This paper describes some mitigation/remedial measures used in Chilean open pit engineering practice to deal with some common pit slope problems. These measures include the use of controlled blasting techniques, slope depressurization and pit dewatering, use of retaining dikes, buttresses and removal of material in unstable slopes, and the filling of pre-existing underground excavations and surface craters.  <...>

Rock slopes with heights approaching 1000 m are now being designed and excavated in various open pit mining and civil engineering projects around the world. The economic impact of excessively conservative designs or of failures in these slopes can be very large and every effort has to be made to optimise their design. Their size means that they will almost always contain a number of significant structural features and a variety of geological materials.

With the removal of the majority of the shallow mineral reserves there has been an increase in the mining depths in the South African mining industry. This has, in turn, changed the industry’s and stakeholders’ perceptions of risk associated with mining-induced instability. In recent years the increased mining depth, particularly in open pits, has led to an increase in pit slope failures, which has highlighted the need for appropriate and effective pit slope management programmes. Such a programme comprises many facets, including mine hazard plans, regular slope inspections, cleaning of interim and final pit faces, blasting practices, histories of failures, pit depressurization, stormwater control and evacuation procedures. However, it is arguably in the field of slope monitoring that the most significant strides have been made in terms of new technologies and best practice in open pit mining geotechnics, with the introduction of technologies such as laser scanners and slope stability radar. This paper seeks to illustrate the operational benefits associated with the implementation of new technologies into open pit mining, using AngloGold Ashanti’s Geita Gold Mine in Tanzania as an example. <...>

The purpose of this paper is to present the way how the Geotechnical Group of Chuquicamata Division works on geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological characterizations, analysis and design of slopes, the control of slope excavation to develop the proposed designs, and the monitoring and control of slope behavior. On the other hand, it also describes the interaction of this group with the Planning and Mine Operation groups, and the applied research and technological innovation that the Geotechnical Group develops in order to maintain a continuous improvement and, at the same time, to secure the fulfillment of mid and long term mining plans. <...>

Design of slope angles for open pit slopes have become increasingly important as mining depths in open pits worldwide continue to increase. Even a minor decrease of the slope angle leads to large additional costs due to increased waste rock extraction. On the other hand, with increased slope angles comes an increased risk of slope failure. A large scale failure can be very disastrous both to the operation and to the personnel working in the mine. <...>

В работе определены критерии оценки работы экранирующих щелей через коэффициент их защитной способности, рекомендованы решения для снижения ширины зоны остаточных деформаций, установлены параметры оконтуривающих зарядов для создания экранирующей щели с повышенной защитной способностью и выбраны параметры взрывания в приконтурной зоне. Разработан сейсмобезопасный способ ведения взрывных работ в приконтурной зоне карьера, позволяющий снизить динамическое воздействие на борт карьера, определить сейсмически наименее опасные направления воздействия взрыва и добиться равномерного сейсмического воздействия.
Методика предназначена для инженерно-технических работников, научных сотрудников, соискателей, занимающихся вопросами разрушения горных пород взрывом, а также бакалавров и магистрантов горных вузов и факультетов.