Pedreiras que sofreram uma extração precária ou sem planejamento no passado, apresentam, atualmente, áreas de riscos operacionais ligadas, sobretudo, à geotecnia dos taludes. Desmontes esculturais são aplicados na indústria mineral visando a melhorias nas questões ambientais e geotécnicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi aplicar técnicas de desmontes esculturais para solucionar problemas na segurança operacional, os quais são relacionados diretamente com a instabilidade das bancadas. Além disso, identificar a relação da qualidade do maciço rochoso no resultado do desmonte e a viabilidade desse projeto nas questões técnicas e econômicas. Os desmontes experimentais foram aplicados em uma mina de calcário da Região Metropolitana da cidade de São Paulo, modificando a geometria do plano de fogo e o carregamento dos furos. O desempenho dos experimentos foi medido a partir de indicadores de performance, os quais serão relacionados com um mapa de distribuição do RQD da parede da bancada, construído a partir de um mapeamento geomecânico. A viabilidade do projeto foi dimensionada a partir de parâmetros operacionais, de segurança e econômico. As análises mostraram que as regiões que apresentaram o maior valor de RDQ tiveram o melhor resultado no desmonte, comprovando, assim, a influência da qualidade do maciço na qualidade do desmonte. Apesar de o desmonte escultural aumentar o custo anual do empreendimento, os impactos positivos gerados na segurança e na operação são significativos: redução no volume de matacos e na geração de blocos soltos na parede da bancada, menor tempo de carregamento dos caminhões e queda do efeito backbreak. Os resultados dos experimentos também mostram que a aplicação do desmonte escultural pode ser uma solução aos problemas nas áreas de riscos do empreendimento. Com isso, há um aumento na vida útil da cava e o incremento no custo torna-se um investimento no negócio, tornando o projeto viável. / Precarious material extraction or unplanned exploitation of quarries in the past resulted today in many operational problems of entire zones of those sites, mainly because of slopes instability. Contour blasting is applied in mining industry to respond to environmental and geotechnical-related issues. The objective of this work is thus to apply contour blasting techniques to solve problems related to operational safety, which are directly related to slopes instability. The strong impact of rock mass quality on the results of blasting as well as on technical and economic sustainability of the project is also stressed out in this study. Blasting experiments were performed in a calcareous mine in the metropolitan region of São Paulo (Brazil). Parameters such as blasting pattern and hole loading have been modified. The efficiency of those tests was then measured with key performance indicators and compared to the distribution of RQD values at the surface of the slope, which was mapped thanks to a preliminary geomechanical study. The assessment of project sustainability was based on operational, safety and economic parameters. The analysis of the results showed that regions with a higher RQD presented a better blasting efficiency, which proved the importance of the rock mass quality on the blasting quality. In spite of representing a higher annual cost than regular blasting techniques, contour blasting has a significant positive impact on safety and operations: reduction in volume of over rock blocks, decreasing number of loose blocks at the surface of the slope, decreasing duration of truck loading and less backbreak effect. The experimental results thus showed that the application of contour blasting can be a solution in risk-exposed areas of a quarry as it enables to increase the operating life of the site, which turns the higher cost of contour blasting into a durable investment and improves the sustainability of the project.

Pedreiras que sofreram uma extração precária ou sem planejamento no passado, apresentam, atualmente, áreas de riscos operacionais ligadas, sobretudo, à geotecnia dos taludes. Desmontes esculturais são aplicados na indústria mineral visando a melhorias nas questões ambientais e geotécnicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi aplicar técnicas de desmontes esculturais para solucionar problemas na segurança operacional, os quais são relacionados diretamente com a instabilidade das bancadas. Além disso, identificar a relação da qualidade do maciço rochoso no resultado do desmonte e a viabilidade desse projeto nas questões técnicas e econômicas. Os desmontes experimentais foram aplicados em uma mina de calcário da Região Metropolitana da cidade de São Paulo, modificando a geometria do plano de fogo e o carregamento dos furos. O desempenho dos experimentos foi medido a partir de indicadores de performance, os quais serão relacionados com um mapa de distribuição do RQD da parede da bancada, construído a partir de um mapeamento geomecânico. A viabilidade do projeto foi dimensionada a partir de parâmetros operacionais, de segurança e econômico. As análises mostraram que as regiões que apresentaram o maior valor de RDQ tiveram o melhor resultado no desmonte, comprovando, assim, a influência da qualidade do maciço na qualidade do desmonte. Apesar de o desmonte escultural aumentar o custo anual do empreendimento, os impactos positivos gerados na segurança e na operação são significativos: redução no volume de matacos e na geração de blocos soltos na parede da bancada, menor tempo de carregamento dos caminhões e queda do efeito backbreak. Os resultados dos experimentos também mostram que a aplicação do desmonte escultural pode ser uma solução aos problemas nas áreas de riscos do empreendimento. Com isso, há um aumento na vida útil da cava e o incremento no custo torna-se um investimento no negócio, tornando o projeto viável. / Precarious material extraction or unplanned exploitation of quarries in the past resulted today in many operational problems of entire zones of those sites, mainly because of slopes instability. Contour blasting is applied in mining industry to respond to environmental and geotechnical-related issues. The objective of this work is thus to apply contour blasting techniques to solve problems related to operational safety, which are directly related to slopes instability. The strong impact of rock mass quality on the results of blasting as well as on technical and economic sustainability of the project is also stressed out in this study. Blasting experiments were performed in a calcareous mine in the metropolitan region of São Paulo (Brazil). Parameters such as blasting pattern and hole loading have been modified. The efficiency of those tests was then measured with key performance indicators and compared to the distribution of RQD values at the surface of the slope, which was mapped thanks to a preliminary geomechanical study. The assessment of project sustainability was based on operational, safety and economic parameters. The analysis of the results showed that regions with a higher RQD presented a better blasting efficiency, which proved the importance of the rock mass quality on the blasting quality. In spite of representing a higher annual cost than regular blasting techniques, contour blasting has a significant positive impact on safety and operations: reduction in volume of over rock blocks, decreasing number of loose blocks at the surface of the slope, decreasing duration of truck loading and less backbreak effect. The experimental results thus showed that the application of contour blasting can be a solution in risk-exposed areas of a quarry as it enables to increase the operating life of the site, which turns the higher cost of contour blasting into a durable investment and improves the sustainability of the project.

The three most common rock mass classification systems in use in the South African mining industry today are Bieniawski’s (1976) Geomechanics or RMR System, Barton et al.’s (1974) Q-System and Laubscher’s (1990) MRMR System respectively. Of these three systems, only the MRMR Classification System was developed specifically for mining applications, namely caving operations. In response to the increased use of the MRMR Classification System in the mining industry, and concerns that the MRMR System does not adequately address the role played by discontinuities, veins and cemented joints in a jointed rock mass, Laubscher and Jakubec introduced the In-Situ Rock Mass Rating System (IRMR) in the year 2000. A quantitative comparison of the MRMR and IRMR Classification Systems has been undertaken to determine a correlation between the two classification systems, the results of which indicate that there is not a major difference between the resultant rock mass rating values derived from the two Classification Systems. Therefore, although the IRMR System is more applicable to a jointed rock mass than the MRMR System, the MRMR System should not be regarded as redundant, as it still has a role to play as a mine design tool.

<p>Determination of the subsurface geology is very important for the rock quarry industry. This is primarily done by drilling and mapping of the surface geology. However in Sweden the bedrock is often completely covered by Quaternary sediments making the prediction of subsurface geology quite difficult. Incorrect prediction of the rock-mass quality can lead to economic problems for the quarry. By performing geophysical measurements a more complete understanding of the subsurface geology can be determined. This study shows that by doing 2D-parallel data sampling a 3D inversion of the dataset is possible, which greatly enhances the visualization of the subsurface. Furthermore the electrical resistivity technique together with the induced polarization method proved to be very efficient in detecting fracture frequency, identification of major fracture zones, and variations in rock-mass quality all of which can affect the aggregate quality. With this technique not only the rock-mass quality is determined but also the thickness of the overburden. Implementation of geophysics can be a valuable tool for the quarry industry, resulting in substantial economic benefits.  </p>

Determination of the subsurface geology is very important for the rock quarry industry. This is primarily done by drilling and mapping of the surface geology. However in Sweden the bedrock is often completely covered by Quaternary sediments making the prediction of subsurface geology quite difficult. Incorrect prediction of the rock-mass quality can lead to economic problems for the quarry. By performing geophysical measurements a more complete understanding of the subsurface geology can be determined. This study shows that by doing 2D-parallel data sampling a 3D inversion of the dataset is possible, which greatly enhances the visualization of the subsurface. Furthermore the electrical resistivity technique together with the induced polarization method proved to be very efficient in detecting fracture frequency, identification of major fracture zones, and variations in rock-mass quality all of which can affect the aggregate quality. With this technique not only the rock-mass quality is determined but also the thickness of the overburden. Implementation of geophysics can be a valuable tool for the quarry industry, resulting in substantial economic benefits. / QC 20101118

In the construction of a tunnel, the characterization of the rock mass is performed in three different steps, in the pre-investigations, in the engineering geological forecast and in the tunnel mapping during construction. There has in previous work been observed that discrepancies exist between the results from these different steps, with a tendency to assign poorer rock mass quality in the tunnel mapping than in the pre-investigations and in the engineering geological forecast. One example is the work done by Kjellström [1] on the Cityline where the divergence in rock mass quality was analyzed between the different steps. If a divergence exists between the engineering geological forecast and the actual conditions observed in the tunnel mapping, it will influence both planning and budget. It is therefore important that the engineering geological forecast is as close as possible to the actual rock mass conditions in the field. The aim of this thesis was, using the case study of the Northern Link, to analyze those discrepancies in the rock mass quality estimated in the characterization and in the classification between the mapping of drill cores, the engineering geological forecast and the tunnel mapping thus complementing the work by Kjellström [1]. The aim was also identifying which parameters included in the Q-system that causes these discrepancies The analysis of the results showed that it is difficult to make the engineering geological forecast and the actual mapping match for every single meter, but that the overall correlation between them was good. The methodology used in the characterization and classification in the different phases (drill-core mapping, engineering geological forecast, tunnel mapping) may to some extent explain this divergence. The parameters Jr, Jn and Ja, included in the Q-system were the ones identified as having the largest influence on the discrepancies. In future work, it is recommended that focus is given on these parameters. A way to improve future engineering geological forecast for tunnel contracts would be to have a better follow up of the engineering geological forecast and to have standardized guidelines on how to assess clearly the value of the Q parameters in each phase (for the drill cores as well as for the actual mapping). The reduction of those differences would then lead to a better planning and budget management in future tunnel projects in Sweden.

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