Pillar stability issues based on a survey of pillar performance in underground limestone mines.
Authors
Esterhuizen GS; Iannacchione AT; Ellenberger JL; Dolinar DR
Source
Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, August 1-3, 2006, Morgantown, West Virginia. Peng SS, Mark C, Finfinger GL, Tadolini S, Khair AW, Heasley KA, Luo Y, eds. Morgantown, WV: West Virginia University, 2006 Aug; :354-361
Abstract
A survey of pillar conditions was carried out at 21 operating limestone mines that use the room-and-pillar method. The surveyed pillars were all located in rock that was classified as "Good" to "Very Good" using the RMR rock mass classification system. The average pillar width was 14.5m and the width to height ratio varied between 0.53 and 3.52. Pillar conditions were rated using a visual rating system that accounts for the effect of geological structures as well as stress related fracturing. Nine cases of pillar instability were recorded. Pillar instabilities were typically limited to individual pillars or small groups of pillars within an otherwise stable layout. Local geological structures such as inclined discontinuities or weak bedding planes contributed to instability in seven of nine cases that were observed. Elevated pillar stresses contributed to instability in the two remaining cases. All the unstable pillars observed had width-to-height ratios of less than 1.5. It is concluded that pillar instability is most likely to be caused by unfavorable geological structures in pillars with width to height ratios of less than 1.5. Stress related instability such as rib spalling becomes more prevalent when the average pillar stress approaches approximately 20 MPa.
Keywords
Ground-control; Ground-stability; Underground-mining; Geology; Mining-industry; Rock-mechanics
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Editors
Peng SS; Mark C; Finfinger GL; Tadolini SC; Khair AW; Heasley KA; Luo Y
Priority Area
Disease and Injury: Traumatic Injuries
Source Name
Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, August 1-3, 2006, Morgantown, WV
