Artificially supported mining methods

Abstract

An analysis was presented in Chapter 13 of the yield potential of an orebody when mined with a naturally supported method. It showed that under certain circumstances, the maximum extraction possible from the deposit may be unacceptably low. This conclusion applies particularly when the compressive strength of the rock mass is low relative to the local in situ state of stress. The discussion in section 13.4 implied that a limited capacity of either orebody rock or its peripheral rock to maintain reasonable unsupported spans also results in limited yield from a deposit. Thus, problems of low yield from naturally supported mine structures can be ascribed directly to geomechanical limitations, either in maintaining the local stability of stope wall rock, or in controlling displacements in the near-field domain.