopes
SLOPE RISK AND HAZARD MATRIX Pit Assessor POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE Potential Human exposure SLOPE VULNERABILITY CATEGORY Slope height and steepness Probability of natural events Slope geological profile Land use effects Likelihood of failure SLOPE STABILITY DATA Confidence levels in ground water Confidence level in geological structures Natural events in stability assessment SLOPE STABILITY ASSESSMENT Crest and wall condition Cable bolt and other support Catch berm and catch fence conditions PROTECTION MEASURES Protection fences and warning signs Slope stability inspection and monitoring Slope specific SWPs Note: Likelihood of failure. Use lowest category. Not required X X X ROCK SLOPES Slope Revision No Multiple Category Steep/ high High/ critical Hazardous Critical Highly likely Rank Known Known Known & Considered Rank Sound Good Wide and Clear Height Date X Regard as an action priority ranking 1 2 3 4 5 X X X X X 1 2 X X 2 X X 3 4 X 1 3 X Required Good condition Operating satisfactorily In force Incomplete/ faulty Planned/ suspended Pending 4 5 5 None Low Low Sound Minimal Unlikely Assumed Assumed Ignored
7.4 Appendix 2 Proforma Slope Risk and Hazard Matrix Rock Slopes
SLOPE RISK AND HAZARD MATRIX Pit Assessor POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE Potential Human exposure to failure SLOPE VULNERABILITY CATEGORY Slope height and steepness Vulnerability & probability of natural events Likelihood of failure SLOPE STABILITY DATA Slope stability analyses Confidence level in material strengths Confidence levels in ground water conditions Confidence level in geological structures Design consideration of natural events SLOPE STABILITY ASSESSMENT Crest and wall condition Cable bolt and other support Catch berm and catch fence conditions PROTECTION MEASURES Protection fences and warning signs Slope stability inspection and monitoring Slope specific SWPs Not required Good condition Operating satisfactorily In force ROCK SLOPES Slope Revision No Multiple Batters Date None Regard as an action priority ranking Category 1 2 3 4 5 Steep/ high Low Vulnerable / High Not Vulnerable Highly likely Unlikely Rank Rigorous Known Known Known Rigorous Rank Sound Good Wide and Clear 1 2 3 4 5
Ranking based on factors of safety, probablility of sliding or assessed stability relative to other slopes on site, taking into consideration the possible consequences a major failure. The possible influences of underground mining must be considered. FoS<1.2 or PoS>50% or severe cracking or failing Critical and >=1 in slope life FoS=1.2-1.5 or PoS>20-50% or minor cracking FoS=1.5-2 or PoS>5-20% Apparently stable FoS=2-3 or PoS>0-5% Apparently stable FoS>3 or PoS>0-5% Stable
Vulnerability & probability of natural events SLOPE STABILITY DATA Slope design methods Material strengths
Rigorous design
Specific design
Based on Procedure
Assumed
Lab tests and back analyses Ground water conditions Known or fully drained slope, no phreatic surface Geological structure and interpretation
Confidence levels in influence of ground water Lab tests Limited lab Index tests tests Confidencee in influence of ground water Known phreatic surface and no seepage Unknown phreatic surface and no seepage No drainageseepage visible
Assumed
Confidence in the geological structural data and interpretation used Detailed mapping and interpretation Face mapping interpretation Limnited face mapping Borehole data Assumed
Not considered
SLOPE SAFETY ASSESSMENT Crest and wall condition Sound batters and crests
Heavy corrosion
Severely corroded
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