Abstract
With decreasing profits, optimising the size of stopes to minimise dilution is a step towards achieving a productive and profitable mining operation. The stability graph was developed for the determination of stope sizes in wide orebodies to control dilution in bulk mining. Unfortunately, this graph is qualitative and stopes can only be described as stable, unstable or cave. The equivalent linear overbreak slough stability graph is quantitative but only gives average depths of failure. The graph is also only applicable to narrow vein orebodies. This paper presents a generalised quantitative dilution-based stability graph independent of orebody width. Data were collected from six underground metalliferous mines across Australia and statistically analysed using logistic regression and the Bayesian likelihood discrimination methods. The graphs provide the mining engineer the flexibility to design open stope sizes based on acceptable dilution to a given operation. More data could improve the reliability of the graphs.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
