Mining and Engineering Geology

Dr. Sarah Akram

Geology Department
Faculty of Science, Alexandria university
Aim of course
 Provide education and training of good quality in
mining and engineering geology.
 Describe the basic principles of mining &
engineering geology.
 Explain how the student can apply the
geological information to understand and solve
the problems concerning with the mining and
engineering geology
 Course content
Engineering Minning
Lecture1-Introduction and soil engineering Lecture 8-Introduction

Lecture2-Type of soil ,Soil stabilization and site investigation Lecture 9-Application of Engineering geology

Lecture3- Slope Stability Lecture 10-Evaluation of ore deposits and ore

reserve estimation

Lecture 4-Geotechnical properties of soil(physical) Lecture 11-Surface mining methods

Lecture 5-Geotechnical properties of soil(Mechanical) Lecture 12-Subsurface mining methods

Lecture 6-Geotechnical properties of soil(Mechanical) Lecture 13-Preparatory process of ore

Lecture 7-Application of Engineering geology Lecture 14-Ore dressing

Assessments
Methods
Class Activities: course work, quiz, mid-term Exam
Final Term Exams (practical, oral and written Exams)
Schedule
Quiz 1 5 % (2.5) 5 Marks
Mid-Term Exam 10% 10 Marks
Quiz 2 5 % (2.5) 5 Marks
Oral Exam 10% 10 Marks
Final Practical Exam 20 % (15) 20 Marks
Final Written Exam 50 % (60) 50 Marks
Total 100 % 100 Marks
Lecture 1
Introduction and soil engineering
 Engineering geology
It is defined as a branch of human knowledge that uses geological information

combined with practices and experience to assist the engineer in the solution of

problems in which such knowledge may be applicable.

Or, it’s the branch of geology which studies the dynamics of the upper horizon

of the earth crust due to the human engineering activity.

Engineering geology
Recently it is the science which studies the upper
part of the earth crust as a medium for human
activity.
Also the engineering geology is the science which
concerns with the exploitation and protection of
geological environment
Geotechnics: means the application of earth science
(geology, soil mechanics, hydrology, geophysics etc.)
Importance of Engineering Geology
1- To recognize the potential difficult ground condition prior to
construction
It is necessary to determine and take into account the
environmental conditions under which a structure will be
constructed. Also, The mode of occurrence of subsurface water
2- It helps to identify areas susceptible to failure due to geological
hazards
a structure to be built may be under deleterious effect of one or
more natural geological processes or phenomena known as
geodynamic.
3- To have best selection of sites for engineering
purpose
Purpose of building, available facilities, terrain condition,
type of ground soil, environmental condition

4- To have best selection of engineering materials

for construction
 The Aim of this course is to give the student , the basic
geotechnical principles that can provide a solid basis for
the solution of problems connected with natural
environment of an engineering structure, particularly the
surrounding ground.
 Engineering geology can be subdivided into
two main branches:

1. Soil engineering
2. Engineering geodynamics
which include the engineering geological processes e.g.
Landslides, carstification, earthquakes, action of surface
and subsurface waters, action of marine waters and
etc..
Soil
In general sense of engineering, soil is
defined as the uncemented aggregate of
mineral grains and decayed organic matter.
Soil is a mixture of minerals, organic matter,
gases, liquids and countless organisms the
together support life on earth.
 The main physical properties of soil are
dictated by the size, shape and chemical
composition of the grains.
Soil Engineering
Soil Mechanics
Is the branch of science that deals with the study of
physical properties of soil and the behavior of soil
masses subjected to various types of forces.
Soil engineering
 It is the application of the principles of soil mechanics
to practical problems.
Soil horizons
Soil Fraction
 Soil Texture
Coarse- textured soils have a high sand content. They consist of large particles
with uneven surfaces and because of this, have large pores paces.

Medium textured soils Known as loams, have properties in between those of

coarse and fine textures.

Fine- Textured , soils range from silty clay to heavy clay, heavy clays are like
soft plastic when wet and are hard when dry
Factor affecting Soil types
Physical weathering
Action of frost, water, wind, glaciers, plant/animals, etc.
breaking particles away from original bedrocks.
Particles transported by wind, water, ice
Soil formed are called granular soil type
Grains are similar to original bedrock
Soil types
Chemical weathering
Occurs when water flows through rocks and leaches out some
of the mineral components of the rock.
Soils formed are called clays
Clay particles are mineral crystals that have very different
properties from those of the original bedrock.
Clay Minerals
The term clay is used as mineral name or textural name (-1 or -2
µm).

They are primarily hydrous aluminum silicates

Most clay minerals exhibit plasticity when mixed with limited

amount of water.

They have relatively high resistance to weathering (end

product).
Structural Unites of The Clay Minerals
The clay minerals are one member of the family which called

“Phyllosillicates ’’.
The different clay minerals groups are characterized by stacking arrangements of
sheets in which two or three sheet layers are hold together.
The two basic units in clay minerals structures are the Silica tetrahedron and the
Aluminum or Magnesium octahedron.
Silica sheet composition (Si4O10)4 .
Octahedron sheet composition either,
1. Gibbsite sheet, Gibbsite mineral [Al2 (OH) 6], Di-octahedral.
Or
2. Brucite sheet, Brucite mineral [Mg3 (OH) 6], Tri-octahedral.
 Basic Structural Units
Clay minerals are made of two distinct structural
units. hydroxyl or
oxygen
oxygen
aluminium or
magnesium
Silicon

0.29 nm
 1:1 Minerals-Kaolinite
•Si4Al4O10(OH)8. Platy shape
•The bonding between layers are vander Waals forces
and hydrogen bonds (strong bonding).
•There is no interlayer swelling (Nonexpandable)

Basal spacing is 7.2 Å

Trovey, 1971 ( from 17 m

Mitchell, 1993)
2:1 Minerals-Montmorillonite
•Si8Al4O20(OH)4·nH2O
•There is extensive isomorphous
substitution for silicon and aluminum by
other cations, which results in charge
deficiencies of clay particles.
•n·H2O and cations exist between unit
layers, and the basal spacing is from 9.6 Å
to  (after swelling).
•The interlayer bonding is by van der
Waals forces and by cations which
balance charge deficiencies (weak
bonding).
(Holtz and Kovacs, 1981)
5 m
 2:1 Minerals-Illite (mica-like minerals)
•Si8(Al,Mg, Fe)4~6O20(OH)4·(K,H2O)2. Flaky shape.

•The basic structure is very similar to the mica,

•Some of the Si4+ in the tetrahedral sheet are replaced by the

Potassium
Al3+, and some of the Al3+ in the octahedral sheet are
substituted by the Mg2+ or Fe3+. Those are the origins of
7.5 m
charge deficiencies.

•The charge deficiency is balanced by the potassium ion Trovey, 1971 ( from
Mitchell, 1993)
between layers..

•The basal spacing is fixed at 10 Å in the presence of polar

liquids (no interlayer swelling).
Illites Differ from The Mica in the following:

1. Fewer of Si++ position are occupied by Al3+ in illite.

2. There are some randomness in stacking of layers in illite.
3. There is some relatively less K in illilte. Well organized
illite contain 9 to 10% of K2O.
4. The size of illite particles occurring naturally is very
small
Mixed Layer Clay
Due to the greatest similarity in the crystal structure among the
different minerals, the interstratification of two or more different
layer type often occur within a single particles.

Montmorillonite-illite is the most common, although chlorite-

vermiculite and chlorite-montmorillonite are often encountered.
What determine clay minerals in a given
soil
Parental material
Degree of weathering
Climate
The effect of the clay minerals in Engineering Geology
The advantage Effects:
1. Linening of the irrigation canals.
2. Used in drilling mud.
3. Injection of some porous sediments to decrease porosity and
increase shearing strength.
4. Used in adsorbing of some toxic heavy metals.
5. The presence of thin layer on the top of silty sediments
prevents the penetration of the water to the slope, prevent its
sliding.
Disadvantages Effects:
1. The swelling of clay under the foundation of structure
produce the warping of their floors and sometimes to the
failure

2. The consolidation of clays under the load of engineering

structure may produce a great settlement of this structure.

3. The presence of clayey sediments in a slope surface produces

a high pore pressure, which decrease the stability of this slope
and its sliding.