Comparison of Seismicity Induced While Mining Hydro-fractured and Non-preconditioned Rock Mass Volumes

Abstract

In this chapter, I will be comparing seismicity recorded in the Diablo Regimento hydro-fractured cave with the seismicity recorded in the two non-preconditioned caves of PMC and DOZ. For comparison between mines, I will be using cave volumes. At Diablo Regimento Sector, the cave volume that will was used is the volume that was reconditioned with the hydro-fracturing technique. Analysis of the seismicity recorded in the three caves presented in this chapter leads to a number of conclusions. The most important one is that the preconditioning of the DR rock mass had to result in substantial fracturing of the rock mass. A similar rock mass condition to what was already in place at DR right from the commencement of the cave mining , was achieved only after nearly 3 years of production at PMC. The PMC rock mass was gradually preconditioned by the caving process.