A New Approach for Hang-Up Prediction in Block Caving Mines Based on Drawbell Geometry and Vertical Stress

Gómez, René; Sanhueza, Víctor; Fustos, Roberto; Nelis, Gonzalo

doi:10.1007/s42461-022-00685-y

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…In Henriquez's study, the tonnage extracted, the emergence of coarse material, and hang-up events were evaluated at the beginning of the life of the drawpoints. Higher undercut heights increase productivity in early stages due to the low incidence of hang-ups, finer fragmentation and low stresses [23][24][25]. However, the interaction between extraction ellipsoids decreases in the initial stages as a result of finer material for very high undercutting (40 m), which could affect the mining recovery of the method.…”

Section: Undercut Shape Advantages Disadvantagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Methodology to Determine Undercutting Height in Block/Panel Caving

Morales,

Castro,

Gómez

2024

Mining

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The undercutting process is a technique employed to initiate the caving of the ore mass in block caving, achieved by creating a basal cut on the block scheduled to be submerged. The effective execution of the undercutting process involves numerous variables, such as the undercut height and the vertical section’s undercut geometry, whose influence has often been overlooked. This research presents a methodology for determining the undercut height in a post-undercutting scenario, including variables such as the undercut level design, the extraction level design, and the air gap. Integral to this methodology is a parameterization that estimates the undercut height, from which design abacuses can be created to aid the assessment of present and future operations for any block/panel caving operation that employs the post-undercutting variant. Additionally, two examples demonstrate the application of this methodology, revealing how alterations in the dimensions of the crown pillar and drawbells significantly influence the undercut height. The calculation methodology outlined in this document delivers an undercutting height, providing an evaluation methodology for ongoing operations. Consequently, any height exceeding this suggests a conservative approach, potentially offering an opportunity for design improvement and alignment with the described parameters.

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Section: Undercut Shape Advantages Disadvantagesmentioning

confidence: 99%