The role of a geotechnical risk profile to manage financial expectations associated with underground mine plans

Authors: du Plooy, K; Hamman, ECF Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2465_58

Cite As:
du Plooy, K & Hamman, ECF 2024, 'The role of a geotechnical risk profile to manage financial expectations associated with underground mine plans', in P Andrieux & D Cumming-Potvin (eds), Deep Mining 2024: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Deep and High Stress Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 921-928, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2465_58



Abstract:
One of the challenges in mine planning is to account for the geotechnical risk that may affect the feasibility and profitability of the plan. Geotechnical risk links to the uncertainty and variability of the geomechanical properties and behaviour of the rock mass that may impact the stability and performance of mine openings. Thus, geotechnical risk can have significant safety and financial consequences if not properly assessed and managed. To address this challenge, a geotechnical risk profile (GRiP) is introduced as a tool developed internally to summarise and communicate the risk associated with a given mine plan in terms of the potential financial impact. The GRiP is based on a rating system that quantifies geotechnical risk using site-specific observations and mining outcomes. It considers the potential consequences of geotechnical failure in terms of safety, production, cost, and reputation. A GRiP is a dynamic tool that can be updated periodically to reflect the changing geotechnical conditions and performance of the mine plan, and any changes introduced in the plan. The GRiP can also be used to compare different mine plans, scenarios and support risk-informed decision-making in mine planning. The GRiP is not a substitute for detailed geotechnical analysis and design, but rather a complement that provides a high-level overview of the risk situation. The GRiP can help prioritise mitigation and improvement actions and communicate the risk to relevant stakeholders. This paper discusses how to use geotechnical block models and other data sources to build a spreadsheet-based GRiP model that can help evaluate different scenarios and options. The paper covers three aspects:

Keywords: implicit modelling, extraction ratio, rock mass modelling, geotechnical model for rapid Integration, geotechnical risk profile

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