Estimating the Optimal Overall Slope Angle of Open-Pit Mines with Probabilistic Analysis

Abstract

Slope instability of open-pit mines has adverse impacts on the overall mine profitability, safety and environment. The slope of an open-pit mine is crucially influenced by the slope geometry, quality of rock mass and presence of geological features and their properties. The objective of this study is to demonstrate a method to select the optimal overall slope angle of open-pit mines according to three design parameters, namely, safety (e.g., probability of instability), productivity (e.g., profit) and mining costs (e.g., cost of removal of overburden). Therefore, this study attempts a hybrid approach in which numerical modelling is integrated with probabilistic analysis to evaluate the stability of an open-pit mine at various overall slope angles. Two-dimensional elasto-plastic finite-element, RS2D, has been used to develop a series of models at different ultimate slope angles employing shear strength reduction technique (SSRT). Li’s point-estimate method of n3 has been invoked in deterministic analysis to tackle the inherent uncertainty associated with host rock mass properties. The results reveal that the mine profitability increases and the cost of overburden removal decreases as overall slope angle becomes steeper. However, the slope stability deteriorates. Therefore, it is highly advisable to combine these three design parameters (e.g., safety, productivity, and cost) together when selecting overall slope angle of open-pit mines.