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A multi-method approach for slope stability assessment: a case study at Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, Ghana

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Abstract

A mine slope failure could result in severe repercussions for a mining operation. This paper employs a multi-method approach to evaluate the stability of the footwall in the Block 5 pit of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine in Ghana. Rocscience’s Dips was used to conduct kinematic analysis for potential plane and wedge failures; the results showed a 31.82% risk of plane failure which rises to 58.33% for single discontinuity sets as well as a 41.23% chance of wedge failures. The Slide 2D tool was used to analyze potential large scale slope failures for a range of inter-ramp angles (IRAs) while the Rocplane tool was used to evaluate the stability of bench scale wedges. The factor of safety (FoS) values obtained for IRAs revealed that the effect of water greatly reduced the safety of the slopes. Considering the influence of water, the lowest FoS (0.591) was obtained at an angle of 60° while the highest FoS (1.017) was obtained at 40°. In the absence of water, the lowest FoS (0.773) was recorded at 60° while the highest FoS (1.263) was gotten at 40°. The obtained results show that the best conditions to enhance the stability of the slope are ensuring a ramp angle of 40° without the influence of water. Based on rock fall simulations conducted using Trajec3D, a berm width of 10 m and a slope dip of 40° are suggested to mitigate against potential rock falls in the mine. Real-time slope monitoring by the radar-based Hydra X system has proven to be an effective way of preventing catastrophic failures in the mine.

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The datasets generated during and/or analysed during this work are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, P. O. Box 283, Tarkwa, Ghana

    Dominic Oduro Fordjour, Stephen A. Yamoah & Samuel Boakye Pobee

  2. Geological Engineering Department, University of Mines and Technology, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana

    Mawuko Luke Yaw Ankah, Michael Affam & Albert Kafui Klu

  3. Engineers and Planners, P. O. Box CT 4792, Accra, Ghana

    Deborah Arthur

  4. Mining One Consult Ghana, Accra, Ghana

    Louis Gyawu

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  1. Dominic Oduro Fordjour
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  2. Mawuko Luke Yaw Ankah
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  3. Michael Affam
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  4. Albert Kafui Klu
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  5. Stephen A. Yamoah
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  7. Deborah Arthur
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Correspondence to Mawuko Luke Yaw Ankah.

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Fordjour, D.O., Ankah, M.L.Y., Affam, M. et al. A multi-method approach for slope stability assessment: a case study at Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, Ghana. Model. Earth Syst. Environ. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-024-01978-5

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