An investigation on the effect of engineering geological factors on stability of slopes at the Sungun Copper mine

Authors

1 Dept., of Earth Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 Assoc. Prof., Dept., of Earth Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

3 M. Sc., of Mining Engineering, Sungun Copper Complex, Varzeghan, Iran

Abstract

The on-site observations and monitoring data showed that large-scale failures occurred mainly along both the interconnected sliding surfaces, consisting of discontinuities, contact zone, and the circular surfaces through the weathered soil-like pyroclasts at the sungun copper mine. Surface water infiltration through the unconsolidated materials contributed to the circular-shaped failures. After a heavy rainy period, an increase in the groundwater table above the contact zone played a major role in the initiation of bi-planar wedge failures. In this study, the main reasons causing instabilities in benches of sungun copper mine have been investigated. For this purpose, the results obtained using monitoring program during a time of 5 years were evaluated and totally 60 slides were identified and investigated. Slide map of pit showed that the instability of slopes has been recorded in south and south west sector of pit. The correlation between slide distribution throughout the pit and parameters such as faults, alteration, geology, hydrology and hydrogeology showed that the most susceptible geology units to instability identified as dikes with phylic type alteration, and water saturated pyroclasts.

Keywords

References

مهندسین مشاور پارس­اولـنگ (1392) گزارش مـطالعات زمین­شناسی معدن مس سونگون. جلد 1، ص 1 تا 240.
مهندسین مشاور پارس­اولنگ (1399) گزارش مطالعات هیدرولوژی معدن مس سونگون. ص 1 تا 120.
Arıkan, F., Ulusay, R., Aydın, N (2007) Characterization of weathered acidic volcanic rocks and a weathering classification based on a rating system. Bull Eng Geo Environ, 66(44): 415–430.
Bednarczyk, Z (2017) Slope Stability Analysis for the Design of a New Lignite Open-Pit Mine. Procedia engineering, 191: 51-58.
Bye, A. R., Bell, F. G (2001) Stability assessment and slope design at Sandsloot open pit, South Africa. International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences, 38: 449–466.
Canment (1977) Pit Slope Manual, Ch. 5, Design. Canment report 77-5. Energy, Mines & Resources, Canada, Ottawa.
Raghuvanshi, T. K (2019) Plane failure in rock slopes—a review on stability analysis techniques. J King Saud Univ Sci, 31: 101–109. https ://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus .2017.06.004.
Read, J., Beale, G (2013) Guidelines for evaluating water in pit slope stability. CSIRO publishing.
SRK Consulting Engineers (2008) Sungun Copper Project Mining Geotechnics and Slope Design Studies, pages 1 to 110.
Stead, D., Wolter, A (2015) A critical review of rock slope failure mechanisms: the importance of structural geology. J Struct Geol, 74: 1– 23. https ://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2015.02.002
Steffen, O. K. H., Contreras, L. F., Terbrugge, P. J., Venter, J (2008) A risk evaluation approach for pit slope design” ARMA 08-231, American Rock Mechanics Association.
Sullivan, T. D (2006) Pit slope design and risk – a view of the current state of the art. In Proceedings of International Symposium on Stability of Rock Slopes in Open Pit Mining and Civil Engineering, Cape Town. South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Johannesburg.
Terbrugge, P. J., Wesseloo, J., Venter, J. & Steffen, O. K. H (2006) “A risk consequence approach to open pit slope design” The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, SA ISSN 0038-223X.

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 14 March 2021
  • Revise Date: 30 May 2021
  • Accept Date: 02 June 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics