Effect of the Connectivity of Weak Rock Zones on the Mining-Induced Deformation of Rock Slopes in an Open-Pit Mine

Cheng Zhang (), Amagu amagu Clement, Jun-ichi Kodama, Atsushi Sainoki, Yoshiaki Fujii, Daisuke Fukuda and Shuren Wang
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Cheng Zhang: Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
Amagu amagu Clement: Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
Jun-ichi Kodama: Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
Atsushi Sainoki: International Research Organization for Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
Yoshiaki Fujii: Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
Daisuke Fukuda: Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
Shuren Wang: School of Civil Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-22

Abstract: Geological structures significantly influence mining-induced deformations in open-pit mines, with their variations and interactions adding complexity to the excavation process and introducing uncertainties in deformation outcomes. This study utilized numerical simulations to analyze the impact of weak rock zones in a specific open-pit limestone quarry in Japan on mining-induced deformation. The simulation results were both qualitatively and quantitatively validated against field measurements, enhancing the reliability of the findings. Subsequently, four conceptual models were developed based on the characteristics of the quarry to investigate the mechanisms by which weak rock zones affect rock slope deformations. Our analyses demonstrated that slip deformation occurred exclusively when two weak rock zones were connected. This deformation was associated not only with shear failure in the upper weak rock zone but also with the contraction and bending of the lower weak rock zone. Furthermore, the simulation results were consistent with field data and supported by the conceptual models, confirming that the proposed sliding mechanisms can effectively explain the observed deformation behaviors. The insights gained from these models provide valuable references for managing similar geological challenges in other open-pit mines.

Keywords: open-cut quarry; geological structure; weak rock zone; slope stability; sliding mechanism; field measurement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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