The Use of Geotechnical Instrumentation to Optimise an

Engineered Mine Design at Beaconsfield Gold Mine, Tasmania

A R Penney
1
, P B Hills
2
and R J Walton
3
ABSTRACT
Geotechnical instrumentation has been implemented as a key step for
monitoring and optimising an engineered mine design for managing
seismicity at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine. Measurements of
displacement, stress change, ground control element load and seismic
response of the rock mass allow for back analysis and calibration of
critical parameters for feedback into the engineering design loop.
Instrument clusters are installed in strategic locations prior to the
commencement of stoping in order to determine the nature of the
response of the rock mass to stoping. A selection of instruments including
instrumented cable bolts and rod extensometers, resistance wire
extensometers, hollow inclusion stress cells, vibrating wire stress meters
and resistance wire extensometers are used to gather data through a data
logging system. The rate at which data is recorded is adjusted to provide
more information during periods of anticipated rapid change such as
around stope firings or during periods of high seismic activity, and less
information during periods of anticipated quiescence.
The twofold purpose of the instrumentation is to calibrate the
numerical modelling output which forms the basis of the engineered mine
design, and to provide an alert mechanism where the behaviour of the
rock mass is not what was anticipated, or where the impact of that
behaviour may compromise the integrity of the engineered ground control
system.
The paper describes the location of instrument clusters with respect to
stoping, the type of instruments employed and the method of data
acquisition. It provides examples of results obtained and illustrates the
way in which that information is used to optimise the mine design and
manage seismicity.
BACKGROUND
The Beaconsfield Gold Mine in Northern Tasmania began to
exhibit mining induced seismicity during sill driving of the
orebody at a depth of 760 m below surface in 2002. The
increasing occurrence and degree of seismicity over the
following four years saw a number of strategies introduced and
work plans implemented for the purpose of seismic management.
Increasingly, the focus of these strategies and plans was directed
at reducing the risk to personnel, equipment and the mining
operation itself, which was posed by the increasingly seismically
active environment.
Geotechnical instrumentation was adopted as a management
tool from the onset of seismicity, although principally, it was
directed at measuring and monitoring the seismicity itself and
measuring the in situ stress field. Stress change monitoring was
introduced when in situ stress measurements were completed in
2003 and 2006, but principally this was done to monitor far-field
changes over time rather than focusing on local changes and the
immediate impact on the day-to-day mining operation.
A complete review of all aspects of the mining operation at
Beaconsfield followed a well publicised seismically induced
rockfall accident on Anzac Day 2006. At the behest of
Workplace Standards Tasmania, a comprehensive peer reviewed
mine design and safety management process, a Case to Manage
Underground Safety (or Case for Safety) was implemented. In
essence, from a purely mining perspective, the Case for Safety
involved geotechnical design from first principles and adoption
of a mining method suitable for the safe operation of the mine in
the prevailing geotechnical environment. In particular, the Case
for Safety led to the development of a remote stoping method in
the west zone of the Beaconsfield Gold Mine to exclude
personnel from areas of greatest seismic risk. Enhanced use of
geotechnical instrumentation was introduced to the operation to
verify assumptions made and monitor progress.
GEOLOGY AND SETTING
The Beaconsfield Gold Mine is centred on the Tasmania Reef, a
steeply-dipping tabular quartz-carbonate vein hosted by a
sequence of siliciclastic sediments. The sediments, which dip
towards the east, comprise the Salisbury Hill Formation of
conglomerates and sandstones overlain by the Eaglehawk Gully
Formation of sandstones, siltstones and limestones with
occasional pebble bands. All siliciclastic rocks have been
metamorphosed to quartzites although they retain much of their
sedimentary character. The Tasmania Reef is essentially planar
over a strike length of 350 - 400 m, with an average width of
2.5 m and occupies a shear which cuts across stratigraphy
orthogonally. The west zone of the Tasmania Reef is hosted by
the Salisbury Hill Formation, and it is the brittle nature of the
conglomerate horizons within that formation in particular, which
are prone to mining induced seismicity. The geology of the mine
is discussed by Hills et al (2001).
GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN
The basis of first principles geotechnical design adopted for the
Beaconsfield Gold mine is generally that outlined in the
Canadian Rockburst Handbook (Kaiser, McCreath and Tannant,
1996). The Case for Safety studies (Pfitzner, 2006; King,
Thomas and Scott, 2007; Scott and Reeves, 2007; Sidea, Scott
and Reeves, 2007) progressively developed the design process
through the increasingly geotechnically complex environments
of decline development, ore driving, stoping in the generally
aseismic east zone and finally, stoping in the west zone. The
process was summarised by Reeves (2008) and peer reviewed in
application by Kaiser (2008). Scott, Penney and Fuller (2008)
examine the application of this process to stoping in the west
zone.
REMOTE STOPING METHOD
A key outcome of the Case for Safety process was the realisation
that seismicity associated with stoping in the west zone of the
Beaconsfield Gold Mine would continue and that the magnitude
of those seismic events was likely to equal that which occurred
on Anzac Day 2006. Further, it was realised that no support
system could be designed to adequately ensure the safety of
personnel working in the western ore drives, should they be
Narrow Vein Mining Conference Ballarat, Vic, 14 - 15 October 2008 165
1. MAusIMM, Geotechnical Geologist, Allstate Explorations NL,
PO Box 58, Beaconsfield Tas 7270.
Email: AdrianP@allstateexp.com.au
2. FAusIMM, Technical Services Manager, Allstate Explorations NL,
PO Box 58, Beaconsfield Tas 7270.
Email: PeterH@allstateexp.com.au
3. Principal Consultant, Coffey Mining Pty Ltd, 1/21 Howleys Road,
Notting Hill Vic 3168. Email: Rob_Walton@coffey.com
present when such seismic events occurred. Consequently, the
Western Case for Safety (Scott and Reeves, 2007) was premised
on the development of a remote stoping method which totally
excluded the presence of personnel from ore drives in the west
zone where stoping has commenced. The development and
application of the remote stoping method devised, is discussed
separately by Hills et al (2008). With this change, there was a
requirement that geotechnical assumptions and other decisions
behind this move are adequately assessed. These assumptions
were to be continually checked and modified as data is collected,
analysed and further observations are made.
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AND
INSTRUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
The need to evaluate the installed ground control system and the
rock mass around the excavations with a degree of confidence
and reliability as the mining front advances continues to be a
challenge facing all mining operations. Areas of ground control
failure and the failure to understand the rock mass behaviour can
result in development and production delays, equipment damage,
reserve loss, or injuries. Instrumentation including microseismic
systems, stress/strain meters, instrumented support elements and
extensometers are critical components in understanding this
behaviour, and measuring the effectiveness of installed ground
control systems. This in turn allows for optimisation of the
engineering design process through back analysis and ongoing
calibration of engineered designs and has the potential to lead
directly to improved operating costs as well as safer operating
conditions (Bawden et al, 2007). This role for instrumentation is
incumbent in the Case for Safety process adopted at the
Beaconsfield Gold Mine.
Microseismic monitoring and the surrounding issue of seismic
management was discussed in some detail by Hills and Penney
(2008), and are not reiterated. This paper describes the use of
clusters of instruments to monitor the behaviour of the rock mass
and the installed ground support in response to stoping. It
focuses on the site selection and analysis of the western
instrumentation installed in the 940 Stoping Block footwall
drives as outlined in the Western Case for Safety.
Description of instruments and loggers used
All instruments have been selected due to their relative robust
nature, ease of use and general acceptance across the mining
industry. The instruments utilised in these clusters are:
CSIRO Hollow Inclusion Stress Measurement Cell
(Worotnicki and Walton, 1976), selected for its capability to
measure stress change in three dimensions;
SMART

cable bolts (Hyett et al, 1997), specifically

designed to match the bungee (yielding) cable bolts designed
for use at the mine following the Anzac Day 2006 rockfall
(Scott, Penney and Fuller, 2008) with node points at 0.4 m,
0.8 m, 2.0 m, 4.5 m, 6.7 m and 7.1 m (Figure 1)
4
;
multi-point borehole extensometer (MPBX) (Windsor and
Worotnicki, 1986), selected to compliment the SMART

cable with node points at 1 m intervals over a 6 m length;

1 m and 2 m resistance wire extensometers (RWE) (Windsor
and Worotnicki, 1986), selected for their high precision and
accuracy for the measurement of pillar deformation between
the footwall drive and the stope; and
uniaxial vibrating wire stress meters (Dutta, 1985), selected
to provide data on stress increases perpendicular across the
drive backs may also be used but are not essential.
Data acquisition from the instrumentation in these clusters is
achieved using dataTaker

DT85 and DT515 data loggers. Data

is transferred from the loggers to either a USB memory stick, or
direct to a laptop computer via USB connection.
Layout of instrumentation and criteria for site
selection
A typical instrument cluster for the footwall drives is shown in
Figure 2. The majority of the instrument installations, and
therefore observations, are made from the drive backs. This is the
critical area identified from geotechnical mapping, numerical
modelling and empirical methods for static and dynamic failure.
Clusters are located in strategic locations in footwall drives
along the strike of the orebody. In a standard cluster, an HI Cell
is installed at a depth above the backs of around 3 m to measure
stress change and provide a quantitative assessment of observed
stress-induced damage. SMART

cables and MPBXs are installed

into the centre of the drive backs within a metre of the HI Cell
and at a separation from each other of not more than 1.5 m. The
cluster allows the impact of measured stress change to be
correlated against measured deformation of the rock mass and
the corresponding response of the support element. RWEs are
installed into the wall between the FW Drive and reef at an
166 Ballarat, Vic, 14 - 15 October 2008 Narrow Vein Mining Conference
A R PENNEY, P B HILLS and R J WALTON
4. The SMART

cable design modified for use at Beaconsfield

incorporates a 1.5 m length of Garford bulbed strand at the toe
anchor position. Three Garford nodes occur in this section of the
cable, and the measurement head takes the place of the barrel and
wedge swage block on the standard Beaconsfield bungee cable. A 4.5
m long section of plain strand encased in pvc tubing provides the
debonded capacity to allow for deformation (particularly due to
dynamic load), and a 1.3 m section of plain strand at the collar to
provides for surface anchorage. Self aligning barrel and wedge
assemblies and domed plates are employed as surface fixtures.
FIG 1 - SMART

bungee cable bolt configuration.

incline of approximately 30. At this orientation, the RWE is
perpendicular to the reef footwall, and provides insight into the
behaviour of the minimum 6 m pillar between the reef and drive.
A HQ diamond drill observation hole is drilled to a depth of 7 m
in the backs to allow visual observation by borehole camera of
any developing fractures or deformation, and is located within
1.0 m of the MPBX. The observation hole also allows for
visual observations of the depth of fracture caused by either
stress redistribution or pre-existing discontinuities (Figure 2).
Occasionally, a cluster is augmented by the inclusion of an HI
Cell installed approximately 9 m into the wall of the footwall
drive away from the orebody.
Generally one cluster is installed in each geotechnical domain.
This has the benefit of allowing for determination of all changes
during stope block extraction. Instrument locations are also
selected following the criteria outlined by ISRM suggested
methods (ISRM Commission on Standardization of Laboratory
and Field Tests, 1978):
instruments installed in an area where expected hazard zones
exist (hazards from stress, geotechnical domain, seismicity, etc);
instruments installed in areas to provide the best possible
coverage of all stages of extraction of the stoping block;
instruments installed in positions that can be re-accessed to
make any repairs to damaged cables (when it occurs), and
that allow visual inspections to be made to validate visual/
measured responses and calibrate all other damage mapping;
loggers located in a secure area and not placed in zones
where access exclusions are expected to occur; and
instruments installed into a sound rock mass, and not in fault
zones, or where dynamic water conditions exist.
The location of instrument clusters in the 940 and 980 stoping
blocks are relative to the stoping panels in longitudinal
projection in Figure 3 (note all clusters are located in the
footwall drives 6 m behind the stope projections).
Procedure for data collection
Data acquisition is undertaken by the dataTaker

data loggers,
which are programmed to read and store all information obtained
from the instruments. The data loggers and power supplies are
housed in steel enclosures. For some of the installed instruments,
steel terminal boxes are used to house intermediate connections
of the instruments to the data loggers.
Normally, the data loggers are set to six hour or 12 hour scan
rates. The data loggers are set to take readings at five minute
intervals a minimum of 30 minutes before stope firings. This five
minute scan rate is maintained for the length of the re-entry
period that is imposed to the level (generally 24 hour exclusion).
At the end of this exclusion period, all data is interpreted before
entry to the level is granted. The instrument results are compared
to the Omori analysis results from the seismic data for the same
period to ensure all key trends are not exceeding the required
limits. Any time-dependent changes (ie slow stress redistribution,
ongoing load increase, displacement from rock mass creep, etc)
can be assessed before any persons enter these areas.
Once preliminary assessments are completed and entry to the
level is granted, loggers are reset to 12 hour scan rates. This scan
rate can be changed to six hour scan rates if the stope area is
within known high seismic hazard areas. Loggers will remain in
six hour scan rates until the seismicity returns to acceptable or
background levels.
The data loggers acquire all the data in millivolts and only
display the last recorded values, therefore it is not possible to
determine whether any changes have been recorded by the
instruments at the data logger itself. All recorded data must be
converted into the appropriate units to allow analysis to be
undertaken. Conversion factors from the millivolt record to the
appropriate units for the various instruments installed in the
clusters are shown in Table 1.
OBSERVED AND MEASURED BEHAVIOUR
(DATA ANALYSIS)
The 930 West instrument cluster in the 940 West Stope Block has
been selected for discussion in this section, and its behaviour is
tracked through firing of the first 11 stoping panels since its
installation in December 2007. All other instrument clusters in
the 940 West Stope Block exhibit similar responses and trends to
the 930 West instrument cluster, and are not discussed further.
The first ten stopes were fired in the 940 West Stope Block.
Narrow Vein Mining Conference Ballarat, Vic, 14 - 15 October 2008 167
THE USE OF GEOTECHNICAL INSTRUMENTATION TO OPTIMISE AN ENGINEERED MINE DESIGN AT BEACONSFIELD GOLD MINE
FIG 2 - Layout of instruments in 930 West illustrating pre- and post-stoping damage profile.
Stope 3A was in the 940 East Stope Block was fired almost
concurrently with Stope 3. Stope 11 was the first stope fired in
the 980 West Stope Block in April 2008 and was accompanied
by a M
L
1.9 seismic event. The location of all instrument clusters
in the 940 and 980 West Stoping Blocks and of the 11 stopes
fired during the analysis period discussed is illustrated in
Figure 3.
As was the practice throughout the 11 stope firings, each stope
was extracted in a single firing using electronic detonators. Little
change was observed on any of the instruments during the
extraction of stope panels one to four. This was primarily due to
the stope panels being 15 m west of the 930 instrumentation
cluster. Stope 5 was the closest stope firing to the 930 West
instrument cluster, located in the immediate hanging wall of the
instrument cluster, and the first significant change recorded by
the instruments was observed in response to that firing.
Following the extraction of Stope 5, minor stress changes
continue to occur throughout the extraction of the remainder of
the block but no large step changes were recorded.
The most significant change measured was that of the local
stress field as measured by the HI Cell. The use of the HI Cells in
this application does not allow determination of principle stress
directions. Orthogonal stress components
max

int

min
refer to
the maximum, intermediate and minimum changes in
compressive stress over the measurement period. In the case of
the 930W HI Cell, this amounted to a drop in
int
and
min
by
3 MPa and 10 MPa respectively, and a rotation of the stress field
of approximately 50 with associated changes in dip (Figures 4a,
4b and 4c). These changes were in line with analysis of
numerical modelling results undertaken for the design of the
drive using Map3D. This is the key outcome and requirement of
the analysis. With further iterative analysis, these observed stress
changes could be resolved into changes to the principal virgin
stress components, but this has not been done.
It was also with the firing of Stope 5 that the first real changes
were observed on the MPBX and SMART

cable (Figures 5
and 6). Displacements were recorded between nodes at 3 m to
4 m and 4 m to 5 m on the MPBX with the greatest displacement
168 Ballarat, Vic, 14 - 15 October 2008 Narrow Vein Mining Conference
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Conversion factor Units Notes
CSIRO HI cell (4 mV) / V
input
GF) M (micro strain)
V
input
= 1.99 for system used
GF = 2.097 for cell and cable type used
Resistance wire
extensometer
(RWE
1n
- RWE
Datum
)0.8 mm (displacement)
RWE
Datum
is the first record in mV
RWE
1n
is any subsequent record in mV
SMART MPBX (N
1n
- N
1Datum
) - (N
2n
- N
2Datum
) 0.0415 mm (displacement)
N
1Datum
is the first record at node 1 in mV
N
1n
is any subsequent record at node 1 in mV
N
2Datum
is the first record at node 2 in mV
N
2n
is any subsequent record at node 2 in mV
SMART cable (N1n - N
1Datum
) - (N
2n
- N
2Datum
) 2.55 (0.212/D) Tonne (load)
N
1Datum
is the first record at node 1 in mV
N
1n
is any subsequent record at node 1 in mV
N
2Datum
is the first record at node 2 in mV
N
2n
is any subsequent record at node 2 in mV
D is the length of cable between node 1 and 2
Vibrating wire (R
1n
- R
Datum
) G 0.00689 MPa (pressure)
G = 1 for E of rock
R
Datum
is the first record
R
1n
is any subsequent record
TABLE 1
Data conversion factors from mV (recorded) to engineering units for instruments in use at Beaconsfield Gold Mine.
FIG 3 - Longitudinal projection of the 940 and 980 West Stoping Blocks illustrating the location of instrument clusters and the
stoping extraction sequence.
Narrow Vein Mining Conference Ballarat, Vic, 14 - 15 October 2008 169
THE USE OF GEOTECHNICAL INSTRUMENTATION TO OPTIMISE AN ENGINEERED MINE DESIGN AT BEACONSFIELD GOLD MINE
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Stope Firing
Decrease in compressive stress
Increase in compressive stress
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Stope Firing
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)
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Stope Firing
C
FIG 4 - Stress component magnitude change (A), bearing change (B) and dip change (C) measured by the 930 West HI Cell during
the extraction of Stopes 1 to 11.
occurring between the 4 m and 5 m node points. Load on the
SMART

cable bolt was recorded between the nodes at 2 m to

4.5 m and 4.5 m to 6.0 m, with the majority of load being
imposed between nodes at 2 m and 4.5 m.
Average displacement rates for the MPBX following Stope 5
extraction were:
~0.5 mm/firing displacement between nodes at 4 m and 5 m,
and
~0.15 mm/firing displacement between nodes at 3 m and 4 m.
Average loading rates for the SMART

cable following
Stope 5 extraction were:
~400 kg/firing on cable for length between 2.0 m to 4.5 m, and
~100 kg/firing on cable for length between 4.5 m to 6.0 m.
The displacement and load changes occurred in the section of
ground coinciding with the debonded section of the SMART

cable. This was expected as the bungee bolts do not form active
reinforcement in this zone. Rather, they provide more passive
reinforcement, designed to act as energy absorption anchors
when the rock mass is subjected to high ground motions. The
debonded section of cable is from 1.0 m to 5.5 m into the rock
mass and is in the region where the load and displacement
occurred. While the use of alternative reinforcing elements such
as Garford bulbed cables may help to reduce displacements, the
resulting stiffer ground control would tend to fail when subjected
to high ground motions imposed from a large seismic event due
to its low energy absorption capacity. The design implications of
the bungee cable are discussed further by Scott, Penney and
Fuller (2008).
A key consideration in the results from the MPBX and SMART

cable are the ongoing step change increases of displacement and

load at each subsequent firing with little change of the stress
field. This was interpreted to be slow rock mass degradation due
to reduced clamping stresses acting on the rock mass, allowing a
reduction in confinement. The rock mass was able to relax and
displace due to the use of debonded bungee cables.
The results from the RWE started showing some signs of
movement following the firing of Stope 2 and reached the
maximum change following the extraction of Stope 5. There
170 Ballarat, Vic, 14 - 15 October 2008 Narrow Vein Mining Conference
A R PENNEY, P B HILLS and R J WALTON
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6.0m and 6.4m
6.4m and 7.1m
Stope Firing
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FIG 6 - Reinforcement load change measured by the 930 West SMART

cable during the extraction of Stopes 1 to 11.

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m
) 6.0m and 5.0m
5.0m and 4.0m
4.0m and 3.0m
3.0m and 2.0m
2.0m and 1.0m
1.0m and head
Stope Firing
Cable Damage
FIG 5 - Rock mass movement measured by the 930 West MPBX during the extraction of Stopes 1 to 11.
was only minor creep in the instrument records beyond that
point (Figure 7). Unfortunately, a significant amount of data
was lost due to cable damage, limiting the analysis of these
instruments. In a gross sense, most displacement occurred on
the 2 m RWE which was installed at a depth range of 1 m to 3
m into the nominal 6 m wide pillar between the footwall drive
and ore drive. Observations in the area did not reveal any
damage or movement in the footwall drive, so it is most
plausible that the rock mass was relaxing towards the open
stope. The fact that displacements stopped soon after extraction
and subsequent backfilling supports that interpretation. The
backfill placement will provide a level of confinement
minimising any further movement. As an aside to the
observations of RWE, raw strain change data gathered from the
HI Cell showed an immediate response to the backfilling of
Stopes 2 and 5 (Figure 8). That change has not been analysed in
terms of stress change.
There has been little observed change to the rock mass around
the footwall drives. Damage induced from stope firing, has
occurred around the blasthole collars in the wall. Up to 1 m of
damage was observed around some rings with all support in the
area being totally destroyed and requiring reinstatement.
However the damage has been reduced in subsequent firings due
to the introduction of improved stemming techniques.
ALERT MECHANISMS FROM ANALYSIS
Communication of the occurrence of stope firings and the
expected rock mass behaviour following those firings
(ie seismicity, expected areas where rock mass change is likely
upon re-entry, etc) is the most effective alert mechanism for
managing risk associated with stoping activity at the
Beaconsfield Gold Mine. Advance notification to all site
personnel and key stakeholders a minimum of one day before a
Narrow Vein Mining Conference Ballarat, Vic, 14 - 15 October 2008 171
THE USE OF GEOTECHNICAL INSTRUMENTATION TO OPTIMISE AN ENGINEERED MINE DESIGN AT BEACONSFIELD GOLD MINE
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FIG 8 - Raw strain change data recorded by the 930 West HI Cell during the extraction of Stopes 1 to 11 and illustrating the response to
backfilling of Stopes 2 and 5.
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FIG 7 - Rock mass movement measured by the 930 West resistance wire extensometers during the extraction of Stopes 1 to 11.
planned stope firing is desirable. There is an understanding by all
personnel that what is predicted or expected is not guaranteed
and significant departures from this can and will occur. However,
there is also an understanding within the workforce, that where a
departure from the predicted or expected (beneficial or
otherwise) occurs, feedback will be provided once all data has
been processed and analysed.
Following each stope firing in the west zone of the mine, there
is a minimum 24 hour exclusion period for personnel access to
any footwall drive within that stope block. That period is based
on Omori analysis of seismicity from previous stope blasts.
Seismic flaring is also considered when analysing the seismic
data. The basis for this flaring analysis is:
Moderate hazard: three times the 30 day average. Entry with
caution for specific required jobs only.
High hazard: five times the 30 day average. Entry will be
excluded until the seismic flaring rate reduces and causes can
be fully assessed following the seismic management systems
outlined in Hills and Penney (2008).
With the additional benefit of the installed instrumentation,
additional rock mass and time dependant changes are
incorporated into the re-entry analysis. Where rock mass changes
recorded by the instrumentation exceed site guidelines, the
heading re-entry restriction will be extended. Typically, the
restriction will remain in force until the measured changes fall
below the guidelines.
In the event data records indicate a cable has been damaged,
then a geotechnical inspection is carried out before repairs are
made to the cable. Once communications have been restored, the
data is analysed and appropriate actions effected. Typically,
damage to the instrumentation cables will result in a loss of
detail, but the quantum change recoded by the instrument is not
compromised.
Ultimately, it is expected that real time alert mechanisms will
be established, reporting seismic hazard zones and observed
changes from instrumentation in excess of predetermined levels.
CONCLUSIONS
The change in mining method in the west zone of the
Beaconsfield Mine resulting from the Case for Safety review
process requires ongoing monitoring to ensure those areas
required for personnel access remain acceptably safe and
accessible for their entire designed life. Results from the first
stope block extracted under this new method (the 940 West
Block) indicated that low levels of rock mass deformation had
taken place, and that load capacities of the installed ground
control was still within acceptable limits of the design criteria.
Monitoring will continue to occur to ensure that the integrity of
the excavations is maintained. As mining progresses deeper,
continued analysis of instrumentation data may allow a
modification of ground control designs in line with observed
rock mass behaviour.
Time-dependent changes have already been identified and
ongoing analysis of this cause and effect relationship is taking
place. Ultimately, this will result in a more robust re-entry
protocol and increased understanding of the rock mass behaviour
as mining progresses. It will also permit better ground control
designs to be implemented.
Results to date confirm that the current ground control designs
are working well within the design tolerances. Once full
extraction of the 940 West Block is complete, a detailed back
analysis will be undertaken to determine the nature of the
response which the rock mass exhibited to stoping. This in turn
will be fed back into the design procedures to determine the
reliability of the engineered ground control design in future. The
process will be iterative.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors acknowledge the management of Beaconsfield Gold
NL for permission to publish this paper, and the assistance of
Top Rock Technologies and Coffey Mining in the design,
installation and commissioning of these instrument clusters.
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172 Ballarat, Vic, 14 - 15 October 2008 Narrow Vein Mining Conference
A R PENNEY, P B HILLS and R J WALTON