Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Stress Analysis of Panel Caving at Henderson

    Uploaded by

    garves007
    16 views8 pages

    Original Title

    Stress analysis of Panel Caving at Henderson

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    16 views8 pages

    Stress Analysis of Panel Caving at Henderson

    Uploaded by

    garves007

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 8
    RECH, WD, and LORIG,L.Predicive numerical ses analysis of panel caving atthe Henderson Mine, MASSMEY 92. Fohennesburg, SAIMM, 1992 9.55.62, Predictive Numerical Stress Analysis of Panel Caving at the Henderson Mine WD. RECH* and L. LORIG* * Climax Molybdenum Company, Empire, USA # Itasca Consulting Group, Inc, Minneapolis, USA In July 1991, the Henderson Mine initiated a panel cave on its 7700 level after operating, successfully for 15 years on the 8100 level. Planning the start-up of a new cave introduces many Of the same concerns as those associated with the initial start-up of a new mine. Unanswered ‘questions concerning drawpoint spacing, boundary development, rock fragmentation, ore dilution, and convergence forces can be a serious impediment to the planning process. ‘The many years of experience with a caving mine, combined with the availability of modern numerical stress-modelling capabilities, provided Henderson with an opportunity to develop an analytical tool to enhance the mine-planning process. ‘The resolution of these issues required the formulation of a large-scale numerical model capable of taking into account the main features of the problem, including topography, in situ stresses, ‘ore-extraction sequence, cave growth, major faulting near the area of cave initiation, and rockmass strength. The two-dimensional explicit finite-difference code FLAC (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua) was used for the analysis. The large displacement capability of FLAC was used t0 simulate the large-scale movement of ore within the cave. The paper describes the development and calibration of the numerical model, results of the analysis, interpretation of the results, and conclusions concerning the cave-development plan, Introduction The Henderson Mine has been in production since 1976, having produced more than 80 Mt of molybdenum ore over the past 15 years. Most ofthat ore has come from the 8100 production level through the use of load-haul-dump units (LHDs) and a panel-caving mining method. With the exception of the initial cave development in 1976, all the cave expansion on 8100 level has consisted of the development of new caving panels adjacent to an existing cave area. Now, in 1991 a new cave arca is being developed 122 m beneath the nearly exhausted 8100 production level (Figures 1 and 2) The past 15 years of production from the 8100 level have been extremely successful, with 100 per cent recovery of the ore from virtually all the areas developed. Overdraw for the level has been held under 20 per cent, including the panel boundary regions. The occurrence of weight problems (convergence events that interrupted production) on the level have been Kept to a minimum, affecting fewer than 4 per cent ofthe drawpoints. ‘The ability to initiate a cave and manage the rock stresses associated with @ panel eave have formed the bass for this suecess, The shrinking profit margin in the molybdenum industry places an even greater emphasis upon reliable cave management, since the costs related to ground problems, repairs, and overall development can dramatically affect the overall business plan, All these factors and the availabilty of PC-based stress-modelling programs have made predictive modelling an essential element of the mine- planning process. ‘The 8100 Level The production process on the 8100 level has consisted of the development of three caving panels, 270 m wide and {o 600 m in length. An intial cave area was established 1977, when a region approximately 100 by 100 m w undercut. From that time, cave growth on the level b consisted of systematic expansion of the original cave tot south, north, and eas. During the 15 years of cave management on the 81t level, the geometry of the undercut area and the rate of ca advance have been refined to minimize damage on both t production and the undercut levels because of abutme loading. The optimum cave-advance rate has been in exce of 70 m per year, typical steps between undercut blas being held at 6 m for undercut drifts that are 24 m spar Undercut advancement at slower rates, due to low production requirements in the 1980s, made blasting on lndereut level difficult. The use of larger steps (up 20 m), due to either old development openings on tt undercut level or inexperience, caused convergem: problems on both the undercut and the production levels. Although it was not predicted, the 8100 level ea formed a surface glory-hole in 1980, indicating 1000 m cave growth over a 50-month period. Since 1980, t1 surface subsidence related to production on the 8100 fev has continued to increase. Surficial geological features at the massive excavation sequence in the mine both pl: significant roles in defining the shape of the glory-hole. date, approximately one-third ofthe cave area on the 81 level is overlain by the glory-hole The 7700 Level ‘The 7700 production level lies 122 m beneath the 81¢ production level and is similar in extent (Figures 1 and 2 Development of the production level began in the ear Figure 1. Mine plan, showing the outline ofthe orebody on the 8100 and 7700 levels é ES, Figure 2, Cross-section of the mine, showing the fallure zone tothe surface withthe locations and orientations forthe in stu stress ‘measurements Oe 1980s, and the first undercut blast was initiated in July 1991. Owing to varying ore grades, the level has been broken into three distinct panels, which will facilitate ore blending, throughout its life (12 years and 90 Mt) The positioning of these panels was completed only in the past year as final ‘siging provided the detailed information necessary for the required locations ‘The cave geometry and growth rates established on the 8100 level are the essential features of the mining plan for the level. Additionally, major faulting in the southwest comer of the level has also been taken into consideration, Reasons for Modelling The performance of the 8100 production level has been excellent; however, the early stages of cave development did not occur without @ learning curve. Today’s highly competitive metals market will not allow for any extraordinary costs that may be associated with learning to ‘manage a cave on a new level. Additionally the 7700 level, though it is part of the same orebody, has some unique geomechanical features. The most significant of these i the presence of a large overhead cave area, fractured 1000 m to the surface. The regional stresses associated with the broken rock 122 m overhead willbe significantly different from those experienced on the upper level Implicit to the overlying cave isthe inability to develop the same sort of high-arch type of failure (Figure 3) that was inherent to the 8100 level cave. A cantilever type of rock failure will prevail once the 7700 level eave arch breaches the 122 m to the broken zone of the 8100 level. “Modelling of the 7700 level cave development to preview the relative stresses associated with a cantilevered cave front versus the arched cave became the primary object of the modelling, The second most serious difference between the levels is the presence of major through-going faults in the southwest comer of the 7700 level. As this is the region where the cave is to be initiated, the largest of these faults was also modelled, ‘The third objective of the modelling was to estimate the size of the 7700 level cave when it fails through to the broken zone of the 8100 level. An estimation of when the two levels will join is an important factor in the consideration of draw-control strategies designed to ‘minimize ore dilution from the 8100 level. Data Available for Modelling During the mining of the 8100 level, some of the geomechanical information necessary for the creation and calibration of the model had been collected. Prior to caving, in situ stress measurements were taken in development drifts. The diamond-

    You might also like