Concept of geomechanical risk in open pit mining

Abstract

Mining sector, as any other industry, is unique and highly specific, and, accordingly, needs its own approach to the assessment and management of geomechanical risk. The concept of risk is discussed in order to obtain a profound understanding of geomechanical risk in mineral mining by the open pit method. Geomechanically, pitwall slope stability depends on many factors, and risks of undesirable events exist at any stage of mine planning, design, operation and closure. Even the most comprehensive study of a mineral deposit is not a guarantee of the risk-free mining. Commonly, geomechanical risks and slope instability can arise from the engineering geological, hydrogeological, physiographic and geotechnical factors. Neural networks enable efficient analysis of large array data and finding correlation between them. Simulation techniques allow multifactorial modeling and visualization. Thus, digital technologies can assist in risk assessment and transform the concept of risk. The analysis of geomechanical risk conditions in mineral mining reveals such features as: multidisciplinarity encompassing geomechanics, mathematics, physics, economics, psychology; intertangling of needs of the science and industry; essentiality of operational safety enhancement, accident risk reduction and improvement of financial and economic indicators of mines. The stage-wise approach to the geomechanical risk assessment, proposed by the authors, takes into account specificity of mines and enables obtaining complimentary information for the reasoned decision-making on risk management.