Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Study of the Rock Mass Failure Process and Mechanisms During the Transformation from Open-Pit to Underground Mining Based on Microseismic Monitoring

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To quantitatively understand the failure process and failure mechanism of a rock mass during the transformation from open-pit mining to underground mining, the Shirengou Iron Mine was selected as an engineering project case study. The study area was determined using the rock mass basic quality classification method and the kinematic analysis method. Based on the analysis of the variations in apparent stress and apparent volume over time, the rock mass failure process was analyzed. According to the recent research on the temporal and spatial change of microseismic events in location, energy, apparent stress, and displacement, the migration characteristics of rock mass damage were studied. A hybrid moment tensor inversion method was used to determine the rock mass fracture source mechanisms, the fracture orientations, and fracture scales. The fracture area can be divided into three zones: Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C. A statistical analysis of the orientation information of the fracture planes orientations was carried out, and four dominant fracture planes were obtained. Finally, the slip tendency analysis method was employed, and the unstable fracture planes were obtained. The results show: (1) The microseismic monitoring and hybrid moment tensor analysis can effectively analyze the failure process and failure mechanism of rock mass, (2) during the transformation from open-pit to underground mining, the failure type of rock mass is mainly shear failure and the tensile failure is mostly concentrated in the roof of goafs, and (3) the rock mass of the pit bottom and the upper of goaf No. 18 have the possibility of further damage.

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

Abbreviations

v p,s :

P- or S-wave velocity in the rock mass

t e :

Time error

R i :

Distance between the sensor and the location point

E p,s :

Radiated seismic energy of the P- or S-wave

E :

Total seismic energy

\(t_{\text{s}}\) :

Duration

\(\dot{u}_{\text{corr}}^{2} (t)\) :

Radiation pattern corrected far-field velocity pulse squared

\(\sigma_{\text{A}}\) :

Apparent stress

P :

Seismic potency

\(\bar{D}\) :

Average displacement on fault plane

\(V_{\text{A}}\) :

Apparent volume

\(\mu\) :

Shear modulus of rock mass

U :

Matrix of displacements

G :

Green’s function

M :

Moment tensor

\({\mathbf{M}}_{\text{ISO}}\) :

Isotropic component of the moment tensor

\({\mathbf{M}}_{\text{DC}}\) :

Pure double-couple component of the moment tensor

\({\mathbf{M}}_{\text{CLVD}}\) :

Compensated linear vector dipole component of the moment tensor

M 1, M 2, M 3 :

Eigenvalues of the moment tensor

\(P_{\text{DC}}\) :

Proportion of \({\mathbf{M}}_{\text{DC}}\)

\({\vec{\mathbf{e}}}_{1}\), \({\vec{\mathbf{e}}}_{2}\), \({\vec{\mathbf{e}}}_{3}\) :

Eigenvectors of the moment tensor

u :

Displacement on the motion direction of the fracture plane

S :

Surface area of fracture plane

\({\vec{\mathbf{n}}}\) :

Normal direction of the fracture plane

\({\vec{\mathbf{v}}}\) :

Motion direction of the fracture plane

\(K_{\text{c}}\) :

A constant relating to a source model

f c :

Corner frequency

\(\tau\) :

Shear stress

\(\sigma_{\text{n}}\) :

Normal stress

\(\mu_{\text{s}}\) :

Coefficient of static friction

\(\sigma_{1}\), \(\sigma_{2}\), \(\sigma_{3}\) :

Maximum, medium, and minimum principal stress

l, m, n :

Cosines of the normal direction of the fracture plane

\(\sigma_{\text{v}}\) :

Vertical stress

\(\sigma_{\text{h,max}}\), \(\sigma_{\text{h,min}}\) :

Maximum and minimum horizontal stress

References

  • Admassu Y, Shakoor A (2013) DIPANALYST: a computer program for quantitative kinematic analysis of rock slope failures. Comput Geosci 54:196–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akram J, Eaton D (2012) Adaptive microseismic event detection and automatic time picking. In: GeoConvention, pp 1–5

  • Aksoy H, Ercanoglu M (2007) Fuzzified kinematic analysis of discontinuity-controlled rock slope instabilities. Eng Geol 89:206–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen LM (2001) A relative moment tensor inversion technique applied to seismicity induced by mining. Univ of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Austria Startup Company (2008) ShapeMetriX3D system manuals. Europe and China Co. LTD., Shengyang

    Google Scholar 

  • Baig A, Viegas G, Urbancic T, Lunen EV, Hendrick J (2015) To frac or not to frac: assessing potential damage as related to hydraulic fracture induced seismicity. First Break 32:365–402

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanpied ML, Lockner DA, Byerlee JD (1995) Frictional slip of granite at hydrothermal conditions. J Geophys Res 100:13045–13064

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohnhoff M, Dresen G, Ellsworth WL, Ito H (2010) Passive seismic monitoring of natural and induced earthquakes: case studies, future directions and socio-economic relevance. In: Cloetingh S, Negendank J (eds) New frontiers in integrated solid earth sciences. Springer, New York, pp 261–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Brune JN (1970) Tectonic stress and the spectra of seismic shear waves from earthquakes. J Geophys Res 75:4997–5009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bye AR, Bell FG (2001) Stability assessment and slope design at Sandsloot open pit, South Africa. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 38:449–466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byerlee J (1978) Friction of rocks. Pure Appl Geophys 116:615–626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai M, Kaiser PK, Martin CD (2001) Quantification if rock mass damage in underground excavations from microseismic event monitoring. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 38:1135–1145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao AY, Dou LM, Wang CB, Yao XX, Dong JY, Gu Y (2016) Microseismic precursory characteristics of rock burst hazard in mining areas near a large residual coal pillar: a case study from Xuzhuang coal mine, Xuzhou, China. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang SH, Lee CI (2004) Estimation of cracking and damage mechanisms in rock under triaxial compression by moment tensor analysis of acoustic emission. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41:1069–1086

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen WF (1975) Limit analysis and soil plasticity. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Ma S, Yu Y (2017) Stability control of underground roadways subjected to stresses caused by extraction of a 10-m-thick coal seam: a case study. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50:2511–2520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai F, Li B, Xu NW, Fan YL, Zhang CQ (2016) Deformation forecasting and stability analysis of large-scale underground powerhouse caverns from microseismic monitoring. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 86:269–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai F, Li B, Xu NW, Meng G, Wu J, Fan Y (2017) Microseismic monitoring of the left bank slope at the Baihetan hydropower station, China. Rock Mech Rock Eng. 50:225–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elmo D, Vyazmensky A, Stead D, Rance JR (2007) A hybrid FEM/DEM approach to model the interaction between open-pit and underground block-caving mining. In: 1st Canada/United states rock mechanics symposium, Vancouver, Canada, pp 1287–1294

  • Feng GL, Feng XT, Chen BR, Xiao YX, Yang Yu (2015) A microseismic method for dynamic warning of rockburst development processes in tunnels. Rock Mech Rock Eng 48:2061–2076

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao FQ, Stead D, Kang HP, Wu YZ (2014) Discrete element modelling of deformation and damage of a roadway driven along an unstable goaf—a case study. Int J Coal Geol 127:100–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ge MC (2005) Efficient mine microseismic monitoring. Int J Coal Geol 64:44–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ge M, Hardy HR Jr, Wang H (2012) A retrievable sensor installation technique for acquiring high frequency signals. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 4:127–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gendzwill DJ, Prugger AF (1985) Algorithms for microearthquake locations. In: Proceedings of 4th symposium on acoustic emissions and microseismicity. Penn State University, College Park

  • Giani GP (1992) Rock slope stability analysis. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibowicz SJ, Kijko A (1994) An introduction to mining seismology. Academic press, San Diego

  • Goodman RE (1989) Introduction to rock mechanics, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hancock GR (2004) The use of landscape evolution models in mining rehabilitation design. Environ Geol 46:561–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanks TC, Wyss M (1972) The use of body-wave spectra in the determination of seismic-source parameters. B Seismol Soc Am 62:561–589

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E, Brown ET (1980) Underground excavation in rock. Institution of Mining and metallurgy, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu GJ, Yang TH, Zhou JR, Yu QL, Xie LK, Liu HL, Zhao Y (2017) Mechanism of surrounding rock failure and crack evolution rules in branched pillar recovery. Minerals 7:96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang JW, Bellefleur G, Milkereit B (2009) Seismic modeling of multidimensional heterogeneity scales of Mallik gas hydrate reservoirs, Northwest Territories of Canada. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:261–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang WS, Cai SJ, Wu D, Huang G, Liu YC (2015) Stability assessment of underground mined-out areas in a gold mine based on complex system theory. Geotech Geol Eng 33:1295–1305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hudson JA, Harrison JP (1997) Engineering rock mechanics: an introduction to the principles. Pergamon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaeger JC, Cook NGW (1979) Fundamentals of rock mechanics, 3rd edn. Chapman & Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeng FS, Chiang TL, Lin ML (2004) Analysis of the kinematic stability of pyramidal blocks. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41:384–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knopoff L, Randall MJ (1970) The compensated linear-vector dipole: a possible mechanism for deep earthquakes. J Geophys Res 75:4957–4963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwiatek G, Plenkers K, Nakatani M, Yabe Y, Dresen G, JAGUARS-Group (2010) Frequency–magnitude characteristics down to magnitude—4.4 for induced seismicity recorded at Mponeng Gold Mine, South Africa. B Seismol Soc Am 100:1165–1173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwiatek G, Charalampidou EM, Dresen G, Stanchits S (2014) An improved method for seismic moment tensor inversion of acoustic emissions through assessment of sensor coupling and sensitivity to incidence angle. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 65:153–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwiatek G, Martínez-Garzón P, Bohnhoff M (2016) HybridMT: a MATLAB/Shell Environment package for seismic moment tensor inversion and refinement. Seismol Res Lett 87:964–976

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Miao SJ (2017) Analysis and application of in situ stress in metal mining area of Chinese mainland. Chin J Eng 39:323–334 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lim SS, Yang HS (2004) An analysis of plane failure of rock slopes by quantified stereographic projection. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41:744–749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin Y (1998) An introduction of the Chinese standard for engineering classification of rock masses (GB50218-94). Advances in Rocks Mechanics, World Scientific Publishing, Lin Ed., pp 317–327

  • Lisle RJ, Srivastava DC (2004) Test of the frictional reactivation theory for faults and validity of fault-slip analysis. Geology 32:569–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu JP, Feng XT, Li YH, Xu SD, Sheng Y (2013) Studies on temporal and spatial variation of microseismic activities in a deep metal mine. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 60:171–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu JP, Li YH, Xu SD, Xu S, Jin CY, Liu ZS (2015) Moment tensor analysis of acoustic emission for cracking mechanisms in rock with a pre-cut circular hole under uniaxial compression. Eng Fract Mech 135:206–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma K, Tang CA, Wang LX, Tang DH, Zhuang DY, Zhang QB, Zhao J (2016) Stability analysis of underground oil storage caverns by an integrated numerical and microseismic monitoring approach. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 54:81–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma K, Tang CA, Liang ZZ, Zhuang DY, Zhang QB (2017) Stability analysis and reinforcement evaluation of high-steep rock slope by microseismic monitoring. Eng Geol 218:22–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madariaga R (1976) Dynamics of an expanding circular fault. Bull Seismol Soc Am 66:639–666

    Google Scholar 

  • Maeda N (1985) A method for reading and checking phase times in autoprocessing system of seismic data. Zisin 38:365–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mandalawi MA, You G, Dowling K, Dahlhaus P (2016) Kinematic assessment of slopes at handlebar hill open cut mine, Mt. Isa, Queensland, Australia. Int J Geomate Geotech Constr Materials & Environ 10:1575–1583

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínezgarzón P, Bohnhoff M, Kwiatek G, Zambranonarváez G, Chalaturnyk R (2013) Microseismic monitoring of CO2 injection at the Penn West Enhanced Oil Recovery pilot project, Canada: implications for detection of wellbore leakage. Sensors 13:11522–11538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínezgarzón P, Kwiatek G, Bohnhoff M, Dresen G (2016) Impact of fluid injection on fracture reactivation at The Geysers geothermal field. J Geophys Res Sol Earth 121:7432–7449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendecki AJ (1997) Seismic monitoring in mines. Chapman & Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendecki AJ, Lynch RA, Malovichko DA (2007) Routine seismic monitoring in mines. VNIMI Seminar on seismic monitoring in mines

  • Miller AD, Julian BR, Foulger GR (2010) Three-dimensional seismic structure and moment tensors of non-double-couple earthquakes at the Hengill–Grensdalur volcanic complex, Iceland. Geophys J R Astron Soc 133:309–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moeck I, Kwiatek G, Zimmermann G (2009) Slip tendency analysis, fault reactivation potential and induced seismicity in a deep geothermal reservoir. J Struct Geol 31:1174–1182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris A, Ferrill DA, Henderson DBB (1996) Slip-tendency analysis and fault reactivation. Geology 24:275–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelder JA, Mead R (1965) A simplex method for function minimization. Comput J 7:308–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nickmann RNM, Schweigl T, Thuro K (2017) Engineering geological and geotechnical analysis of a rock slide in the quarry Frauenmühle near Metten (Lower Bavaria). Geomech Tunn 10:47–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nolen-Hoeksema RC, Ruff LJ (2001) Moment tensor inversion of microseisms from the B-sand propped hydrofracture, M-site, Colorado. Tectonophysics 336:163–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohtsu M (1995) Acoustic emission theory for moment tensor analysis. Res Nondestruct Eval 6:169–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pariseau WG, Puri S, Schmelter SC (2008) A new model for effects of impersistent joint sets on rock slope stability. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 45:122–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez IV (2011) Automatic Time-picking of microseismic data combining STA/LTA and the stationary discrete wavelet transform. CSPG CSEG CWLS Convention Abstracts, 1–4

  • Si GY, Durucan S, Jamnikar S, Lazar J, Abraham K, Korre A, Shi JQ, Zavšek S, Mutke G, Lurka A (2015) Seismic monitoring and analysis of excessive gas emissions in heterogeneous coal seams. Int J Coal Geol 149:41–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stierle E, Bohnhoff M, Vavryčuk V (2014) Resolution of non-double-couple components in the seismic moment tensor using regional networks—II: application to aftershocks of the 1999 Mw 7.4 Izmit earthquake. Geophysl J Int 196:1878–1888

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • St-Onge A (2011) Akaike information criterion applied to detecting first arrival times on microseismic data. Seg Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 4424

  • Sun SG, Yang H, Li CS, Zhang BL, Wang J, Wang MZ (2013) Analysis of the relative position of the slope and underground mining area and its influence properties. Adv Mater Res 638:3277–3281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szwedzicki T (2003) Rock mass behaviour prior to failure. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40:573–584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan E, Lavier LL, Avendonk HJAV, Heuret A (2012) The role of frictional strength on plate coupling at the subduction interface. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 13:10006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tawadrous AS, Katsabanis PD (2007) Prediction of surface crown pillar stability using artificial neural networks. Int J Numer Anal Met 31:917–931

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trifu CI, Urbancic TI (1996) Fracture coalescence as a mechanism for earthquakes: observations based on mining induced microseismicity. Tectonophysics 261:193–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trifunac MD (1972) Comparisons between ambient and forced vibration experiments. Earthq Eng Struct D 1:133–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Um J, Kulatilake PHSW (2001) Kinematic and block theory analyses for shiplock slopes of the Three Gorges Dam Site in China. Geotech Geol Eng 19:21–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang HF, Cheng YP, Liang Y, Wang L (2010) Similarity model tests of movement and deformation of coal-rock mass below stopes. Int J Min Sci Tech 20:188–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao YX, Feng XT, Hudson JA, Chen BR, Feng LG, Liu JP (2016) ISRM suggested method for in situ microseismic monitoring of the fracturing process in rock masses. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49:343–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu NW, Tang CA, Li LC, Zhou Z, Sha C, Liang ZZ, Yang JY (2011) Microseismic monitoring and stability analysis of the left bank slope in Jinping first stage hydropower station in southwestern China. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 48:950–963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zang A, Oye V, Jousset P, Deichmann N, Gritto R, McGarr A, Majer E, Bruhn D (2014) Analysis of induced seismicity in geothermal reservoirs: an overview. Geothermics 52:6–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang PH, Yang TH, Yu QL, Xu T, Zhu WC, Liu HL, Zhou JR, Zhao YC (2015) Microseismicity induced by fault activation during the fracture process of a crown pillar. Rock Mech Rock Eng 48:1673–1682

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang PH, Yang TH, Yu QL, Xu T, Shi WH, Li SC (2016) Study of a seepage channel formation using the combination of microseismic monitoring technique and numerical method in Zhangmatun Iron Mine. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao XD, Li LC, Tang CA, Zhang HX (2012) Stability of boundary pillars in transition from open pit to underground mining. J Central South Univ 19:3256–3265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y, Yang TH, Zhang PH, Zhou JR, Yu QL, Deng WX (2017) The analysis of rock damage process based on the microseismic monitoring and numerical simulations. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 69:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou JR, Yang TH, Zhang PH, Xu T, Wei J (2017) Formation process and mechanism of seepage channels around grout curtain from microseismic monitoring: a case study of Zhangmatun iron mine, China. Eng Geol 226:301–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu WC, Wei CH (2011) Numerical simulation on mining-induced water inrushes related to geologic structures using a damage-based hydromechanical model. Environ Earth Sci 62:43–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0801602), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51574059, 51574060, and 51604062) and the China Scholarship Council (201706080101). We would like to thank Dr. Grzegorz Kwiatek of GFZ Potsdam for his guidance and support on HybridMT program. We thank anonymous reviewers for constructive comments that helped improve this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Safe Mining of Deep Metal Mines, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, People’s Republic of China

    Yong Zhao, Tianhong Yang, Penghai Zhang, Qinglei Yu, Jingren Zhou & Feiyue Liu

  2. Center for Rock Instability and Seismicity Research, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, People’s Republic of China

    Yong Zhao, Tianhong Yang, Penghai Zhang, Qinglei Yu, Jingren Zhou & Feiyue Liu

  3. Section 4.2 ‘Geomechanics and Rheology’, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Yong Zhao & Marco Bohnhoff

  4. Department of Earth Sciences, Free University Berlin, 12249, Berlin, Germany

    Marco Bohnhoff

Authors
  1. Yong Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tianhong Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marco Bohnhoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Penghai Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Qinglei Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jingren Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Feiyue Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tianhong Yang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhao, Y., Yang, T., Bohnhoff, M. et al. Study of the Rock Mass Failure Process and Mechanisms During the Transformation from Open-Pit to Underground Mining Based on Microseismic Monitoring. Rock Mech Rock Eng 51, 1473–1493 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1413-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1413-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation