Skip to main content
Log in

Soil reinforcing technique in mine backfilling

  • Papers
  • Published:
International Journal of Mining and Geological Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Current methods of stabilizing mine backfill involve the introduction of cementing agents, rock fragments or timber into the fill mass. The aim of this study is to examine the applicability of reinforced earth principles in mine backfilling. Consideration is given to the identification of the functions and requirements of backfill. Various factors affecting the fill strength behaviour are examined, and the limitations of current fill practice are discussed. Part of the report is concerned with the development of, and advantages to be gained from employing reinforced earth techniques in mine backfill. Different mechanisms and performance of reinforced earth are also reviewed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aitchison, G.D., Kurzeme, M. and Willoughby, D.R. (1973a) Geomechanics considerations in optimising the use of mine fill — Part A: a rational approach to the design of fill, inProceedings of the Symposium on Mine Filling, Mount Isa, Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, pp. 25–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aitchison, G.D., Kurzeme, M. and Willougby, D.R. (1973b) Geomechanics considerations in optimising the use of mine fill — Part B: the investigation of the response of fill as a structural component, inProceedings of the Symposium on Mine Filling, Mount Isa, Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, pp. 35–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alhashimi, K. and Chaplin, T.K. (1973) An experimental study of deformation and fracture of soil-cement.Geotechnique 23 541–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arioglu, E. (1983) Engineering properties of cemented aggregate fill for Uludag tungsten mine of Turkey, inProceedings of the International Symposium on Mining with Backfill, Luea, Sweden (A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam) pp. 3–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Askew, J.E., McCarthy, P.L. and Fitzgerald, D.J. (1978) Backfill research for pillar extraction at ZC/NBHC, inProceedings of the Twelfth Canadian Rock Mechanics Symposium on Mining with Backfill, Sudbury, Ontario, Canadian Institute of Mining, pp. 100–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, J.R. (1973) Structural aspects of cemented fill behaviour, inProceedings of the Symposium on Mine Filling, Mount Isa, Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, pp. 97–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassett, R.H. and Last, N.C. (1978) Reinforcing earth below footings and embankment, inProceedings of the Symposium on Earth Reinforcement, Pittsburgh, ASCE, pp. 202–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, M.S. (1980) Reinforced earth applications in Australia and New Zealand, inProceedings of the Third Australia-New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, Wellington, 143–8.

  • Corson, D.R. (1966) Laboratory study of effect of cement and dispersant additives on a hydraulic backfill, US Bureau of Mines, Report of Investigation No. 6831.

  • Corson, D.R. (1970) Stabilization of hydraulic backfill with Portland cement, US Bureau of Mines, Report of Investigation No. 7327.

  • Dickhout, M.H. (1973) The role and behaviour of fill in mining inProceedings of the Symposium on Mine Filling, Mount Isa, Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, pp. 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espley, G.H., Beattie, H.F. and Pasieka, A.R. (1970) Cemented hydraulic backfill within the Falconbridge Group of Companies,CIM Transactions,73 218–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonano, L.P. and Kirkby, R.W. (1977)In situ investigation of cemented rockfill in the 1100 orebody,Mount Isa Mine, Queensland, CSIRO, Division of Applied Geomechanics, Australia, Technical Report No. 47.

  • Hahn, J.A., Dison, L. and Blight, G.E. (1983) Supports of reinforced granular fill, inProceedings of the International Symposium on Mining with Backfill, Lulea, Sweden (A.A Balkema, Rotterdam) pp. 349–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hausmann, M.R. (1976) Strength of reinforced soil, inProceedings of the Eighth Australian Road Research Board Conference, Perth, 1–8.

  • Hausmann, M.R. and Lee, I.K. (1976) Strength characteristics of reinforced soil, inProceedings of the International Symposium on New Horizons in Construction Materials, Lehigh (Envo Publishing Co, Inc) pp. 165–76.

  • Hoare, D.J. (1979) Laboratory study of granular soils reinforced with randomly oriented discrete fibres, inProceedings of the International Conference on Soil Reinforcement, Paris, Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees, pp. 47–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hull, B. (1978) Magma's sandfill system as employed at the Magma mine, Superior, Arizona, USA inProceedings of the Twelfth Canadian Rock Mechanics Symposium on Mining with Backfill, Sudbury, Ontario (Canadian Institute of Mines) pp. 75–83.

  • Ingold, T.S. (1979) Contribution to the ICE informal discussion on reinforced earth, reinforced earth-research and practice,Ground Engineering 13 17–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingold, T.S. (1982)Reinforced Earth, Thomas Telford Ltd, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jerabek, F.A. and Hartman, H.L. (1965) Investigation of segregation and compressibility in discharged fill slurry,Transactions of Society of Mining Engineers 232 18–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurzeme, M. (1973) Liquefaction potential at the CBA mine, Cobar, CSIRO, Division of Applied Geomechanics, Australia, Technical Report No. 28.

  • Leahy, F.J. and Cowling, R. (1978) Stope fill developments at Mount Isa, inProceedings of the Twelfth Canadian Rock Mechanics Symposium on Mining with Backfill, Sudbury, Ontario (Canadian Institute of Mines) 21–9.

  • Lee, K.L. (1976) Reinforced earth—an old idea in a new setting, inProceedings of the International Symposium on New Horizons in Construction Materials, Lehigh (Envo Publishing Co, Inc) pp. 655–82.

  • Lee, K.L. (1978) Mechanisms, analysis and design of reinforced earth, state-of-the-art report, inProceedings of the Symposium on Earth Reinforcement, Pittsburgh, ASCE, pp. 62–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, K.L., Adams, B.D. and Vagneron, J.J. (1973) Reinforced earth retaining walls,Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division 99 745–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCready, J. and Hall, R.J. (1966) Cemented sand fill at INCO,CIM Bulletin 59 888–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKittrick, D.P. (1978) Reinforced earth: application of theory and research to practice, inProceedings of the Symposium on Soil Reinforcing and Stabilising Techniques in Engineering Practice, New South Wales Institute of Technology, 1–44.

  • McNay, L.M. and Corson, D.R. (1975) Hydraulic sandfill in deep metal mines, US Bureau of Mines, Report of Investigation No. 8663.

  • Mathews, K.E. and Kaesehagen, F.E. (1973) The development and design of a cemented rock filling system at the Mount Isa Mine Australia. inProceedings of the Symposium on Mine Filling, Mount Isa, Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, pp. 13–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neville, A.M. (1972)Properties of Concrete, Pitman, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rawling, J.R., Toguri, J.M. and Cerigo, D.J. (1966) Strength and permeability of cement stabilized backfill,Canadian Mining Journal 87 43–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romstad, K.M., Herrmann, L.R. and Shen, C.K. (1976) Integrated study of reinforced earth — I: theoretical formulation,Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division 102 457–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, F. (1978) History, current and future developments of reinforced earth, inProceedings of the Symposium on Soil Reinforcing and Stabilising Techniques in Engineering Practice, New South Wales Institute of Technology, pp. 5–28.

  • Schlosser, F. and Vidal, H. (1969) La terre armee,Bulletin Liason des Laboratories Routiers Ponts et Chausses 41 101–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, F. and Long, N.T. (1974) Recent results in French research on reinforced earth,Journal of the Construction Division 100 223–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, F. and Elias, V. (1978) Friction in reinforced earth, inProceedings of the Symposium on Earth Reinforcement, Pittsburgh, ASCE, pp. 735–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen, C.K., Romstad, K.M. and Hermann, L.K. (1976) Integrated study of reinforced earth — II: behaviour and designJournal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division 102 577–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A.C.S. (1979) Reinforced earth in the mining industry in Southern Africa, inProceedings of the International Conference on Soil Reinforcement, Paris, Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees, pp. 367–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, E.G. (1969)Characteristics and behaviour of hydraulic fill material, PhD thesis, University of Queensland, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, E.G. (1971) Cemented fill practice and research at Mount Isa, inProceedings of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 240 33–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, E.G. (1973a) A review of cementing agents for hydraulic fill, inProceedings of the Symposium on Mine Filling, Mount Isa, Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, pp. 65–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, E.G. (1973b) Cemented hydraulic fill mix design as it applies to mine scheduling, inProceedings of the Symposium on Mine Filling, Mount Isa, Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, pp. 139–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, E.G. (1983) Characteristics of cemented deslimed mill tailing fill prepared from finely ground tailing, inProceedings of the International Symposium on Mining with Backfill, Lulea, Sweden, (A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam) 59–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, E.G., Nantel, J.H. and Notley, K.R. (1979)Fill technology in underground metalliferous mines (International Academic Services Ltd, Kingston, Canada).

    Google Scholar 

  • Verma, B.P. and Char, A.N.R. (1978) Triaxial tests on reinforced sand, inProceedings of the Symposium on Soil Reinforcing and Stabilising Techniques in Engineering Practice, New South Wales Institute of Technology, 29–39

  • Vidal, H. (1966) La terre armee,Annales de L'Institute Technique du Batiment et des Travaux Public 19 887–938.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidal, H. (1969) The Principal of Reinforced Earth, Highway Research Record No. 282, pp. 1–16.

  • Weaver, W.S. and Luka, R. (1970) Laboratory studies of cement-stabilized mine tailings,CIM Transactions 73 204–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Z. (1972)Strength and deformation characteristics of reinforced sand, PhD thesis, University of California, Los Angeles.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lun, P.T.W. Soil reinforcing technique in mine backfilling. International Journal of Mining and Geological Engineering 4, 47–66 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01553756

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01553756

Keywords

Navigation