The ambition of this project is to contribute to the development of optimisation techniques for underground mining. This resulted in a mathematical model to optimise a type of underground transportation system called the ramp. The ramp is a tunnel from the underground mining areas which trucks use to transport material up to the surface. We consider the case where the ramp only fits one truck at a time and it therefore needs passing bays where trucks can meet. We were inspired by an article which optimised the positions of the passing bays and the schedule for the trucks, during a certain time period. We extended that work by proposing a new mathematical model that can handle a more general and complex mine. The result from optimally solving the model gives the positioning of the passing bays and a schedule which completes a number of trips down and up the ramp as quickly as possible. The model can be used both for long-term and short-term planning. The long-term planning regards the positions of the passing bays. The model can therefore be used before the passing bays are constructed to gain insights about where to place them. The short-term planning is about finding an optimal trip schedule given the placement of the passing bays. The model can therefore also be used to provide a haulage schedule for an upcoming time period.

We analyze recordings of seismic events induced by underground mining operations at the Moonee Colliery, located in Australia, and at the Springfield Pike Limestone Quarry, located in the United States. The data were recorded underground in the vicinity of active mining operations and were initially used by the monitoring systems at the two mines to evaluate the potential for roof failure based on the temporal and spatial distribution of the seismic activity. In an earlier study, the roof failures at the two underground mine locations were found to be the result of two distinct failure processes, both of which were correlated with escalated seismic activity before the roof collapsed. In this study, we reexamine the recordings of these seismic emissions for a further assessment of the state of instability in the roof. We estimate the static seismic moment and radiated seismic energy for each recorded seismic event induced by mining operations at the two underground mine locations. These seismic source parameters are estimated from source spectra have been corrected for the instrument response, propagation effects and bandwidth limitations. The apparent stress, which provides an estimate of the stress drop (or stress release) associated with a seismic event, is then determined from the product between the modulus of rigidity and the ratio between the radiated seismic energy and static seismic moment. The validity of constant stress drop scaling for the seismic events at the two underground mine locations is tested. Estimation of the seismic source parameters indicate that the stress drop of the mining induced events increases over three orders of magnitude of increasing seismic moment (106 N·m ≤ M0 ≤ 109 N·m) and indicate a divergence from constant stress drop scaling. When these results are compiled with the results from seven other independent studies, which analyzed the seismicity associated with a variety of seismogenic environments, this trend is found to span over ten orders of magnitude of seismic moment (106 N·m ≤ M0 ≤ 1016 N·m). The observation that the mining induced events do not conform to constant stress drop scaling may assist in gaining a better understanding of the evolution of the roof failure process. We have found that the stress drop at one of the studied mines appears to increase through time prior to a roof collapse. More data are necessary to test this hypothesis. If this hypothesis is validated, it would have important implications for monitoring roof stability. Incorporation of near-real-time estimates of the stress drop into the existing seismic monitoring protocol may provide improved warning of imminent roof collapse hazards. / Master of Science

The continuing trend toward larger longwall mining systems has resulted in the utilization of higher system voltages. The increase in system voltage levels has caused the industry to face complexities not experienced with the lower-voltage systems. One such complexity arises from the larger system capacitance that results from the outby configuration commonly used on 4,160-V longwall power systems. Simulations show that during a line-to-ground fault, the larger system capacitance can cause a situation where the ground current sensed by the ground-fault relays in unfaulted circuits is greater than the mandated ground-fault relay pick-up setting. Simulations show that ground-fault relaying selectivity is potentially lost as a result of this situation. Two alternatives were identified which could improve ground-fault relaying selectivity. They are: the application of a directional relaying scheme and increasing the ground-fault relay pick-up setting. It was determined that directional relays have an application to high-voltage longwall power systems as the ground current sensed by the relay in the unfaulted circuits is out of phase with the ground-fault current sensed by the relay in the faulted circuit. Furthermore, it was determined that raising the ground-fault relay pick-up setting by a factor of eight would also improve ground-fault relaying selectivity. A safety analysis considering the potential for electrocution and the power dissipated by the maximum fault resistance showed that increasing the pick-up setting by a factor of eight would have no detriment to safety. Therefore, either method would improve ground-fault relaying selectivity on high-voltage longwall mining systems, yet because of the escalating size of longwall systems, a directional relaying scheme is a longer term solution. / Master of Science

Diesel particulate matter (DPM) is comprised of two main fractions, organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC). DPM is the solid portion of diesel exhaust and particles are submicron in size typically ranging from 10 to 1000 nanometers. DPM is a known respirable hazard and occupational exposure can lead to negative health effects. These effects can range from irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat to more serious respirable and cardiovascular diseases. Due to the use of diesel powered equipment in confined airways, underground mine environments present an increased risk and underground mine works can be chronically overexposed. Current engineering controls used to mitigate DPM exposure include cleaner fuels, regular engine maintenance, ventilation controls, and enclosed cabs on vehicles. However even with these controls in place, workers can still be overexposed. The author's research group has previously tested the efficacy of a novel, fog-based scrubber treatment for removing DPM from the air, in a laboratory setting. It was found that the fog treatment improved DPM removal by approximately 45% by number density compared to the control trial (fog off). The previous work stated thermal coagulation between the fog drops and the DPM, followed by gravitational settling of the drops to be the likely mechanisms responsible for the DPM removal. The current work investigated the efficacy of the fog treatment on a larger scale in an underground mine environment, by using a fogging scrubber to treat the entire exhaust stream from a diesel vehicle. A total of 11 field tests were conducted. Based on measurements of nanoparticle number concentration at the inlet and outlet of the scrubber, the fog treatment in the current work showed an average improvement in total DPM removal of approximately 55% compared to the control (fog off) condition. It was found that the treatment more effectively removed smaller DPM sizes, removing an average of 84 to 89% of the DPM in the 11.5, 15.4, and 20.5 nanometer size bins and removing 24 to 30% of the DPM in the 88.6, 115.5, and 154 nanometer size bins. These observations are consistent with expectations since the rate of coagulation between the DPM and fog drops should be greater for smaller diameters. Further analysis of the DPM removal was aided by the development of a mechanistic model of the fogging scrubber. The model uses the inlet data from the experimental tests as input parameters, and it outputs the outlet concentration of DPM for comparison to the experimental outlet data. Results provided support for the notion that DPM removal relies on DPM-fog drop coagulation, and subsequent removal of the DPM-laden drops as opposed to DPM removal by diffusion or inertial impaction of DPM directly to the walls. The model results suggest that inertial impaction of these drops to the scrubber walls is likely much more important than gravitational settling. Moreover, the ribbed geometry of the tubing used for the scrubber apparatus tested here appears to greatly enhance inertial impaction (via enhancement of depositional velocity) versus smooth-walled tubing. This is consistent with previous research that shows particle deposition in tubes with internally ribbed or wavy structures is enhanced compared to deposition in tubes with smooth walls. / Master of Science / Diesel particulate matter (DPM) describes the solid portion of diesel exhaust. These particles are in the nanometer size range (10-1000nm) and can penetrate deep within the lungs presenting a serious health hazard. Because of the use of diesel powered equipment in confined spaces, DPM presents an occupational hazard for underground mine workers. Even with the use of cleaner fuels, regular engine maintenance, proper ventilation, and enclosed vehicle cabs, workers can still be over exposed. Previous work has shown that a water fog treatment can help to remove DPM from the air in a laboratory setting. This removal is due to the DPM particles attaching to the drops, followed by the drops settling out of the air due to gravity or impacting the walls of a tube. To explore a full scale exhaust treatment, a fogging scrubber was built using a fogger and a long tube, and was tested in an underground mine on vehicle exhaust. Experimental results showed that the fog treatment was effective at removing DPM from the exhaust. On average, the fog improved DPM removal by about 55% compared to when the treatment was not employed (fog off). To better understand the mechanisms responsible for DPM removal in the scrubber, a computer model was generated. The model uses the inlet parameters from the field tests, such as inlet DPM and fog concentration and tube geometry, and predicts the scrubber outlet DPM concentration. The model results suggest that the primary way that DPM is removed from the system is by combining with fog drops, which then hit the scrubber tube walls. This effect is probably enhanced by the ribbed structure of the scrubber tubing used here, which may be important for practical applications.

Com o passar dos anos a sociedade tem se tornado gradativamente mais dependente de recursos minerais para o seu funcionamento e para o desenvolvimento de produtos. A maior parte das coisas que cercam o homem necessita de alguma espécie de bem mineral como matéria prima para sua fabricação. Por isso, cada vez mais, a mineração tem sido objeto de estudos, buscando aprimoramento e desenvolvimento nos métodos de extração de minérios. Existem duas formas utilizadas para a extração de bens minerais, uma por uso de métodos de lavra a céu aberto (OP) e outra através da aplicação de métodos para lavra subterrânea (UG). A definição de qual método deve ser aplicado em cada caso depende de diversos fatores, como profundidade e geometria do corpo mineral, competência da rocha portadora do minério e da rocha encaixante, entre outros, mas ao final, aspectos econômicos predominam para a definição da viabilidade de cada um dos possíveis métodos. Porém, existem casos em que a melhor escolha para minerar o depósito não se dá por umas dessas duas opções, e sim, pela combinação de ambas, ou seja, a aplicação da lavra a céu aberto seguida da extração dos recursos remanescentes por lavra subterrânea. A grande dificuldade, nestes casos, é definir qual o momento ideal para a transição de método, de maneira que os resultados do projeto integrado sejam otimizados e que um método não inviabilize o outro. Para isso é necessário analisar as duas opções de lavra individualmente, lavrando somente a céu aberto e lavrando somente por métodos subterrâneos, além de analisar-se a viabilidade do projeto através da combinação dos dois métodos, comparando as opções técnica e economicamente e selecionando a que apresente a melhor resposta ao final, para então tomar-se a decisão de qual alternativa de projeto é o mais indicado para cada caso. / Over the years, the society has become progressively dependent on mineral resources for its operation and for development of products. The majority of the things that surround the men needs some kind of mineral material as raw material for its manufacture. Therefore, increasingly, mining has been studied aiming to improve and develop methods of mineral extraction. There are two ways that are utilized to mineral extraction, one by open pit methods (OP) e another by application of underground methods (UG). The definition of which one should be applied in each case depends on many factors, such as depth and geometry of the mineral body, strength of the mineralized and bounding rock, among others, but at the end, economic aspects are predominant for the definition of viability of the methods. However, there are some cases where the best choice to mine the deposit is not one of these options, but the combination of both methods, it means, the application of open pit mining followed by extraction of remaining resources by underground mining. The great challenge, in these cases, is to define what is the right moment for the transition of the methods, making sure that the results are optimized and one method do not impede the development of the other one. In this sense, it is necessary to analyze both options individually, mining the deposit only by open pit and mining only by underground, and also analyze the combination of the two methods, comparing these options technically and economically at the end, and then decide which project alternative is the best for each case.

Com o passar dos anos a sociedade tem se tornado gradativamente mais dependente de recursos minerais para o seu funcionamento e para o desenvolvimento de produtos. A maior parte das coisas que cercam o homem necessita de alguma espécie de bem mineral como matéria prima para sua fabricação. Por isso, cada vez mais, a mineração tem sido objeto de estudos, buscando aprimoramento e desenvolvimento nos métodos de extração de minérios. Existem duas formas utilizadas para a extração de bens minerais, uma por uso de métodos de lavra a céu aberto (OP) e outra através da aplicação de métodos para lavra subterrânea (UG). A definição de qual método deve ser aplicado em cada caso depende de diversos fatores, como profundidade e geometria do corpo mineral, competência da rocha portadora do minério e da rocha encaixante, entre outros, mas ao final, aspectos econômicos predominam para a definição da viabilidade de cada um dos possíveis métodos. Porém, existem casos em que a melhor escolha para minerar o depósito não se dá por umas dessas duas opções, e sim, pela combinação de ambas, ou seja, a aplicação da lavra a céu aberto seguida da extração dos recursos remanescentes por lavra subterrânea. A grande dificuldade, nestes casos, é definir qual o momento ideal para a transição de método, de maneira que os resultados do projeto integrado sejam otimizados e que um método não inviabilize o outro. Para isso é necessário analisar as duas opções de lavra individualmente, lavrando somente a céu aberto e lavrando somente por métodos subterrâneos, além de analisar-se a viabilidade do projeto através da combinação dos dois métodos, comparando as opções técnica e economicamente e selecionando a que apresente a melhor resposta ao final, para então tomar-se a decisão de qual alternativa de projeto é o mais indicado para cada caso. / Over the years, the society has become progressively dependent on mineral resources for its operation and for development of products. The majority of the things that surround the men needs some kind of mineral material as raw material for its manufacture. Therefore, increasingly, mining has been studied aiming to improve and develop methods of mineral extraction. There are two ways that are utilized to mineral extraction, one by open pit methods (OP) e another by application of underground methods (UG). The definition of which one should be applied in each case depends on many factors, such as depth and geometry of the mineral body, strength of the mineralized and bounding rock, among others, but at the end, economic aspects are predominant for the definition of viability of the methods. However, there are some cases where the best choice to mine the deposit is not one of these options, but the combination of both methods, it means, the application of open pit mining followed by extraction of remaining resources by underground mining. The great challenge, in these cases, is to define what is the right moment for the transition of the methods, making sure that the results are optimized and one method do not impede the development of the other one. In this sense, it is necessary to analyze both options individually, mining the deposit only by open pit and mining only by underground, and also analyze the combination of the two methods, comparing these options technically and economically at the end, and then decide which project alternative is the best for each case.

Com o passar dos anos a sociedade tem se tornado gradativamente mais dependente de recursos minerais para o seu funcionamento e para o desenvolvimento de produtos. A maior parte das coisas que cercam o homem necessita de alguma espécie de bem mineral como matéria prima para sua fabricação. Por isso, cada vez mais, a mineração tem sido objeto de estudos, buscando aprimoramento e desenvolvimento nos métodos de extração de minérios. Existem duas formas utilizadas para a extração de bens minerais, uma por uso de métodos de lavra a céu aberto (OP) e outra através da aplicação de métodos para lavra subterrânea (UG). A definição de qual método deve ser aplicado em cada caso depende de diversos fatores, como profundidade e geometria do corpo mineral, competência da rocha portadora do minério e da rocha encaixante, entre outros, mas ao final, aspectos econômicos predominam para a definição da viabilidade de cada um dos possíveis métodos. Porém, existem casos em que a melhor escolha para minerar o depósito não se dá por umas dessas duas opções, e sim, pela combinação de ambas, ou seja, a aplicação da lavra a céu aberto seguida da extração dos recursos remanescentes por lavra subterrânea. A grande dificuldade, nestes casos, é definir qual o momento ideal para a transição de método, de maneira que os resultados do projeto integrado sejam otimizados e que um método não inviabilize o outro. Para isso é necessário analisar as duas opções de lavra individualmente, lavrando somente a céu aberto e lavrando somente por métodos subterrâneos, além de analisar-se a viabilidade do projeto através da combinação dos dois métodos, comparando as opções técnica e economicamente e selecionando a que apresente a melhor resposta ao final, para então tomar-se a decisão de qual alternativa de projeto é o mais indicado para cada caso. / Over the years, the society has become progressively dependent on mineral resources for its operation and for development of products. The majority of the things that surround the men needs some kind of mineral material as raw material for its manufacture. Therefore, increasingly, mining has been studied aiming to improve and develop methods of mineral extraction. There are two ways that are utilized to mineral extraction, one by open pit methods (OP) e another by application of underground methods (UG). The definition of which one should be applied in each case depends on many factors, such as depth and geometry of the mineral body, strength of the mineralized and bounding rock, among others, but at the end, economic aspects are predominant for the definition of viability of the methods. However, there are some cases where the best choice to mine the deposit is not one of these options, but the combination of both methods, it means, the application of open pit mining followed by extraction of remaining resources by underground mining. The great challenge, in these cases, is to define what is the right moment for the transition of the methods, making sure that the results are optimized and one method do not impede the development of the other one. In this sense, it is necessary to analyze both options individually, mining the deposit only by open pit and mining only by underground, and also analyze the combination of the two methods, comparing these options technically and economically at the end, and then decide which project alternative is the best for each case.

Mine automation has been in development since the 1980s and began to be implemented in the 1990s with the biggest drivers being safety, reduced maintenance and increased productivity. Automation is used in many different mining methods performing a variety of tasks. However, very few studies have been conducted regarding the performance of automatic vehicles in real world mines, neither has much research been done when comparing automated and manual loading.   The purpose of this thesis is twofold. First it is to identify and produce metrics that can be used to compare automatic and manual loading in an underground mining environment. A literary study is presented as a basis for these metrics where the development history is chronicled and the mechanics by which an automated system controls an automatic vehicle is explained. Also included is a description of different mining methods and the part that automation plays in them.   Secondly, the goal is to use these metrics in a real world case study of automated loading in an actual operational mine. The Garpenberg mine, owned by Boliden Minerals, is an underground metal mine located in Dalarna, Sweden, and mining has been done there since the 1200s. Load-Haul-Dump (LHD) machines are used to load and haul ore ether using automation or tele operation. For this study information is extracted from Bolidens internal databases to calculate the metrics which are then used to analyze the performance and reliability of automated loaders, and also to compare manual and automatic loading.   There are mainly three types of metrics that are relevant to automatic and manual loading, these being time related metrics, production related metrics and reliability related metrics.   Since the LHDs dealt with in this thesis are operated both manually and automatically the main use of the time related metrics is to find the relationship between modes of operation in regards to engine hours spent in action, the amount and character of downtime that occurred during the analyzed time span, and the utilization of automatic LHDs during the workday. The most straightforward comparison between manual and automatic loading is the production, i.e. the tonnage of loaded material per unit time. In this thesis production will be analyzed per hour and per loading activity (which run between 3 and 4 hours). Lastly automated and manual loading will be compared on the basis of availability and maintenance, the reason being that LHDs are driven in different ways depending on the mode of operation.   The results show that automatic loading consists of between 14 and 29% of production time while contributing to between 17 and 28% of downtime. No clear connection can be seen between downtime and the relationship of automatic to manual loading, as the difference is not bigger than 10% either way. Manual loading constitutes between 2500 and 3250 engine hours, while time spent during automatic loading constitutes between 420 and 1095 engine hours. The majority of all downtime is not specific to either mode of operation, although automatic specific stops constitutes up to 50% of total downtime for two of the LHDs studied. The distribution of loading activities is similar for both manual and automatic loading, with the number of concurrent activities dipping during lunch breaks and stopping entirely during shift changes. Manual loading peaks around 1000 concurrent jobs while automatic peaks at just fewer than 200.   Regarding production the results show that manual loading is more effective in the short term, as three out of four LHDs has had a higher tonnage loaded per hour. However, when locking at the tonnage loaded per activity, automatic loading catches up to manual loading and produces more tonnage in the long term, with three out of four LHDs getting this higher production.   One interesting result can be found in regards to fuel economy, as one of the LHDs show a reduced consumption of fuel while at the same time having had the largest percentage of time spent in automatic mode. No clear connection can be seen with the rest of the LHDs however, as they show no clear connection between time spent in ether mode of operation and the amount of fuel consumed.   Automatic loading proved to have slightly higher availability than manual loading. In all cases however, the difference in no more than 10% and both modes of operation is above 90% availability. The higher availability of automatic loading is attributed to the fact that manual loading constitutes much more time than automatic loading, and thus there has been more time for breakdowns and production stops to occur for manual loading. The relationship of preventive and corrective maintenance is the same for all four LHDs irrespective of amount of time spent in ether operating mode. Preventive maintenance jobs accounts for more than 90% of the number maintenance actions for all LHDs.   When analyzing what kinds of production stops are the most prevalent, there are differences between manual and automatic loading. For manual loading the most common stops are those that have to do with external circumstances in the mine such as blocked access and fallen boulders, and those to do with minor breakdowns of the LHD. For automatic loading the most common stops are those to do with the automatic system and the equipment used to operate the automated LHD, followed by those caused by external circumstances, similarly to manual loading. Automatic loading has proportionally fewer stops than manual loading in all categories except those unique to automation, which is in turn the biggest category of all production stops.   The conclusions that can be drawn from these results are that automatic loading can outperform manual loading in the long term, but that continuous uninterrupted loading activates are important to achieve this. Automatic and manual loading show comparable reliability when it comes to maintenance and repairs (serious breakdowns are very rare). Availability and the relationship of preventive and corrective maintenance are similar between both modes of operation. The analysis of production stops show that the biggest problem with automatic loading is the automatic systems and the specialized equipments inability to handle the underground environment. Problems with recorded routes and falsely tripped safety systems are the most common stops.       Recommendations to Boliden Minerals regarding the automatic system consist of improving remote troubleshooting and streamlining of problem solving dealing with automation software and hardware. Steps should also be takes towards tailoring the underground environment to better suit automation.   Suggestions to further research consist of deeper studies of all the metrics presented in this thesis to better analyze the role of automation in the global mining industry. Another avenue of study is the combination of the findings in this thesis with the actual environment and layout in the Garpenberg mine to better understand the connection between operating environment and the reliability and productivity of the automatic system.

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / This study uses analytical solutions to assess a hydraulic fill model based on weathered granitoid to increase underground opening stability and mitigate rock bursts during mining operations in a conventional underground mining company located in the Coastal Batholiths of the Peruvian Andes. This study assesses the previous geological database provided by the mine, analyzes the on-site strengths produced by the exploitation works that will subsequently be filled, identifies the quality of the material used in the landfill (granitoids) through laboratory tests, and compares compressive strength at different depths, all contemplated within the landfill model used. This study focuses on the applicability of hydraulic fills in conventional underground mine using natural geological material such as granitoid. / Revisión por pares

"Safety is a value, not just a Priority" Geomechanically stable underground excavations require continuous assessment of rock mass behavior for maximizing safety. Optimizing pillar design is essential for preventing hazardous incidents and improving production in room-and-pillar mines. Maintaining regional and global stability is complicated for underground carbonate or stone deposits, where extensive fracture networks and groundwater flow become leading factors for generating unsteady ground conditions including karsts. A sudden encounter with karst cavities during mine advance may lead to safety issues, including ground collapse and outflow of unconsolidated sediments and groundwater. The presence of these eroded zones in pillars may cause their failure and poses a risk to the lives of miners apart from disrupting the pre-planned mining operations. A pervasive presence of joints and fractures plays a primary role in promoting structurally controlled failures in stone mines, which accelerates upon interaction with the karst cavities. The prevalent empirical and analytical approaches for pillar design ignore the geotechnical complexities such as the spatial density of discontinuities, karst voids, and deviation from the design during short-range mine planning. With the increasing market demand for limestone products, mining organizations, as well as enforcement agencies, are investing in research for increasing the efficiency of extracting valuable resources. While economical productivity is essential, preventing risks and ensuring the safety of miners remains the cardinal objective of mining operations. According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), since 2000, about 31% of occupational fatalities at all underground mines in the United States are caused due to ground collapse, which rises to 39% for underground stone mines. The objective of this study is to provide a reliable and methodological approach for pillar design in underground room-and-pillar hard rock mines for safe and efficient ore recovery. The numerical modeling techniques, implemented for a case study stone mine, could provide a pragmatic framework to assess the effect of karsts on rock mass behavior, and design future pillars detected with voids. The research uses data acquired from using remote sensing techniques, such as LiDAR and Ground-penetrating Radar surveys, to map the excavation characteristics. Discontinuum modeling was valuable for analyzing the pillar strength in the presence of discontinuities and cavities, as well as estimating a safe design standard. Discrete Fracture Networks, created using statistical information from discontinuity mapping, were employed to simulate the joints pervading the rock mass. This proposed research includes the calibration of rock mass properties to translate the effect of discontinuities to continuum models. Continuum modeling proved effective in analyzing regional stability along with characterizing the redistributed stress regime by imitating the excavation sequence. The results from pillar-scale and local-scale analyses are converged to optimize pillar design on a global scale and estimate the feasibility of secondary recovery in stone mines with a dominating discontinuity network and karst terrane. Stochastic analysis using finite volume modeling helped evaluate the performance of modified pillars to assist production while maintaining safety standards. The proposed research is valuable for improving future design parameters, excavation practices, and maintaining a balance between an approach towards increased safety while enhancing production. / Doctor of Philosophy / "The most valuable resource to come back out of a mine is a miner" – Anonymous. The United States accounted for 27% of the global limestone market share which was valued at US$58.5 billion in 2020 [148]. It is projected to reach a target of US$65.3 billion in 2027, growing even in midst of the COVID-19. As surface reserves deplete, much of the mineral demand gap is supplemented by mining underground deposits. Underground mines extract minerals from deep within the earth compared to surface mines. As a result, the miners experience a greater number of accidents in a constricted environment because of roof/tunnel collapse, fewer escape routes, ventilation, explosions, or inundation. According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), about 15% of all underground mine injuries in the US were caused by rockfalls since 1983. The majority of underground stone deposits are mined using the room-and-pillar mining method, which resembles a chessboard design where the light squares are mined, and the dark squares are left as rock pillars to support the tunnels. Limestone, a carbonate rock, contains a lot of fractures and joints (discontinuities). Erosion of rocks due to continuous water flow through the fractures leads to the formation of cavities known as karsts. Interaction of karsts with the prevalent fracture network increases rockfall risk during mining. The collapse of voids along with an inrush of filled rock-clay-water sludge can harm miners' lives, damage machinery, and stop further operations. Literature is scarce on topics that quantify the risk and disruption posed by these cavities in underground mines. Most rock classification systems cannot classify their effect because of the unpredictability and extensive analysis required. The objective of this research is to provide a reliable and methodological approach for designing pillars in underground hard rock mines for ensuring a safe working environment and efficient mineral recovery. This research starts with analyzing the strength of pillars, in which karst cavities were discovered while mining. The safety concerns often lead the miners to not excavate around the cavities and leave valuable resources unmined. Data from ground-penetrating radar and laser scanning surveys were used to characterize the voids and map the discontinuities. Discrete-element numerical modeling was used to simulate the pillars as an assembly of blocks jointed by the discontinuities. The simulation results help us understand the instability issues in the karst-ridden pillars and ways to improve upon the existing design. The findings were used to modulate the parameters for regional-scale models using finite volume modeling for less computationally intensive analyses and simulating rock as a continuum. The continuum models were highly effective in analyzing the instability issues due to the prevalent karstic network. This helps understand any alternative scenario that could have been implemented to optimize ore recovery while preventing risks. The results from the single pillar and regional analyses are combined to optimize pillar design on a global mine scale. This dissertation focuses on improving hazard mitigation in mines with unpredicted anomalies like karsts. Although this research is based on a specific mine site, it empowers the operators to explore the presented techniques to increase safety in all underground mines. The suggested methodology will help devise better strategies for handling instability issues without jeopardizing the mine operations. The primary motivation is to keep the underground miners safe from hazardous situations while fulfilling the secondary objective of maximizing mineral production.