Authors: Oke, J; Hawley, K; Belem, T; Hashemi, A

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DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2115_34

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Oke, J, Hawley, K, Belem, T & Hashemi, A 2021, 'Paste backfill thermal contraction: Red Lake operations case study', in AB Fourie & D Reid (eds), Paste 2021: Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 425-438, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2115_34

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Abstract:
One of the earliest attempts at field measurement within hydraulically placed cemented backfill occurred over 20 years ago. Recently, Thompson et al. (2014a) published their findings on capturing thermal expansion within cemented paste backfill (CPB) and cemented hydraulic backfill (CHB). They discovered that the total earth pressure within the CPB following placement is likely to increase at a rate of 30 kPa/°C (i.e. for an 11°C temperature increase). However, Thompson and his co-authors' research did not elaborate on the subsequent effects of thermal dissipation (or thermal contraction) in backfill. A comprehensive literature study concluded with no clear evidence of thermal dissipation phenomenon and its effects in backfill. It is hypothesised by the authors that if thermal expansion can occur, then thermal dissipation or contraction is also likely to occur. Red Lake operation (RLO) of Evolution Mining conducted a field program to capture the characteristics of the CPB during a transition from a plug–cure–main pour strategy to a more aggressive pour strategy (i.e. continuous pour operation). During this investigation, strong evidence of thermal contraction was observed in three of the four instrumented stopes. This paper presents detailed findings of two of the instrumented stopes.

Keywords: paste, backfill, instrumentation, thermal contraction, thermal dissipation

References:
Belem, T, Fourie, A, Fahey, M 2010, ‘Measurement of volume change in cemented mine backfills at early ages’, in R Jewell & AB Fourie (eds), Proceedings of the 1st International Seminar on Reduction of Risk in the Management of Tailings and Mine Waste, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 449–462, 
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Oke, J & Hashemi, A 2021, ‘In-situ backfill monitoring database’, in AB Fourie & D Reid (eds), Paste 2021: Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 353–368.
Oke, J, Hawley, K, Belem, T & Hashemi, A 2021, ‘Paste backfill continuous pour: Red Lake operations case study’,in AB Fourie & D Reid (eds), Paste 2021: Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 381–396.
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Thompson, BD, Simon, D, Grabinsky, MW, Counter, DB & Bawden, WF 2014a, ‘Constrained thermal expansion as a causal mechanism for in situ pressure in cemented paste and hydraulic backfilled stopes’, in Y Potvin & T Grice (eds), Proceedings of the Eleventh International Symposium on Mining with Backfill, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 365–378, 
10.36487/ACG_rep/1404_29_Thompson
Thompson, BD, Hunt, T, Malek, F, Grabinsky, MW & Bawden, WF 2014b, ‘In situ behaviour of cemented hydraulic and paste backfills and the use of instrumentation in optimising efficiency’, in Y Potvin & T Grice (eds), Proceedings of the Eleventh International Symposium on Mining with Backfill, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 337–350, 
ACG_rep/1404_27_Thompson




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