Grant: Alliance Grants
Queen's University
$70,000.00
Advanced Characterization of Foliated Rock Masses in Deep Mining Operations
FY 2024-25
Summary
As one of the world's leading gold producers, Canada relies heavily on innovative and sustainable mining practices to maintain its competitive edge. This project aims to address one of the most pressing challenges in the mining industry: ensuring the structural stability of underground excavations in complex, foliated rock formations found deep underground. Foliated rock masses, characterized by their distinct layering and alignment of mineral grains, present unique challenges due to their anisotropic nature and potential for structural discontinuities. Current methodologies often oversimplify these geological complexities, leading to inaccurate stability predictions and potential safety hazards. This project will develop advanced techniques to comprehensively characterize and assess the stability of foliated rock masses. By integrating geological, seismology, and geotechnical data, we aim to create more accurate models and reliable ground support design parameters tailored for these challenging conditions. This will not only improve the safety and efficiency of mining operations but also contribute to the development of new industry standards and best practices. This research reinforces Canada's position as a global leader in the mining industry, driving innovation and sustainable practices that benefit all Canadians.
The research project encompasses various training goals, including site characterization and experimental studies. HQP will gain valuable skills in data collection and integration, experimental research, critical result assessment, and ethical research practices. Additionally, the proposal emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion training, fostering a supportive and inclusive research environment. By improving our understanding of the mechanical behavior of foliated rock masses, this study aims to address the challenges faced in deep underground mining. This research will enhance our knowledge of mine stability and ground movements, leading to safer and more efficient mining operations.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
597619-2024
Name nom
Taheri, Abbas ABBA
Department département
Mining Engineering
Organization id
29
Institution établissement
Queen's University
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2024
Competition year année de concours
2024
Award amount
70000
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
202
Area of application group en
Natural resources (economic aspects)
Area of application group fr
Ressources naturelles (aspects économiques)
Area of application en
Mineral resources ( prospecting, exploration, mining, extraction, processing)
Area of application fr
Ressources minérales (prospection, exploration, mines, extraction et préparation)
Research subject code
1403
Research subject group en
Mining and mineral processing
Research subject group fr
Génie minier et minéral
Research subject en
Rock mechanics
Research subject fr
Mécanique des roches
Field of research list names en
Not available
Field of research list names fr
Non disponible
Socioeconomic objective list names en
Not available
Socioeconomic objective list names fr
Non disponible
Application title
Advanced Characterization of Foliated Rock Masses in Deep Mining Operations
Keywords
deep mining; experimental rock mechanics; geotechnical field investigations; ground support; rock mass characterization; underground mining
Application summary
As one of the world's leading gold producers, Canada relies heavily on innovative and sustainable mining practices to maintain its competitive edge. This project aims to address one of the most pressing challenges in the mining industry: ensuring the structural stability of underground excavations in complex, foliated rock formations found deep underground. Foliated rock masses, characterized by their distinct layering and alignment of mineral grains, present unique challenges due to their anisotropic nature and potential for structural discontinuities. Current methodologies often oversimplify these geological complexities, leading to inaccurate stability predictions and potential safety hazards. This project will develop advanced techniques to comprehensively characterize and assess the stability of foliated rock masses. By integrating geological, seismology, and geotechnical data, we aim to create more accurate models and reliable ground support design parameters tailored for these challenging conditions. This will not only improve the safety and efficiency of mining operations but also contribute to the development of new industry standards and best practices. This research reinforces Canada's position as a global leader in the mining industry, driving innovation and sustainable practices that benefit all Canadians.
The research project encompasses various training goals, including site characterization and experimental studies. HQP will gain valuable skills in data collection and integration, experimental research, critical result assessment, and ethical research practices. Additionally, the proposal emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion training, fostering a supportive and inclusive research environment. By improving our understanding of the mechanical behavior of foliated rock masses, this study aims to address the challenges faced in deep underground mining. This research will enhance our knowledge of mine stability and ground movements, leading to safer and more efficient mining operations.
