3382 RE-EVALUATION OF THE PLATMINE CHROMITITE PILLAR STRENGTH DATABASE

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/

Abstract

The PlatMine database of failed and stable pillar stresses was re-evaluated using a maximum likelihood regression analysis to determine improved strength parameters for linear and power formulae. The formula providing the lowest standard deviation to the data in the database was considered the best representation of the pillars in the database. Through this process, a new formula for peak pillar strength was developed for Upper Group 2 chromitite pillars, which is unaffected by volume. The small standard deviation provided by this formula suggests a reliable relationship between strength and w/h ratio, in the w/h ratio range between 1.5 and 4.7. Accuracy, precision, and recall analysis confirmed the efficacy of this equation to the data in the database. Importantly, the new formula provided in the paper does not predict a significantly different strength to the current PlatMine formula, within the confines of the database.

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Author Biographies

  • Bryan Philip Watson, University of Witwatersrand

    Associate Professor

    Rock Engineering

    School of Mining Engineering

  • Mahlomola Isaac Mabala, University of Witwatersrand

    Lecturer

    Geostatistics

    School of Mining Engineering

  • Mpoyi Jacques Kanda, University of Witwatersrand

    Lecturer

    Geostatistics

    School of Mining Engineering

Published

2026-01-19

Issue

Section

Pillar Design