Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The total engineering geology approach applied to railways in the Pilbara, Western Australia

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The application of the total engineering geology approach to the investigation, design, construction and operation of several major iron ore railways in the ancient cratonic Pilbara region of Western Australia is described. The approach is based on developing a thorough understanding of the geological and geomorphological history of the area and adopting strategies such as staged investigations, an emphasis on geo-mapping, establishing reference conditions, the development of models and applying the observational method. The role of engineering geologists in such projects, their objectives and responsibilities, and the range of issues that have to be dealt with are reviewed and used to illustrate how inputs from engineering geologists are critical to project implementation. Some conclusions are drawn regarding what is good practice in heavy civil engineering projects.

Résumé

Une approche globale d’engineering geology est mise en oeuvre pour les études de reconnaissance, conception et construction relatives à d’importants projets de voies de chemins de fer destinées au transport de minerai de fer dans la région du craton de Pilbara (Etat d’Australie-Occidentale). La méthode est basée sur un examen approfondi de l’histoire géologique et géomorphologique des sites concernés, incluant des investigations progressives basées sur l’observation, des études cartographiques spécialisées et l’établissement de modèles géologiques. Les responsabilités des spécialistes en engineering geology, les apports spécifiques de cette discipline et les différents problèmes qui doivent être traités dans ces projets sont soulignés. Des conclusions sont établies concernant les conditions d’une bonne mise en œuvre des méthodes et techniques de l’engineering geology dans les projets importants de génie civil.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anand RR, Paine M (2002) Regolith geology for the Yilgarn Craton, Western Autralia: implications for exploration. Aust J Earth Sci 49:3–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Anon (1997) Tropical residual soils. In: Fookes PG (ed) A geological society engineering group working party revised report, The Geological Society of London, 184 pp

  • Anon (2000) Landslide risk management concepts and guidelines. Australian Geomechanics Society sub-committee on landslide risk management. Aust Geomech 35:49–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckman GG, Hubble GD, Thompson CH (1970) Gilgai forms, distribution and soil relationships in north-eastern Australia. In: Symposium on soils and earth structures in arid climates, Adelaide. The Institute of Engineers, Australia, pp 88–93

  • Bieniawski ZT (1989) Engineering rock mass classifications. Wiley, New York, 251 pp

  • Bowler JM (1982) Aridity in the late Tertiary and Quaternary of Australia. In: Barker WR, Greenslade PJM (eds) Evolution of the flora and fauna of Australia, paper 4. Peacock Publications, Adelaide, pp 35–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkman DA (1989) Field geologists’ manual, monograph 9. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 382 pp

  • Campana B, Hughes FE, Burns WG, Whitcher IG, Muceniekas E (1964) Discovery of the Hamersley iron deposits (Duck Creek–Mt Pyrton–Mt Turner Area). Aust Inst Mining Metall Proc 210:1–30

    Google Scholar 

  • CIRIA (1978) Tunnelling—improved contract practices, construction industry research and information association report 79, CIRIA London.

  • Clayton CRI (2001) Managing geotechnical risk. Thomas Telford Publishing, London, 80 pp

  • Construction Industry Committee (1987) Guidelines for the provision of geotechnical information in construction contracts, The Institution of Engineers, Australia, 19 pp

  • Cooke RU (1986) Hot dry lands. In: Fookes PG, Vaughan PR (eds) A handbook of engineering geomorphology. Surrey University Press, Guildford, pp 109–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooke RU, Warren A (1973) Geomorphology in deserts. B T Batsford, London, 394 pp

  • Dearman WR (1991) Engineering geological mapping. Butterworth–Heinemann, Oxford, 387 pp

  • Eddleston M, Murfin RE, Walthall S (1995) The role of the engineering geologist in construction. In: Eddlestson M, Walthall S, Cripps JC, Culshaw MG (eds) Engineering geology of construction. Geological Society Engineering Geology Special Publication 10:389–401

    Google Scholar 

  • Essex RJ (1997) Geotechnical baseline reports for underground construction—guidelines and practices. Prepared by the Technical Committee on Geotechnical Reports of the Underground Technology Research Council. American Society of Civil Engineers, 40 pp

  • Fell R, MacGregor P, Stapledon D (1992) Geotechnical engineering of embankment dams. Balkema, Rotterdam, 675 pp

  • Fetherston JM, Brown IM (1990) Industrial minerals. In: Geology and mineral resources of Western Australia, Memoir 3. Geological Survey of Western Australia, pp 669–679

  • Fookes PG (1969) Geotechnical mapping of soils and sedimentary rocks for engineering purposes with examples of practice from the Mangla Dam Project. Geotechnique 19:52–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Fookes PG (1997) The first Glossop lecture, geology for engineers: the geological model, prediction and performance. Q J Eng Geol 30:293–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Fookes PG, Baynes FJ, Hutchinson JN (2000) Total geological history: a model approach to the anticipation, observation and understanding of site conditions, Invited Paper, Geoeng 2000 Conference. Technomic Publishing, Melbourne, pp 370–460

    Google Scholar 

  • Fookes PG, Baynes FJ, Hutchinson JN (2001). Total geological history: a model approach to understanding site conditions. Ground Eng 34(3):42–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Harding C (2004) Site investigation and site conceptual models. The link between geology and engineering. Advances in geotechnical engineering: the Skempton conference. Thomas Telford, London, 2:1304–1315

  • Hocking RM, Cockbain AE (1990). Regolith. In: Geology and mineral resources of Western Australia, Memoir 3. Geological Survey of Western Australia, pp 591–601

  • Joyce B, Ollier C (2003) The Pilbara region of Western Australia: landscape and heritage. Aust Geol 127:27–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Killick M, Churchward M, Anand RR (2001). Regolith—landscape evolution and mineralisation in the Hamersley iron province. Explor Mining Res News 13:5–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Kneeshaw M (2000) Guide to the geology of the Hamersley and North East Pilbara iron ore provinces. BHP Iron Ore internal company report

  • Knill JL (2003) Core Values: the First Hans Cloos Lecture. Bull Eng Geol Environ 62:1–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell B (1994) Influence of horizontal stresses on gilgai landforms. ASCE J Geotech Eng 120:1437–1444

    Google Scholar 

  • McGowran B, Li Q (1998) Cainozoic climatic change and its implications for understanding the Australian regolith. In: Eggleton AA (ed) State of the Regolith. Geological Society of Australia Special Publication 20:86–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Mining Operations Division Pamphlet (undated) Asbestos Management in Mining. Department of Minerals and Energy, Western Australia

  • Moores EM, Twiss RJ (1995) Tectonics. W H Freeman & Co, New York, 415 pp

  • Muir Wood A (2000) Tunnelling—management by design. E & FN Spon, London, 307 pp

  • Newman TG, Allen RG, Mortimore RN (2003) Geological modelling, the observational method and management of ground hazards: Ramsgate Harbour approach road tunnel. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 36:35–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Peck RB (1969) Ninth Rankine lecture: advantages and limitations of the observational method in applied soil mechanics. Geotechnique 19:171–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettifer GS, Fookes PG (1994) A revision of the graphical method for assessing the excavatability of rock. Q J Eng Geol 27:145–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Phipps PJ (2001) Terrain systems mapping. In: Griffiths JS (ed) Land surface evaluation for engineering practice. Geological Society Engineering Geology Special Publications, London 18:59–61

  • Pisarevsky SA, McElhinny MW (2003) Global palaeomagnetic data base developed into its visual form. EOS Transact 84:192

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramanaidou ER, Morris RC, Horwitz RC (2003) Channel iron deposits of the Hamersley Province, Western Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 50:669–690

    Google Scholar 

  • Summerfield MA (1991) Global geomorphology. Longman, London, 537 pp

  • Stapledon DH (1982) Subsurface engineering—in search of a rational approach. Aust Geomech News 4:26–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas MF (1994) Geomorphology in the tropics: a study of weathering and denudation in low latitudes. Wiley, New York, 460 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Trendall AF, Blockley JG (1970). The iron formation of the Precambrian Hamersley Group, Western Australia, with special reference to the associated crocidolite. Geol Surv W Aust Bull 119:174–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Trendall AF (1990) Pilbara Craton—the Hamersley Basin. In: Geology and mineral resources of Western Australia, Memoir 3. Western Australia Geological Survey, pp 163–189

  • Trendall AF (2000) The significance of banded iron formation (BIF) in the Precambrian stratigraphic record, Geoscientist 10:2–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Twidale CR (1994) Gondwana (Late Jurassic and Cretaceous) palaeosurfaces of the Australian craton. Paleogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 112 (1–2):157–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyler IM, Thorne AM (1990) Capricorn Orogen—structural evolution of the northern margin. In: Geology and mineral resources of Western Australia, Memoir 3, Western Australia Geological Survey, pp 223–230

  • Tyler IM (1991) The geology of the Sylvania inlier of the southeast Hamersley Basin. Geological Survey Western Australia, Bulletin, 138 pp

  • Varnes DJ (1974) The logic of geological maps, with reference to their interpretation and use for engineering purposes. United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 837, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 48 pp

  • Waltham AC (1994) Foundations of engineering geology. Blackie Academic & Professional, London, 88 pp

  • Waltham AC, Fookes PG (2003) Engineering classification of karst ground conditions. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 36:101–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Waterhouse JD, Howe PJ (1994) An environmental hydrogeological study near Mt Bruce, Pilbara region of Western Australia. In: Proceedings of the 25th congress of the international association of Hydrogeologists, Adelaide, Australia

  • Wende R, Nanson GC, Price DM (1997) Aeolian and fluvial evidence for Late Quaternary environmental change in the east Kimberley of Western Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 44:519–526

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyrwoll KH (1986) Characteristics of a planar rock slide: Hamersley Range, Western Australia. Eng Geol 22:335–348

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the support and encouragement received during the development of the approach described in this paper from many colleagues who work for, or consult to various mining and engineering companies, in particular Steve Brice, Tim Hagan, Doug Johannes, Dick Jupp, Ian Lewis, Doug McInnes, John McMeekan, Greg O’Rourke, Peter Stanes, David Swifte, David Watkins and John Wood.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consultant Engineering Geologist, 10/272 Hay St, Subiaco, WA, 6008, Australia

    F. J. Baynes

  2. Consultant Engineering Geologist, ‘Lafonia’, 11a Edgar Rd, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9SJ, UK

    P. G. Fookes

  3. Consultant Engineering Geologist, 11 Southport St, Leederville, WA, 6007, Australia

    J. F. Kennedy

Authors
  1. F. J. Baynes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. G. Fookes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. F. Kennedy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. J. Baynes.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Baynes, F.J., Fookes, P.G. & Kennedy, J.F. The total engineering geology approach applied to railways in the Pilbara, Western Australia. Bull Eng Geol Environ 64, 67–94 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-004-0271-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-004-0271-4

Keywords

Mots clés

Search

Navigation