Abstract
Slope stability is “the heart” of open pit mining operations. Pit slope monitoring is an important undertaking requiring collection of structural data for geotechnical characterization and stability analysis. Challenges exist with conventional field data collection methods including time, safety, and data accuracy and reliability. In this paper, 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry and Split FX are integrated to investigate open pit slopes in highly geologically altered materials using a case study from the Melbur Pit slopes in Cornwall, United Kingdom. A 3D laser scanner is applied to scan structures from the slope face and to create a 3D point cloud database. Photogrammetry is applied to capture images for processing. 3D images are draped onto the point cloud to give a visual representation of the slope face. The kinematic analysis indicates that the integrated approach enhances the identification of structural discontinuity sets and their orientations. An integration of emerging digital technologies thus provides a comprehensive and reasonably reliable structural database for slope stability analysis during open pit mining.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aydin, A., Stability of Saprolitic Slopes: Nature and Role of Field Scale Heterogeneities, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 2006, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 89–96.
Hernandez, C, An Updated Geological Model of the Carlin Formation for Slope Stability Purposes at the Gold Quarry Mine, Eureka County, NV, PhD Thesis, 2015.
Keverne, B., Howe, J., Pascoe, D., Eyre, M., and Coggan, J., Remediation of a Hazardous Legacy Slope Face Using Pre-Split Blasting, Proc. of ISRM Regional Symp. EUROCK, 2015.
Reid, M.E., Sisson, T.W., and Brien, D.L., Volcano Collapse Promoted by Hydrothermal Alteration and Edifice Shape, Mount Rainier, Washington, Geol., 2001, vol. 29, no. 9, pp. 779–782.
Sheets, R.J., Douglas, S.J., St Louis, R.M., and Bailey, J.A., Remediation of Large-Scale Slope Failures and Impact on Mine Development at the Gold Quarry Mine, Min. Eng., 2014, vol. 66, no. 11, pp. 57–71.
Abellan, A., Oppikofer, T., Jaboyedoff, M., Rosser, N.J., Lim, M., and Lato, M.J., Terrestrial Laser Scanning of Rock Slope Instabilities, Earth Surf. Processes Landforms, 2014, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 80–97.
Whitworth, M.C.Z., Giles, D.P., and Murphy, W., Airborne Remote Sensing for Landslide Hazard Assessment: A Case Study on the Jurassic Escarpment Slopes of Worcestershire, UK. Q. J. Eng. Geol. Hydrogeol., 2005, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 285–300.
McLeod, T., Samson, C, Labrie, M., Shehata, K., Mah, J., Lai, P., Wang, L., and Elder, J.H., Using Video Acquired from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to Measure Fracture Orientation in an Open-Pit Mine, Geomatica, 2013, vol. 67, no. 3, pp. 173–180.
Kuhn, D. and Prufer, S., Coastal Cliff Monitoring and Analysis of Mass Wasting Processes with the Application of Terrestrial Laser Scanning: A Case Study of Rugen, Germany, Geomorphol, 2014, vol. 213, pp. 153–165.
Chen, J., Li, K., Chang, K.J., Sofia, G., and Tarolli, P., Open-Pit Mining Geomorphic Feature Characterization, Int. J. Appl. Earth Obs. Geoinform., 2015, vol. 42, pp. 76–86.
Gandhi, G.D.K., Slope Instability Analysis of the North-East Slope of the Melbur Pit Comprised of Kaolinized-Granite Based on the Laser Scanned Data Acquired Post a Trial Blast, PhD. Thesis, Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Cornwall, UK, 2016
Hencher, S.R. and Martin, R.P., The Description and Classification of Weathered Rocks in Hong Kong for Engineering Purposes, Proc. of the 7th Southeast Asian Geotechnical Conference, Hong Kong, 1982.
Wyllie, D. and Mah, C, Rock Slope Engineering: Civil and Mining Fourth Ed, NY: Spoon Press, 2004.
Van der Merwe, J.W. and Andersen, D.C., Applications and Benefits of 3D Laser Scanning for the Mining Industry, J. S Afr. Inst. Min. Metall, 2013, vol. 113, no. 3, pp. 213–219.
Split Engineering LLC, Split FX User Manual, Version 2.1, Tucson, AZ, 2007. Available at: http://www.spliteng.com
Pascoe, D.M., Geostatistics Applied to Probabilistic Slope Stability Analysis in the China Clay Deposits of Cornwall, PhD Thesis, University of Exeter, Camborne School of Mines, 1996.
Coggan, J.S. and Pascoe, D.M-., Melbur Pit Images, Personal Communication, 2014.
Adami, A., Guerra, F., and Vernier, P., Laser Scanner and Architectural Accuracy, Proc. of the 21st Int. CIPA Symp., Athens, Greece, 2007.
Haneberg, W.C., Norrish, N.I., and Findley, D.P., Digital Outcrop Characterization for 3D Structural Mapping and Rock Slope Design along Interstate 90 near SNoqualmie Pass, Washington, Proc. of the 57th Annual Highway Geology Symp., Breckenridge, CO, 2006.
Kwong, A.K.L., Kwok, H., and Wong, A., Use of 3D Laser Scanner for Rock Fractures Mapping, Hong Kong SAR, China, 2007.
Nicholas, D.E. and Sims, D.B., Collecting and Using Geologic Structure Data for Slope Design, Slope Stability in Surface Mining, Hustrulid, McCarter and Van Zyl (Eds.), 2001.
Olaleye, B.M., and Jegede, G., Investigation of the Stability of Alaguntan Quarry Face, Southwestern Nigeria, Mineral Wealth Journal, 2006, no. 141, pp. 9–14.
Vicki, S., Integration of Technology in Slope Management Programs, Proc. of SME Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, 2005.
Feng, Q., Novel Methods for 3D Semi-Automatic Mapping of Fracture Geometry at Exposed Rock Faces, Ph.D. Thesis, Division of Engineering Geology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, 2001.
Feng, Q., Anders, B., and Stephansson, O., Fracture Mapping at Exposed Rock Faces by Using Close-Range Digital Photogrammetry and Geodetic Total Station, Proc. of the 38th U.S. Rock Mechanics Symp., Washington D. C, 2001.
Kemeny, J., Turner, K., and Norton, B., LIDAR for Rock Mass Characterization: Hardware, Software, Accuracy and Best-Practices, Laser and Photogrammetric Methods for Rock Face Characterization, F. Tonon, J. Kottenstette (Eds.), 2005.
Kemeny, J., Henwood, J., and Turner, K., The Use of Ground-Based LiDAR for Geotechnical Aspects of Highway Projects, Proc. of the 57th Annual Highway Geological Symposium, Breckenridge, CO, 2006.
Kemeny, J., Brian, N., Jeff, H., and Donovan, J., Three-Dimensional Digital Imaging for the Identification, Evaluation and Management of Unstable Highway Slopes, Rep. IDEA Project 119 ed. Vol. Final Report, 2008.
Slob, S., Van Knapen, B., Hack, R., Turner, K., and Kemeny, J., Method for Automated Discontinuity Analysis of Rock Slopes with Three-Dimensional Laser Scanning, Proc. Transportation Research Board 84th Annual Meeting, Washington D. C, 2005.
Rocscience, 2014, DIPSv6 User Manual. Available at: http://www.rocscience.com.
Mathis, J.I., Discontinuity Mapping—A Comparison Between Line And Area Mapping, Proc. of the 6th Isrm Int. Congr. Rock Mechanics, Montreal, Canada, 1987.
Acknowledgments
The first author gratefully acknowledges Dr. Denise Pascoe at University of Exeter for her support, encouragement and supervision. Much gratitude is also extended to Imerys Mine for providing access to the field site. The views, discussions and conclusions expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Published in Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, 2019, No. 1, pp. 116–127.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Manda-Mvula, E., Kaunda, R.B. Structural Data Collection for Slope Stability Analysis Using Digital Technology—A Case Study of Melbur Pit, UK. J Min Sci 55, 105–115 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062739119015348
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062739119015348