Abstract
This paper presents the results of geotechnical investigations regarding the assessments of instability problems in the high wall slope faces of the heavily jointed limestone rock mass in Marulan Quarry in NSW, Australia. Generally, instability of hard rock slopes is mainly controlled by the presence of the structural geology and rock mass discontinuities through the slope faces of the open pit excavations. Stability analysis of slope faces in an open pit mine requires the laboratory assessment of the engineering properties of rock, shear strength of the discontinuities and also field investigations of the rock mass discontinuities. To achieve the above objectives, a laboratory testing program was carried out on the intact rock samples and also a three-dimensional scanline survey was carried out to consider the physical and mechanical properties of the rock mass discontinuities. The results of the discontinuity data collected during joint surveys were interpreted with the application of stereographic projection techniques for assessing the potential unstable zones and also for defining the modes of failure in different parts of the limestone quarry.
Résumé
Cet article présente les résultats de l’analyse de stabilité des parements rocheux de la carrière Marulan, exploitant un calcaire fortement fracturé dans l’état de Nouvelle-Galles-du-Sud en Australie. En général les instabilités de talus en roches dures sont principalement contrôlées par des facteurs structuraux et les discontinuités du massif rocheux. Les analyses de stabilité d’une exploitation à ciel ouvert nécessitent ainsi l’étude en laboratoire des propriétés géotechniques de la matrice rocheuse et des caractéristiques de résistance au cisaillement des discontinuités. De plus, des investigations de terrain relatives au système de discontinuités sont nécessaires. Dans ce but des échantillons rocheux ont été étudiés au laboratoire et des analyses de terrain ont été réalisées, utilisant la technique des lignes de mesure pour déterminer les caractéristiques géométriques et mécaniques des discontinuités. La projection stéréographique a permis l’analyse des systèmes de discontinuités, l’identification des mécanismes de rupture possibles et les zones de la carrière concernées.
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Khanlari, G.R., Mohammadi, S.D. Instability assessment of slopes in heavily jointed limestone rock. Bull Eng Geol Environ 64, 293–299 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-004-0255-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-004-0255-4
Keywords
- Quarry
- Geotechnical investigation
- Stability analysis
- Mechanical properties
- Heavily jointed limestone rocks