3413 Pillar design and the associated mining engineering constraints in hard rock bord and pillar mines

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/

Abstract

Practical mining aspects should be considered when conducting pillar designs for bord and pillar layouts. The current methodology for pillar design will result in increasing pillar sizes with depth. This affects the extraction ratio and will result in onerous ventilation requirements when cutting large pillars. A holistic approach, including all mining engineering requirements, is required to ensure that the rock engineering designs are optimised to ensure efficient mining operations and sustainable production. Bord widths should not only be a function of the rock mass ratings, but should also be selected to fit the specifications of the mechanised equipment. An important contribution of this study is the derivation of a new squat pillar formula for hard rock based on the exponents of the Hedley and Grant pillar formula. The effect of abutments and geological losses on average pillar stress is also explored. These factors must be considered when designing layouts at increasing depths.

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Author Biography

  • Daniel Francois Malan, University of Pretoria

    Professor and Head of Department

    Mining Engineering Department 

Published

2026-01-19

Issue

Section

Papers of General Interest