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Identifying and Describing a Seismogenic Zone in a Sublevel Caving Mine

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Abstract

Analysis of caving-induced seismicity can aid in the understanding of rock mass behaviour in the different stages of the caving process. A detailed analysis of caving-induced seismicity at the Telfer sublevel caving mine was undertaken. Interpretation of seismic data in the Telfer mine showed the influence of the major geological features on cave behaviour and helped to identify the phases of cave evolution. Two geological zones with unique seismic characteristics (the M50 and M30 stiff reefs) and four key caving phases (initial undercut blasting, cave initiation, cave propagation and breakthrough) were defined through seismic data analysis. Movement of the seismogenic zone was significantly affected by the stiff reefs within the cave column. Seismic source parameter analysis was used to investigate caving mechanisms at Telfer.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Newcrest Mining Limited for making available the rock mechanics data, seismic data and technical documents associated with the Telfer sublevel caving mine. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council is acknowledged for financial support of this research project. The authors would like to thank staff at the Australian Centre of Geomechanics for use and support of their mXrap seismicity data analysis software.

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  1. Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada

    Yousef Abolfazlzadeh & Marty Hudyma

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  1. Yousef Abolfazlzadeh
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  2. Marty Hudyma
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Correspondence to Marty Hudyma.

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Abolfazlzadeh, Y., Hudyma, M. Identifying and Describing a Seismogenic Zone in a Sublevel Caving Mine. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49, 3735–3751 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1017-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1017-x

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