Investigation of Backfilling Step Effects on Stope Stability

Abstract

Cemented rock fill (CRF) is commonly used in cut-and-fill stoping operations in underground mining. This allows for the maximum recovery of ore. Backfilling can improve stope stability in underground workings and then improve ground stability of the whole mine site. However, backfilling step scenarios vary from site to site. This paper presents the investigation of five different backfilling step scenarios and their impacts on the stability of stopes at four different mining levels. A comprehensive comparison of displacements, major principal stress, and Stress Concentration Factor (SCF) was conducted. The results show that different backfilling step scenarios have little influence on the final displacement for displacement in the stopes. Among the five backfilling scenarios, the major principal stress and stress concentration factor (SCF) have almost the same final results. The backfilling scenario SCN-1 is the optimum option among these five backfilling scenarios. It can immediately prevent the increase of the displacement and reduce the sidewall stress concentration, thereby preventing possible failures. Using the same strength of CRF can achieve the same effects among the four mining levels. Applying backfilling CRF of the same strength at different mining depths is acceptable and feasible to improve the stability of the stopes.

Principles of Sustainable Development of Georesources as a Way to Reduce Urban Vulnerability

“…Hardening backfill must meet the requirements to ensure the specified properties of the artificial fill mass [54]. These requirements are determined by mining-and-technical conditions of deposit development [55], the purpose of backfill [56], methods of its preparation [57], transport and placement [58], conditions and terms of hardening, intensity of mining [59], and other factors.…”

3D Numerical Modelling of the Application of Cemented Paste Backfill on Displacements around Strip Excavations

“…One of the ways to improve the economic indicators of exploitation is the use of systems with hardened backfill, which enables the implementation of many complex geological and mining problems in the underground mining of mineral deposits. The most important advantages of cemented paste backfill include the exploitation of the deposit by open-pit and underground methods at the same time [5]. Due to the exploitation of deposits prone to spontaneous combustion, filling a selected space with cemented paste backfill creates favorable conditions because the hardened filling provides good isolation of the goafs and their access to fresh air, which prevents the formation of favorable conditions for the formation of endogenous fires [6].…”