Highwall Slope Stabilization

Mining operations must continually reevaluate safety risks and protocols, including the integrity of the final highwall and the potential for future slope failure, soil instability, and rockfall hazards.

GeoStabilization International® has over two decades of experience in providing world-class mining geohazard and slope stabilization services to clients across the U.S., Canada, and Australasia, including:

  • Improving pit slope integrity
  • Steepening slope angles
  • Preventing or containing rockfall and unstable ground conditions
  • Installing retaining walls and structures
  • Stabilizing bench and ramp access
  • Increasing bench heights
  • Reducing bench widths
  • Minimizing pore pressure within the rock mass
  • Addressing planes of weakness, such as faults, joints, mud seams, intersecting voids, and face orientation changes

Grouted Anchors for Highwall Slope Stabilization

A mining operator contracted GeoStabilization for a highwall slope stabilization project. Previous mining slope protection projects had focused on incorporating a rock bolt pattern into the dominant planar surfaces. For this job, GeoStabilization’s engineers decided to utilize deeper anchor depths to penetrate the dominant discontinuity and improve anchor load capacities.

To ensure rapid installation, GeoStabilization deployed a helicopter to haul a compressor and wagon drills to the working bench. The equipment is part of the company’s fleet of specialized drill rigs for limited-access sites – the industry’s largest and most diverse fleet of its kind. After completing a safety scale, GeoStabilization’s crews installed 60 grouted anchors.

Water Drainage and Diversion

Surface water runoff from the mine’s upper benches was eroding the center of the slope, which further weakened a lower bench slope as well as the overall geofabric. To fix this issue, GeoStabilization’s crews built a structure to divert water away from the area and prevent further slope erosion.

SuperNails™ for Rockfall Prevention and Mitigation

Finally, GeoStabilization installed a rockfall protection barrier system at the base of the slope and erected a soil nail wall in front of the decline ramp tunnels.

Soil nailing is a rock mass and soil stabilization method involving the insertion of reinforced hollow steel bars into the target area. Conventional equipment drills or drives the bars into the ground, but GeoStabilization’s crews use the company’s proprietary Soil Nail Launcher™ to launch nails using compressed air.

Launched soil nails are more economical than traditional solutions like soil anchors or concrete gravity walls. Clients can also realize significant time savings when they opt for launched nails: With launch speeds of up to 250 mph, rapid installation is par for the course.

North America’s Leader in Soil Stabilization Innovations

With over 5,500 landslides fixed to date, GeoStabilization International® is a global leader in geohazard mitigation, soil retention, and slope stabilization. No other soil stabilization companies can match GeoStabilization’s track record or extended warranty guarantee.

Thanks to GeoStabilization’s advanced technologies, soil stabilization innovations, and skilled engineers, the company can deliver rapid installations with minimal business disruption and environmental footprint, even in limited-access sites. Mining operations can realize significant economic gains, enhance personnel safety, improve access to ore, and minimize waste rock removal.

To learn more about the company’s slope stabilization services for the mining industry or request assistance with your project, call GeoStabilization’s at 855-579-0536 or contact the company today.

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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.

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    How Can We Help?

    • Personal Info
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    How Can We Help?

    • Personal Info
    • Contact Info
    • Project Info