EXAMINATION PAPER

SUBJECT: EXAMINER:

CERTIFICATE IN ROCK MECHANICS JJ THOMPSON

PAPER 3.1 : HARD ROCK TABULAR
MODERATOR:
SUBJECT CODE:
MKC ROBERTS
COMRME
TOTAL MARKS: [100]
EXAMINATION DATE:
PASS MARK: 60%
17 May 2012

TIME: 9:00 – 12:00

NUMBER OF PAGES: 14

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Answer ALL FIVE questions

References other than those provided are not permitted.
Hand-held electronic calculators may be used.
Put your examination number on the outside cover of each book used and on any graph paper
or other loose sheets handed in.
NB: YOUR NAME MUST NOT APPEAR ON ANY ANSWER BOOK OR LOOSE SHEETS.
Write in ink on the RIGHT HAND SIDE of the paper only (only the right hand pages will be
marked).
Show all calculations on which your answers are based.
Illustrate your answers by sketches of diagrams wherever possible.
In answering these questions, full advantage should be taken wherever necessary of your
practical experience as well as of the data given.
Answers must be given to an accuracy that is typical of practical conditions.
CERTIFICATE IN ROCK MECHANICS: PAPER 3.1 17 May 2012
HARD ROCK TABULAR

QUESTION 1 – MULTIPLE CHOICE

Answer the following by clearly indicating your choice as shown in the example below.

Note:- It may be advisable to show your calculations when calculations are required.

1.1. Structural geology entities 1 to 7 above show (in sequence) the following (2)
A.) Normal fault, Horst, Dip-slip fault, Graben, Normal Fault, Reverse fault, Strike slip
fault
B.) Normal fault, Horst, Reverse fault, Graben, Normal Fault, Normal fault,
transpressional fault
C.) Normal fault, Graben, Normal fault, Horst, Normal Fault, Reverse fault, Dip slip
fault
D.) Normal fault, Graben, Normal fault, Valley, Normal Fault, Dip-slip fault, Strike slip
fault

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1.2. Which of the following statements is/are true? (2)

A.) When exposed in the hangingwall of an excavation, steep dipping structures are
generally more stable than shallow dipping ones.
B.) Geological structures like faults and dykes pose the same type of risk to mine
safety in both shallow and deep level mining environments.
C.) Normal faults and reverse faults can both be described using the broader term
"dip-slip" fault.
D.) A and C above

1.3. Who assisted in development of the GSi Rockmass Rating system? (1)
A.) Stacey et al.
B.) Hoek et al.
C.) Barton et al.
D.) Griffith et al.

1.4. A fault in a deep level mine is loaded in the normal and shear directions with 35 MPa
and 10 MPa respectively. Assume that the fault contact has a cohesion of 500 kPa
and a friction angle of 25°. Based on the above, the correct assessment of the ESS
parameter would be (3)
A.) ESS = - 4.5 MPa and the fault is likely to be stable
B.) ESS = - 6.8 MPa and the fault is likely to be stable
C.) ESS = 4.5 MPa and the fault is likely to be unstable
D.) ESS = 6.8 MPa and the fault is likely to be unstable

1.5. An elongate (200mm in diameter) yields at 20 tons. If units are installed on a 2m x

1.5m skin-to-skin spacing, what is the support resistance offered by the system?
To get the correct answer, assume g = 9.81 m/s2. (3)
A.) 196.2 kN/m²
B.) 212.2 kN/m²
C.) 65.4 kN/m²
D.) 52.5 kN/m²

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1.6. An installed support unit has already been subjected to 75mm of yield. Given the
following support characteristics, what is the energy absorption capacity of the unit
currently? (assume g=10 m/s2) (3)

A.) 30 kJ
B.) 3 kJ
C.) 45 kJ
D.) 21 750 J

1.7. The graph below shows the magnitude distribution of seismic event on a mine in the
Klerksdorp region. The indicated GR linear relation fit is best represented by which
equation? (3)

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CERTIFICATE IN ROCK MECHANICS: PAPER 3.1 17 May 2012
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A.)
B.)
C.)
D.)

1.8. The graph below contrasts energy and moment for a set of events recorded at a mine.
The following is true of events “A” and “B” (3)

A.) The Energy Index of A is 1.18. Event A is likely to be structure related.

B.) The Energy Index of B is 0.84. Event A is likely a burst-type event, Event B is
likely a slip-type event.
C.) The Energy Index of B is 0.91. Event A is likely a burst-type event.
D.) The Energy Index of A is 1.30. Event A is likely a burst-type event, Event B is
likely a slip-type event.

(20 marks)

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CERTIFICATE IN ROCK MECHANICS: PAPER 3.1 17 May 2012
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QUESTION 2 - SUPPORT DESIGN

The manager of a small, shallow chrome mine has approached you to assist with a design for
in-stope support, as they have recently had several serious fall-of-ground incidents.

The mine exploits a 1.2 metre thick chromitite seam using traditional narrow tabular reef stoping
techniques. 25 metre long breast panels are advanced 1.0 metre / day using handheld drilling,
and cleaned by scrapers. Usually, the top contact of chromitite seam corresponds with the
stope hangingwall - i.e. the stope is cut along the top contact of the chromitite seam.

Apart from inter-panel grid pillars, permanent support in the panels consists of 200 millimetre
diameter mine poles spaced at 2.5 metre centres on both dip and strike. Temporary mechanical
props (Camlock) are used in the face area for protection during the drilling shift.

An analysis of the mine’s fall of ground database has revealed the following:
 There is a definite bi-modal distribution of falls, with small thin falls occurring in the
face area and larger thicker falls / collapses occurring well back from the face (15
metres plus).
 The average thickness of the face area falls is 0.6 metres, the average block size is
2.25 square metres, and they are roughly square in shape.
 The maximum thickness of back area falls is in the order of 3.0 metres, the average
block size is 3.6m along dip and 2.2m along strike (approximately 8 square metres).

The information is backed up by an interview with the mine’s geologist, who explains that the
face area falls are generally joint-bound blocks breaking off along reef-parallel chromitite
stringers located between 0.5 and 0.8 metres above the reef horizon. The larger back area falls
are normally caused by unravelling of the hanging wall mass, particularly along prominent
geological features.

As several of the face area falls have been associated with the installation and removal of
temporary support units, mine management would like to eliminate the use of temporary
support and replace it with systematic roof bolting.

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Given that the average density of the hanging wall rock mass is 3.0 tons / cubic metre, you are
required to:

2.1 Design a suitable roof bolting-based support system for the face area, based on tendons
with a 8 ton load-bearing ability. Specify and motivate:
 Required support resistance
 Recommended dip and strike spacing of tendons
 Recommended length and installation angles of tendons (7)

2.2 Based on a combination of cost, effectiveness, robustness and user-friendliness, which

type of tendon / bonding system would you recommend for this application and why? (3)

2.3 Design a suitable elongate support system for the back area, based on elongates with a
(downrated) 350 kN load-bearing ability. Specify and motivate:
 Required support resistance
 Recommended dip and strike spacing of elongates
 Maximum distance from face for installing elongates (7)

2.4 Can the support resistance generated by the tendons be included in the calculation for
the back area support? Motivate your answer (3)

(20 marks)

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CERTIFICATE IN ROCK MECHANICS: PAPER 3.1 20 October 2011
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QUESTION 3 – MODELLING AND PILLAR DESIGN

"AuCool" gold mine in the Orange Free State currently mines at an average depth of 1500
metres below surface (mbs). The reef is 1.8m - 2.0m in width and the hangingwall and footwall
rock is a competent 200 MPa quartzite.

The mine currently makes use of strike orientated rib pillars which separate the different mining
horizons by a distance of 200m (along dip). These pillars provide regional support and also
separate two on-reef strike drives that the mine currently actively uses to gain access to the
stope workings on a daily basis. The sidewalls of the strike drives are currently being supported
with 2.4m long tendons and shotcrete. In general, conditions in the drives are stable. The
strike pillars are 10m wide and the stope width is maintained at a width of 2m.

The basic mining layout is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Basic Mining layout - AuCool

The mine plans to extend mining operations deeper to an average depth of 2500 mbs and has
asked you to comment on the intended use of the same mining layout at this depth. Rock
properties are not expected to change.

You decide to model average pillar stress (APS) as a tool to guide your assessment and
recommendations to the mine. You also assess possible rockwall failure using the Hoek-Brown

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failure criterion. You have modelled 2 cases. CASE 1 at a depth of 1500 mbs and CASE 2 at a
depth of 2500 mbs. The results from your modelling are shown below in Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Figure 2 Modelling results - Plot of pillar stress (MPa)

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Figure 3 Modelling results - Hoek Brown strength factor

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Notes:-

a) In this assessment, APS is based on modelled major principle stress (1).

b) The "Hoek-Brown strength factor" expresses the level of modelled stress relative to the
limit defined by the H-B failure criterion. Values > 1.0 suggest stress levels below the H-
B limit whereas Values < 1.0 suggest modelled stress levels above the H-B limit.

3.1 Comment on the observed differences in the modelled stresses within pillars A, B and C
as labelled in the figures above. Why is there a difference in modelled pillar stress? (2)

3.2 Sketch a typical Hoek-Brown failure profile in the S1 – S3 space. Label your sketch and
indicate where rockmass failure can and should not be expected (4)

3.3 Carefully considering the results from the numerical modelling, write a brief report to
management motivating your stance on the intended use of the same mining layout and
geometry at a depth of 2500 mbs. Structure your write-up according to the following
discussion points (12)
 Assessment of APS and the possibility of pillar foundation failures for each
modelled case. Refer to a commonly accepted relationship between APS and
rock strength. (4)
 Assessment of the H-B failure criterion and the expected extent of stress damage
around the strike orientated reef drives. Comment on the difference in the
expected depth of stress fracturing and the required length of sidewall support for
each of the two modelled cases. (4)
 Your conclusions with regards
1. The use of the current stope and pillar size / geometry at a depth of
2500 mbs. What design change options exist that should be considered by
the mine to ensure regional stability at this depth? (List at least 2
alternative options). (2)
2. The continued use of dedicated and long term strike orientated reef drives
at a depth of 2500 mbs. What problems do you foresee and what would
you recommend to ensure long term stability of future access ways? (2)

3.4 You have used the 2-dimensional PHASE 2 software package (from Rockscience) to
assess the pillar stresses. Explain why using this software is justifiable in this case.
Under which pillar assessment circumstances should this package NOT be used? (2)

(20 marks)

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CERTIFICATE IN ROCK MECHANICS: PAPER 3.1 20 October 2011
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QUESTION 4 - BACKFILL
You are the new rock engineer on a deep and very seismically active narrow tabular mine
that uses in-stope backfilling. Backfill is pumped underground and into the stopes from a
surface based backfill plant.

4.1 Discuss in detail the functioning and benefits of backfill (what it does and how it
works) as :- (6)
a) Regional support
b) Local support

The performance of backfill is often described according to a hyperbolic stress-strain

relationship involving the backfill parameters "a" and "b". The relationship takes the form

4.2 Contrast between the a and b parameters by describing what they represent in a
standard backfill stress-strain performance graph. (2)

4.3. Discuss the various underground signs that would alert you to a possible problem
with backfill performance. i.e. What changes would you expect to see on your mine if
the backfill performance was severely compromised? (2)

Figure 4 contrasts the most recently measured performance (laboratory tested) of your
current backfill mix to that originally specified when backfill was first introduced at the mine.

4.4 What does the graph suggest about the expected theoretical support capability of
the installed backfill 20m behind the face? Compare your current situation to that
should your backfill performance be as per the initial design. (3)
Assume the following
Stope width = 1.5m
measured closure rate underground = 20mm per m face advance
backfill is placed 5m behind the face.

4.5 Why would the actual underground installed load bearing capacity be lower than
predicted above? Discuss some contributing factors. (2)

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Figure 4 Backfill properties

4.6 Two very important manufacturing properties of backfill are particle size distribution
and porosity. Discuss the relationship between the two parameters and how they
affect backfill strength and performance. (4)

4.7 Name any 2 other commonly monitored backfill manufacturing properties. (1)

(20 marks)

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QUESTION 5 – COP
You are required to compile a Mandatory Code of Practice (COP) to combat Rockfall and
Rock burst accidents in tabular Metalliferous mines (according to the DMR guideline DME
16/3/2/1-A3).

According to the guidelines, the COP must consist of the following main chapters
 Chapter 5 – General Information (on the mining environment)
 Chapter 6 – Terms and definitions
 Chapter 7 – Risk Management (Rock related risk)
 Chapter 8 – Aspects to be addressed in the COP (to manage rock related risk)

5.1. Name and briefly discuss the typical headings / sections to be included under
Chapter 5 of the COP. (4)

5.2. Chapter 7 is of paramount importance to the successful compilation of the COP and
involves a detailed risk assessment of all rock related issues.
1. With reference to a typical risk assessment exercise, differentiate between (2)
a. Hazard and Risk
b. Existing and Additional controls
2. Describe the risk assessment process by making specific reference to the
following (6)
a. Requirements for the risk assessment team (who is to be involved and at
what stage?)
b. Hazard identification and risk assessment using risk ratings based on a
typical Probability - Consequence - Exposure type risk matrix (show that
you know how a typical risk rating is calculated and how it is used)
c. The fundamental purpose behind such a risk assessment exercise when
conducted as part of the mine’s rockfall COP.

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5.3. Discuss the basic Rock Engineering principles applicable to discussions under the
following headings in Chapter 8 of a typical COP. (8)
a. Strategies to ensure overall mine stability (assume shallow hard rock
operations). Make reference to basic pillar types, their intended roles /
purpose and basic design guidelines (given a shallow to intermediate
depth mining environment).

b. Strategies to be followed during the mineral extraction process

(assume deep hard rock operations). Make reference to the following
I. General mining layout and geometry and approach to geological
features (assume typical deep level sequential grid mining)
II. Instope support requirements including the pros and cons of the
various support types and their intended life and purpose. A basic
reference must be made to the support design process.

(20 marks)

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