Deswik.SO (Stope Optimizer) is a strategic mine planning tool that automates the design of stope shapes for a range of stoping methods for underground mines. The goal is to maximize the value of an orebody given the constraints using a certain mining method and design parameters. The outputs (stope wireframes, section strings and reports) are suitable for use in strategic and tactical planning <...>

Azimuth and gradient search parameters allow the user to define the search direction of the spatial link. Azimuth search parameters can be used to link from undercut rings to first task in drawpoint drive using defined azimuth search direction, this will drive the direction of the SLC front. Gradient search parameters are similar, an example being stope linking in narrow vein steeply dipping stopes. <...>

In recent years, an increasing number of studies have used single-grain age dating of detrital sediments to obtain information on sediment provenance, the thermal history and exhumation of sediment source areas, and landscape evolution. In order to highlight the value of this current development in geological research, we based this volume on papers presented in a session on detrital thermochonology at the 2002 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting held in Denver, Colorado. This Special Paper provides a short overview of the different, nowadays commonly used, dating techniques in detrital thermochronology, followed by discussion of some of the methodological aspects of detrital thermochronology (in the first two manuscripts) and of a variety of applications of detrital thermochronology, demonstrated in several regional case studies. <...>

The physical and mechanical properties of clay materials required to scale the tectonic analogue experiments are analysed based on the modern soil mechanics concepts. A practical procedure for the determination of these properties is presented. Scaled clay experiments under Riedel shear mechanism produced a series of typical pull-apart structures. At the initial stages of the development of the deformation zone within the clay slab, the synthetic shear fractures (Riedel shears) display dilatational behaviour.