Page 29 - Rock Mechanics For Underground Mining

FUNCTIONAL INTERACTIONS IN MINE ENGINEERING

is to define the interaction of geologists and planning, production and rock mechanics
engineers in the pre-production and operating phases of mining activity.
Thescopeofengineeringactivitytobeundertakenprecedingandduringtheproduc-
tive life of a mine is illustrated in the design task definition chart shown in Figure 1.5.
The overall aim of the various components of engineering activity (e.g. mine access
design, ventilation system) is the development of sustainable production and cost
schedules for the operation. The specific rock mechanics contributions to the mine
engineering programme, and its interface with other planning functions, occur pri-
marily in tasks related to mine access, mining method development and mine layout,
mining sequence and ore extraction design. Mining method development, mine layout
and sequencing, support and reinforcement design, and the development of responses
Management
to unanticipated events (e.g. falls of ground) occurring during operations, usually
constitute the majority of the initial and continuing rock mechanics activity.
Rockmechanicsactivitiesneedtobeconductedwithinanorganisationalframework
Mine Production
planning that permits the exchange and integration of concepts, requirements, information and
and
design advice from and between management, geologists, planning engineers, production
personnel and rock mechanics engineers. The logic of such an integrated mine engi-
neering philosophy is illustrated in Figure 1.6. The principles implicit in this scheme
Mine Rock are, first, the mutual dependence of each functional group on information provided by
geology mechanics
the others, and, second, that it is usually the mine planning engineers who transform
the individual technical contributions into working drawings, production schedules
Figure 1.6 Interaction between
and cost estimates for subsequent implementation by production personnel. The logic
technical groups involved in mine
engineering. of Figure 1.6 is not intended to represent a mine site organisational structure. What-
ever structure is used, it is essential that there be close working relationships between
geology, planning, rock mechanics and production groups.
Considering Figure 1.6 from a rock mechanics perspective, it is useful to summarise
the information that can be reasonably expected from the other functional groups and
the information and advice that should be delivered by a rock mechanics group.

1.4.1 Management
Information from management is a key element which is frequently not available to
rock mechanics specialists. The general requirement is that the broad framework of
management policy and objectives for the exploitation of a particular resource be
defined explicitly. This should include such details as the volume extraction ratio
sought for the orebody and how this might change in response to changing product
prices. The company investment strategy should be made known, if only to indi-
cate the thinking underlying the decision to mine an orebody. Particular corporate
constraints on mining technique, such as policy on disturbance of the local physical
environment above the mine area, and restrictions on geohydrological disturbance,
should be defined. Further, restrictions on operating practices, such as men working
in vertical openings or under unsupported, temporary roof spans, need to be specified.

1.4.2 Geology
In defining the geomechanics role of exploration and engineering geologists in mine
engineering,itisassumedthat,atallstagesofthegeologicalexplorationofanorebody,
structural and geohydrological data will be logged and processed on a routine basis. A
Geology Section can then provide information ranging from a general description of
the regional geology, particularly the structural geology, to details of the dominant and
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