Premining geotechnical investigations for a Saskatchewan coal mine

Abstract

Abstract The design of a strip raining operation in an area where large scale mining has not previously taken place relies heavily on geotechnical assessment of the sediments for design of highwall and spoil slopes, and interpretation of aspects such as groundwater problems and pit bottom trafficability. The development of a soft coal strip mine in southern Saskatchewan utilized interpretation of the geology, hydrogeology and geotechnical behaviour of glacial and bedrock sediments as input to the mine design. The mine is located near the southerly limit of continental glaciation where glacial tectonics and other forms of structural disturbance were identified as major factors in the mine design. Other considerations were dewatering of the coal and overburden, pit bottom stability, and the potential for liquefaction of a saturated fine sand which would occur at approximately bench level. The paper describes a variety of investigative techniques that were utilized, including conventional drilling and coring...