Early experiences from the Grasberg block cave: A rock mechanics perspective

Authors: Campbell, R; Mardiansyah, F; Banda, H; Tshisens, J; Griffiths, C; Beck, D Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

This paper is hosted with the kind permission of the Universidad de Chile, Eighth International Conference & Exhibition on Mass Mining, 2020.

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2063_03

Cite As:
Campbell, R, Mardiansyah, F, Banda, H, Tshisens, J, Griffiths, C & Beck, D 2020, 'Early experiences from the Grasberg block cave: A rock mechanics perspective', in R Castro, F Báez & K Suzuki (eds), MassMin 2020: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference & Exhibition on Mass Mining, University of Chile, Santiago, pp. 115-126, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2063_03



Abstract:
As the Grasberg open pit is completed in 2019, the underlying Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) will rapidly mature as a primary source of production at PT Freeport Indonesia operations, supplementing the Deep Ore Zone (DOZ) and Deep Mill Level Zone (DMLZ) caves. After years of planning, development and revisions to the extraction strategy, early information on footprint rock mass response to undercutting and the nature of caving is now available to confirm or guide adjustments to strategy. Despite the early stage of mining, much has been learned regarding cave propagation, fragmentation, stress states, pillar stability and ground support performance. This paper provides a timely rock mechanics focused update from one of the largest planned caving mines in the world. 

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