Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) of Ground Support

Abstract

Ground support is an integral part of strategies to ensure the stability of underground excavations in rock. In a mining environment the long term performance of ground support is influenced by several factors including ground conditions and mining induced stress changes. In corrosive underground environments ground support can be compromised leading to loss of performance and potentially falls of ground that may compromise the safety of workers and damage to equipment. An improved understanding of the role of atmospheric and aqueous corrosion on the long term performance can facilitate the selection of ground support. The contribution of microbacterial influenced corrosion (MIC) on the corrosion rate and degradation of ground support has received minimal attention in the past. This paper confirms the presence of MIC of ground support in underground hard rock mines which resulted in considerable higher corrosion rates in otherwise similar environments. This can have significant implications in establishing long term ground support strategies.