Study of Production Drifts Stability and Assessment of Reinforcement Requirements at LKAB Konsuln Test-Mine Levels 436 and 486 Using Geologic Structures Data, and Modelling Software – Dips and Unwedge:  a Part of dp1 Project (Mine Layout and Technology) o

Sammanfattning: Study of Production Drifts Stability and Assessment of Reinforcement Requirements at LKAB Konsuln Test-Mine Levels 436 and 486 Using Geologic Structures Data, and Modelling Software - Dips and Unwedge:  a Part of dp1 Project (Mine Layout and Technology) of the Sustainable Underground Mining (Sum) Project Oludare Joseph Olufe Global population has been on exponential increase over the past half century. The population explosion is driving massive urbanization and infrastructure developments across the globe, which result in huge demand for metals, especially steel. The trend is forecasted to continue to rise steeply in for the next two decades. This is putting enormous strain on metals mining, especially because new surface economic deposits are rare to come by. Therefore, mining is steadily going deeper in many of the mining destinations across the world.     Mining at great depths present unique challenges, particularly regarding stability of excavations at depths. Rock falls, rock burst, excavation collapse are common occurrences associated with deep mining. In regions with high seismicity potentials the frequency and consequences could be very high. Over the past decade ground instability has become a significant challenge confronting mining at LKAB deep mines. There had been incidents that resulted in long term closure of sections of the mines, with resultant adverse economic impacts. More undesirable is loss of live of personnel.     The study was conducted at the Konsuln test mine levels 436 and 486, aimed to investigate the impacts of geologic structures on excavations instability at depths, at the Kiruna iron ore mines, on one hand.  And on the other hand, evaluate the influence of geologic structures on ground reinforcements at the mine. Structural data were collected and analysed using Dips program to define orientation of major structures. The results were used for wedge analysis and excavations stability modelling using Unwedge program. Important rock mechanical parameters were defined based on data provided, and others based on literatures. A design factor of safety of 1.5 was used.     Results from the study established that structures have significant impact on excavations instability at the Konsuln mine. 100% of the production drifts studied has minimum of four wedges formed in its perimeters. Out of this approximately 37% has factor of safety lower than 1.5. Evaluation of reinforcements (shotcrete and rock bolts) implemented in the mine found that approximately 15% of the total wedges formed in the production drifts has factor of safety less that 1.5 after both shotcrete and rock bolt reinforcements had been implement. Also, approximately 5% of the total wedges has apex height longer the rock bolt length.     It was therefore concluded that structurally induced instability is a major contributor to excavations instability at the Kiruna mine. The study approach presented a new methodology to understand and provide robust solution to ground instability problem at the mine.