Geotechnical Design for Sublevel Open Stoping

The first comprehensive work on one of the most important underground mining methods worldwide, Geotechnical Design for Sublevel Open Stoping presents topics according to the conventional sublevel stoping process used by most mining houses, in which a sublevel stoping geometry is chosen for a particular mining method, equipment availability, and work force experience. Summarizing state-of-the-art practices encountered during his 25+ years of experience at industry-leading underground mines, the author:

• Covers the design and operation of sublevel open stoping, including variants such as bench stoping
• Discusses increases in sublevel spacing due to advances in the drilling of longer and accurate production holes, as well as advances in explosive types, charges, and initiation systems
• Considers improvements in slot rising through vertical crater retreat, inverse drop rise, and raise boring
• Devotes a chapter to rock mass characterization, since increases in sublevel spacing have meant that larger, unsupported stope walls must stand without collapsing
• Describes methodologies to design optimum open spans and pillars, rock reinforcement of development access and stope walls, and fill masses to support the resulting stope voids
• Reviews the sequencing of stoping blocks to minimize in situ stress concentrations
• Examines dilution control action plans and techniques to back-analyze and optimize stope wall performance

Featuring numerous case studies from the world-renowned Mount Isa Mines and examples from underground mines in Western Australia, Geotechnical Design for Sublevel Open Stoping is both a practical reference for industry and a specialized textbook for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate mining studies.

Introduction. Mining Method Selection. Sublevel Stoping Geometry. Planning and Design. Rock Mass Characterisation. Span and Pillar Design. Drilling and Blasting. Rock Reinforcement and Support. Mine Fill. Dilution Control.

Ernesto Villaescusa possesses over 25 years of applied research experience. He has worked with mining houses such as MIM Holdings, Noranda, WMC Resources, Peñoles, Minera Autlan, CODELCO, BHP Billiton, Placer Dome Asia Pacific, and Normandy to develop guidelines for effective underground mining leading to the safe, economical extraction of ore. For the past 16 years, he has served as professor of mining geomechanics at the Western Australian School of Mines, where he has secured over $21 million of industry-funded mining research income, supervised over 30 masters and 10 Ph.D student theses, and been appointed to an industry chair in mining rock mechanics.