An evaluation of cave mining in weak hangingwall conditions at Hartbeesfontein Gold Mining Limited

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dc.contributor.authorArnold, David Anthony
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-21T07:00:16Z
dc.date.available2016-06-21T07:00:16Z
dc.date.issued1993
dc.descriptionThesis (M.Sc. (Engin))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Engineering, 1993en_ZA
dc.description.abstractA mining area at Hartebeesttentein Gold Mine, designated as the 5.K. North Block, is traversed" by ageological alteration zone known locally as the "pseudo-breccia". The rockmass in this zone has been rendered friable, weak and prone to collapse as a result of this phenomenon. The area is also marginally payable, making stoping width control vitally important. Any failure of tht:: hangingwall which dilutes the ore can render the mining area uneconomical. The stoping method employed-in the SA North Block, and extensively elsewhere on the mine, is called "cave mining" or "caving". The method, which has been in use on the min~ since the early 1960's, allows the back area to collapse behind a zone of face support Which consists of either timber sticks or steel hydraulic props. Varibus stope support strategies were investigated to deal with severe strata control problems arising from the prevailing poor hangingwall conditions. Serious consideration was given to c backfilling as an alternative to caving, but the option was finally rejected for reasons outlined in this report, The development of improved prop-based face support strategies and an evaluation of their effectiveness in combination with cave mining formed the main thrust of the project work. Some adaptations had to be made to suit the caving method, and these aspects are described in some detail in this report. The report thus concentrates on the development and implementation of stope support strategies designed to cater for weak ground conditions, rather than dealing with the cave mining method per se. Nevertheless, a Comprehensive review of the history and theory of cave mining is presented together with a fairly detailed evaluation of the backfill alternative. Some quantitative assessments of strata behaviour under caving conditions have been made from time to time in the past. It was therefore deemed worthwhile to measure, quantify and interpret hangingwall rock movement at a number of stope sites within the pseudo-breccia alteration zone, for comparative purposes.en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10539/20506
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.subjectCavingen_ZA
dc.subjectStoping (Mining)en_ZA
dc.titleAn evaluation of cave mining in weak hangingwall conditions at Hartbeesfontein Gold Mining Limiteden_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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