Mining geohazard services are specialized services that are provided to mining companies to help them manage and mitigate geohazards associated with their operations. Geohazards are natural events or processes that can pose a risk to the safety and stability of mining infrastructure, such as slopes, tailings dams, and waste rock dumps. Mining geohazard services are important for ensuring the safety and stability of mining operations, as well as minimizing the environmental impact of mining activities.
To address these challenges, GeoStabilization International® provides fully engineered solutions to any ground instabilities in any geological setting, conduct ongoing monitoring and assessment of geohazard risks, and develop robust risk management strategies that take into account changing conditions and regulatory requirements. With engineering expertise focused solely on high-risk, geohazard mitigation, you can be assured that you’ll receive the best solution for the specific application. Our areas of expertise include:
Mine grouting is a technique used in mining operations to control water flow and prevent the migration of contaminants. It involves injecting a grout mixture into underground mine workings, such as tunnels, shafts, and stopes, to fill voids and fractures in the surrounding rock and soil.
The grout mixture is typically a combination of cement, water, and various additives, such as fly ash, sand, or bentonite, which are used to improve its strength and fluidity. The mixture is pumped into the mine workings under pressure, and as it hardens, it forms a solid mass that seals off the voids and fractures in the surrounding rock.
By filling these voids and fractures, mine grouting can help to prevent the movement of water and other fluids through the rock, which can be a serious problem in mining operations. It can also be used to stabilize underground structures and prevent the collapse of mine workings.
There are several different types of mine grouting techniques that can be used in mining operations, depending on the specific requirements of the site and the types of voids and fractures that need to be filled. Some of the most common types of mine grouting include:
This is the most common type of mine grouting and involves injecting a mixture of cement, water, and additives into mine workings under high pressure. The cement mixture hardens over time, forming a solid mass that fills voids and fractures in the surrounding rock.
Chemical grouting involves injecting a chemical mixture into mine workings to create a gel-like substance that fills voids and fractures in the surrounding rock. This type of grouting is often used in areas where traditional cement grouting is not possible, such as in areas with loose, sandy soils.
This type of grouting is used to improve the strength and stability of rock masses by injecting a mixture of cement and water into the rock under high pressure. The grout mixture fills the pores and fractures in the rock, helping to consolidate it and increase its strength.
This technique involves injecting grout under high pressure to fill voids and fractures in the surrounding rock. It can be used in combination with other types of grouting, such as cement or chemical grouting, to improve the effectiveness of the grouting process.
Permeation grouting involves injecting a low-viscosity grout into the surrounding rock to fill small voids and fractures. This technique is often used to improve the water resistance of mine workings, such as tunnels and shafts.
Mine slope stability refers to the ability of a slope or a wall in a mining operation to resist movement or failure. In mining, slopes are commonly created to access and extract valuable minerals and materials from the ground. However, these slopes can be unstable and pose a risk to the safety of workers and the environment.
There are several factors that can affect mine slope stability, including the geological and hydrological conditions of the site, the angle and height of the slope, the type and condition of the rock or soil, and the presence of water or other external forces. Poor slope stability can result in landslides, rockfalls, and other types of slope failures that can endanger workers and damage equipment and infrastructure.
To ensure mine slope stability, GeoStabilization International uses various techniques to assess the stability of the slope and identify potential risks. These may include slope monitoring systems, geotechnical surveys, and computer modeling to simulate various scenarios and predict potential failure modes. By carefully analyzing the factors that can affect slope stability and taking appropriate measures to mitigate risks, GeoStabilization crews can help ensure the safety of their workers and protect the environment.
“The walls of a pit have a certain slope determined by the strength of the rock mass and other factors. The stability of these walls, and even of individual benches and groups of benches, is very important—particularly as the pit gets deeper. Increasing the pit slope angle by only a few degrees can decrease stripping costs tremendously or increase revenues through increased ore recovery, but it can also result in a number of slope failures on a small or large scale. Millions of tons of material may be involved in such slides. For this reason, mines have ongoing slope-stability programs involving the collection and analysis of structural data, hydrogeologic information, and operational practices (blasting, in particular), so that the best slope designs may be achieved. It is not unusual for five or more different slope angles to be involved in one large pit.”
With GeoStabilization’s focus on geohazard mitigation, our clients can be assured that the best solution will be applied in record time. Our fleet of specialized limited-access equipment coupled with an industry-leading safety record, rapid deployment, and commitment to quality ensures the solution will be installed the first time correctly.
If you are interested in a no-obligation site visit to determine if our services fit your geohazard mitigation needs, call us at 855.579.0536 or fill out our contact form.
