A Practical and Alternative Numerical Modelling Approach for Remnants and Pillar Mining in South African Deep-Level Gold Mines
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/Abstract
The back analysis of two mining induced tremors that occurred in a South African deep-level gold mine was used to determine a modelling criterion for the entire Klerksdorp goldfield (identifying potentially unstable geological structures - Hofmann and Scheepers, 2011). As operations in the Klerksdorp goldfield shared many similarities, it mutually applied the criteria. At that time in 2011, AngloGold Ashanti owned the vast majority of operational mines in the Klerksdorp goldfield.
Since the criteria was adopted in 2011, AngloGold Ashanti has sold off all of its operations in the Klerksdorp goldfield region by 2018 to different companies. These companies inherited the modelling criteria as mining activities in the region were more remote, scattered and isolated than ever before. Mining of isolated blocks of ground and remnants were a major part of each companies’ business model and the inherited modelling criteria allowed minimal to no mining activities to take place at the vast majority of these areas.
Whilst safety is the main consideration, a new and innovative modelling approach (elastic boundary element modelling - ‘Map3D Fault Slip’) was developed to enable companies in the Klerksdorp goldfield to justifiably and safely mine isolated blocks of ground and remnants. Something that would not be possible if a conformist approach was used.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Jean Pierre Gouvea
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