A Stope Mining Design with Consideration of Hanging Wall When Transitioning from Open Pit Mining to Underground Mining for Sepon Gold Mine Deposit, Laos
This study investigates the transition from surface to underground mining at the Sepon Gold mine. The stability of surface slopes is assessed prior to commencing underground operations. Stope mining is adopted based on ore body characteristics and geological features. Finite element numerical analys...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Mining |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6489/3/3/27 |
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| author | Seelae Phaisopha Hideki Shimada Takashi Sasaoka Akihiro Hamanaka Phanthoudeth Pongpanya Seva Shorin Khounma Senthavisouk |
| author_facet | Seelae Phaisopha Hideki Shimada Takashi Sasaoka Akihiro Hamanaka Phanthoudeth Pongpanya Seva Shorin Khounma Senthavisouk |
| author_sort | Seelae Phaisopha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the transition from surface to underground mining at the Sepon Gold mine. The stability of surface slopes is assessed prior to commencing underground operations. Stope mining is adopted based on ore body characteristics and geological features. Finite element numerical analysis, employing the Generalized Hoek–Brown criterion, evaluates slope stability for surface slopes and opening stopes. The pit design comprises a 70° slope angle, 20 m height, and 10–15 m safety berm, meeting stability requirements with a factor of safety of 2.46. Underground mining design includes a 62° ore body dip, a 50 m thick crown pillar to prevent surface subsidence, and 5 m wide, 5 m high stopes. Sill pillars are left for support after each level of excavation. Rock bolts are employed in specific stope areas where necessary, with continuous monitoring for surface deformation. This study analyzes the influence of stope sizes on the pit wall and pit bottom stability, identifying slope failures near the hanging wall close to the pit bottom during underground mining. A slight increase in the displacement zone is observed on the upper crest of the top footwall. Overall, the findings demonstrate successful stability in the transition from surface to underground mining at the Sepon Gold mine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:26:29Z |
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| id | doaj.art-c775d854790a490fb94c6786015c9e7d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-6489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:26:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Mining |
| spelling | doaj.art-c775d854790a490fb94c6786015c9e7d2023-11-19T12:06:16ZengMDPI AGMining2673-64892023-08-013346348210.3390/mining3030027A Stope Mining Design with Consideration of Hanging Wall When Transitioning from Open Pit Mining to Underground Mining for Sepon Gold Mine Deposit, LaosSeelae Phaisopha0Hideki Shimada1Takashi Sasaoka2Akihiro Hamanaka3Phanthoudeth Pongpanya4Seva Shorin5Khounma Senthavisouk6Department of Earth Resources Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, JapanDepartment of Earth Resources Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, JapanDepartment of Earth Resources Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, JapanDepartment of Earth Resources Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, JapanDepartment of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos, Vientiane 0100, LaosLane Xang Minerals Limited, Vientiane 4486, LaosLane Xang Minerals Limited, Vientiane 4486, LaosThis study investigates the transition from surface to underground mining at the Sepon Gold mine. The stability of surface slopes is assessed prior to commencing underground operations. Stope mining is adopted based on ore body characteristics and geological features. Finite element numerical analysis, employing the Generalized Hoek–Brown criterion, evaluates slope stability for surface slopes and opening stopes. The pit design comprises a 70° slope angle, 20 m height, and 10–15 m safety berm, meeting stability requirements with a factor of safety of 2.46. Underground mining design includes a 62° ore body dip, a 50 m thick crown pillar to prevent surface subsidence, and 5 m wide, 5 m high stopes. Sill pillars are left for support after each level of excavation. Rock bolts are employed in specific stope areas where necessary, with continuous monitoring for surface deformation. This study analyzes the influence of stope sizes on the pit wall and pit bottom stability, identifying slope failures near the hanging wall close to the pit bottom during underground mining. A slight increase in the displacement zone is observed on the upper crest of the top footwall. Overall, the findings demonstrate successful stability in the transition from surface to underground mining at the Sepon Gold mine.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6489/3/3/27open pit slope stabilityfinite element analysisgeneralized Hoek–Brown criterionunderground stopping stabilitysurface subsidence |
| spellingShingle | Seelae Phaisopha Hideki Shimada Takashi Sasaoka Akihiro Hamanaka Phanthoudeth Pongpanya Seva Shorin Khounma Senthavisouk A Stope Mining Design with Consideration of Hanging Wall When Transitioning from Open Pit Mining to Underground Mining for Sepon Gold Mine Deposit, Laos Mining open pit slope stability finite element analysis generalized Hoek–Brown criterion underground stopping stability surface subsidence |
| title | A Stope Mining Design with Consideration of Hanging Wall When Transitioning from Open Pit Mining to Underground Mining for Sepon Gold Mine Deposit, Laos |
| title_full | A Stope Mining Design with Consideration of Hanging Wall When Transitioning from Open Pit Mining to Underground Mining for Sepon Gold Mine Deposit, Laos |
| title_fullStr | A Stope Mining Design with Consideration of Hanging Wall When Transitioning from Open Pit Mining to Underground Mining for Sepon Gold Mine Deposit, Laos |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Stope Mining Design with Consideration of Hanging Wall When Transitioning from Open Pit Mining to Underground Mining for Sepon Gold Mine Deposit, Laos |
| title_short | A Stope Mining Design with Consideration of Hanging Wall When Transitioning from Open Pit Mining to Underground Mining for Sepon Gold Mine Deposit, Laos |
| title_sort | stope mining design with consideration of hanging wall when transitioning from open pit mining to underground mining for sepon gold mine deposit laos |
| topic | open pit slope stability finite element analysis generalized Hoek–Brown criterion underground stopping stability surface subsidence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6489/3/3/27 |
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