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Hydrofracturing in situ stress measurements of itabirite in the Brazilian Ferriferous Quadrangle and their limitations

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Abstract

This article presents a first attempt to carry out in situ stress measurements (magnitudes and orientations) of the itabirite in the Brazilian Ferriferous Quadrangle by hydraulic fracture testing at a depth of 399 m. Previous studies on this rock have considered estimated values of the k index (ratio between the horizontal effective stress Sh, generally controlled by tectonism, and the vertical effective stress Sv, generally controlled by gravity), and it is not a common practice to carry out in situ stress tests in this region and rock type to support geotechnical analysis. The area of study was located at a depth of 500 m in a pit because the determination of the in situ stress distribution is very important to assess the stability of the open-pit mine. The planning, execution and results of the tests are presented. The studied rock mass exhibits different geological structures, such as banding and foliation, which resulted in difficulties with performing the tests, and only 12.5% of the tests were successful. The results can help interpret the strains and stresses induced by mining activities in slopes in the Brazilian Ferriferous Quadrangle and their impacts on the surrounding structures. For a better determination of the regional in situ stresses in the rock of the Brazilian Ferriferous Quadrangle, hydraulic tests on pre-existing fractures are recommended.

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Abbreviations

Pb :

Breakdown pressure

Pr :

Reopening pressure

Ps :

Shut-in pressure

S H :

Maximum horizontal stress

S h :

Minimum horizontal stress

S v :

Vertical stress

kH :

S H /S v

kh :

S h /S v

γ :

Specific weight

V p :

P-Wave velocity

Vs :

S-Wave velocity

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Vale S.A. for providing the data, Vale Institute of Technology for the partnership and Rede/Geosol, including directors Tarcísio Pinheiro and Vander Braga, for their extreme dedication to enabling and executing the tests. Special thanks to the others who contributed to planning, guiding and interpretating the results of this study, including geologists Teófilo Costa, Fábio Magalhães and Isabela Trópia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal University of Ouro Preto/Geotechnical Engineer, Vale S. A, Nova Lima, Brazil

    Henrique de Andrade Penido

  2. Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil

    Rodrigo Peluci de Figueiredo

  3. University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil

    André Pacheco de Assis

  4. Vale Institute of Technology, Ouro Preto, Brazil

    Vidal Félix Navarro Torres & Juan Manuel Girao Sotomayor

  5. Geosol S.A, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Alessandro Guimarães

Authors
  1. Henrique de Andrade Penido
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  2. Rodrigo Peluci de Figueiredo
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  3. André Pacheco de Assis
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  4. Vidal Félix Navarro Torres
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  5. Juan Manuel Girao Sotomayor
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  6. Alessandro Guimarães
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Correspondence to Henrique de Andrade Penido.

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de Andrade Penido, H., de Figueiredo, R.P., de Assis, A.P. et al. Hydrofracturing in situ stress measurements of itabirite in the Brazilian Ferriferous Quadrangle and their limitations. Geotech Geol Eng 40, 1619–1627 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-021-01976-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-021-01976-9

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