Deep Mining Geoscience

The Deep Mining Geosciences (DMG) Group provides world-class geoscientifc insights for all stages of deep mass mining, from discovery to recovery, including the investigation of new and/or modified mass mining methods, particularly deep, high column cave mines, tailored to optimise the extraction of ore reserves and to minimise the effects of geohazards.

Given the anticipated large scale of future mass mines and their deep and harsh mining environments, unforeseen geo-risks could have catastrophic consequences. The mining industry can no longer afford to continue to ‘cut and paste’ mine-designs that were developed for a completely different mining environment. Applying past state-of-the-art, empirical relations that stretch beyond the supporting data introduces an unacceptable level of risk into mine design, which could cost the industry and ultimately attract the attention of regulatory authorities and in some cases increase sovereign risk.

New and/or modified mass mining methods, tailored to optimise the extraction of ore reserves and to minimise the effects of geohazards will avert billions of dollars in unforeseen losses to mining companies and society, and enable the mining industry to secure the mineral/metal production to meet the future demand.

text 'Geoscience characterisation' over background of core drill samples

text 'Deep Mining Geo-Risks' over background of downward mineshaft

text 'Rock Mass Conditioning' over rock texture background'

text 'Mass Flow' over background of mound of dirt and minerals

text 'Mining Method Improvements' over background of mining equipment

text 'Training' over background of workers in PPE

Leading the Program is Professor Andre van As, who has worked on geoscience issues relating to mass underground mining (caving) operations and projects for the past 30 years.

Read the Deep Mass Mining White Paper

Planned projects

Geoscience Characterisation

This project seeks to improve the quantity and quality of geo-data acquisition through the integration and rapid processing of multiple geo-data sources. This data-fusion will serve to improve data utilisation (extract more information) and also seek to extract data from new/enabling technologies.

The ultimate objective of the fusion of vast geo-data sources is to develop reliable geotechnical models that incorporate data variability and data uncertainty into the rock mass characterisation process, all of which will require that application of novel geostatistical methods and tools that are desperately needed to provide confidence in the models that underpin the mine design and predict mine performance.

Rock Mass Conditioning

This project will concentrate on analysing hydraulic fracturing and monitoring data from several cave mines to understand the conditions and mechanisms through which emplacement effectively alters the rock mass and local stress regime; identifying the geo-impact of various rock mass preconditioning technologies and evaluate their effectiveness in addressing risks at depth; developing effective rock mass conditioning strategies for mitigating against deep mining risks; qualifying the influence of temperature and stress on rock mass preconditioning methods.

Deep (Mass) Mining Geo-Risk Management

This project will focus on the identification, quantification, and management of geohazards through back analysis of mine monitoring data to develop/improve tools and methodologies for defining and assessing key geohazards for incorporation into a mine geohazard models; the development of guidelines on methods for incorporating potential geohazards into predictive mine performance models during mine study phases; Developing tools for integrating the mine geohazard model with geotechnical monitoring systems and real-time operational databases for effective real-time geohazard management during mine development, operations and closure.

Material Flow in Deep Mass Mines

This project will undertake fundamental, lab-scale studies as well as back- analyse mine flow data, cave propagation monitoring data, and production draw data to investigate the mechanisms of drawzone growth, drawzone interaction, and mass flow under high vertical loads; investigate mechanisms of dilution entry and dilution control; quantify the primary causes of ore reserve losses in modern caves; investigate effective load-shedding, draw strategies; development of integrated, real-time drawpoint monitoring tools to manage the short term drawcontrol and longer term draw strategies

Mass Mining Method (Design) Improvements

This project will investigate robust mass mining methods to better suit deep underground mass mining; developing a selection of robust performance metrics / criteria to evaluate the pros and cons of mining methods; investigate methods of reducing surface subsidence effects, including the emplacement of in-pit tailings above an active mine; investigate the combination of hydraulic fracture, rock mass preconditioning with in-situ leaching technologies, to improve ore recoveries, particularly from cave mines.

Professional development

The Deep Mining Geoscience group is developing a ‘Cave Mining’ professional development program to complement its existing range of professional development courses. The objective of these professional development courses is to provide industry professionals with the fundamental, theoretical knowledge and practical technical skills necessary for undertaking caving studies and operating cave mines.

The courses focus primarily on underground geotechnical engineering, cave geomechanics and cave engineering, though the fundamental topics (e.g. Geotechnical Core Logging and Rock Mass Characterisation) can also be applied to other mining methods.

Read the Professional Development Course Outline

Partnerships

Active collaboration with industry partners in all geoscience and mining research areas is critical to the success of the Program. Ideally, each research area should feature experienced research candidates seconded from our partners, as well as industry 'champions' who will facilitate collaboration. Partnerships can take many forms, including:

Formal, long-term partnerships between SMI and key mining companies designed to meet the industry’s educational and professional development objectives

Unconstrained industry collaboration with access to key data
Collaboration with key universities, research institutes, and industry experts to ensure the growth of specialist expertise across the industry
A pipeline of sustained resources (funding, students, mentors, company champions)
Unconstrained publication of key research.

Industry consultation on priority research

Extensive consultation with technical personnel from 18 major mining companies engaged in mass mining identified a range of technical issues that require urgent research attention. DMG research will focus on six key areas that encompass the majority of the issues identified by the mining industry and where coordinated collaboration and resources will facilitate the much-needed step change required for deep mass mining design and operations.

Deep Mining Geoscience

Planned projects

Professional development

Partnerships

Industry consultation on priority research

Group Leader

Professor Andre van As