Evolution of dynamic rock support systems at the El Teniente mine

Authors: Rojas, E; Muñoz, A; Landeros Córdova, P

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DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2325_08

Cite As:
Rojas, E, Muñoz, A & Landeros Córdova, P 2023, 'Evolution of dynamic rock support systems at the El Teniente mine', in J Wesseloo (ed.), Ground Support 2023: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Ground Support in Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 129-140, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2325_08

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Abstract:
El Teniente mine is the largest underground copper mine in the world and has been in operation since 1905. As the mine has become deeper, developments and exploitation have faced more complex geomechanical environments. Different strategies have been implemented to manage and control the risk of rockbursts and collapses. These strategies include improvement and optimisation of the rock support systems not only at the footprint areas, but also at main infrastructure tunnels. One of the key concepts has been the integral improvement of the rock support system's capacity, based on the understanding of the rock mass failure process and how energy is transferred and dissipated by the support systems. The dynamic rock support designs used at the El Teniente mine have evolved over time, depending on the site conditions and geotechnical vulnerability. The focus has been on addressing the relationship between system capabilities, operational flexibility, mechanisation, and field behaviour. This paper describes the design principles and evolution of the dynamic rock support systems, providing practical examples that support the design assumptions and understanding of the phenomena involved.

Keywords: dynamic rock support systems, El Teniente mine, dynamic failure, dynamic support evolution

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