Enhanced stope design techniques deliver mine efficiency
Exciting research has delivered a practical new approach to planning and assessing the performance of underground blasting in developing mines
Led by Professor Yves Potvin at the Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG), MRIWA project M0489 developed a new method for optimising mine development.
The ACG team used high-resolution measurements of the cavity volume created by blasting to evaluate mine development performance against characteristics including geology, design geometry, and proximity to other activity. Incorporated into mine planning, this insight supports significantly improved development performance.
M0489’s project page, including MRIWA report 489 which summarises the findings of this research can be found here.
The MRIWA media release regarding the launch of report 489 can be read here.
Example of mine development performance captured in MRIWA project M0489. Image displays relative over- (red-yellow) and under-excavation (blue-violet) produced by an explosive blast with respect to the planned surface. Image courtesy of the Australian Centre for Geomechanics
Page was last reviewed 2 September 2021