JOURNAL PAPER

Mine-wide panel stability monitoring at Anglo Platinum Union JV

D.F. Malan^I; P.S. Piper^I; G.M. Potgieter^II; M. du Toit^II

^IGroundwork Consulting (Pty) Ltd
^IIAnglo Platinum Union JV

SYNOPSIS

This paper describes the development and implementation of a mine-wide continuous stability monitoring system at the Declines Section, Anglo Platinum Union JV. The Declines Section at Union JV experienced a number of large panel collapses during 2005 and 2006. As well as posing a major safety risk, the panel collapses had a major effect on production since the Declines Section is a semi-mechanized operation. The collapses would often extend into the mechanized strike roadways, resulting in a loss of access to both current and future production faces. The collapses have been largely overcome owing to a change in support design and the implementation of a mine-wide stability monitoring programme. This paper describes the precursors to collapses, which were identified using continuous closure measurements and the remedial measures taken. It also outlines the design and introduction of a robust and reliable monitoring tool, which is now used on a mine-wide basis to provide early warning of large-scale collapses.

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References

Malan, D.F. Closure measurements in tabular excavations: Avoiding the pitfalls. Proc. SARES99, Johannesburg, Hagan, T.O. (ed.), 1999. pp. 238-250.         [ Links ]

Malan, D.F., Napier, J.A.L., and Janse van Rensburg, A.L. Stope deformation measurements as a diagnostic measure of rock behaviour: A decade of research,J. S. Afr. Inst Min Metall., vol. 107, November 2007, pp.743-765.         [ Links ]