Assessment and Prediction of Slope Stability in the Kentobe Open Pit Mine

Abstract

Slope stability is assessed in the Kentobe open pit barite mine located in the east of the Atasui ore province. The estimated characteristics of rock mass strength are evaluated using two techniques: by VNIMI procedure and in RockLab environment. Slope stability assessment involved a computer program developed at the Karaganda State Technical University. For the calculation, in the mine layout, such details as inhomogeneity of pitwall rock mass, depth of mining, presence of weakening surfaces, etc. were specified. The calculations showed that the preset slopes of benches, safety berms and pit walls failed to ensure stability. The stability of slopes to be preserved requires flattening of the overall angle to 34° in the south-west pit wall and to 31° in the north-east pit wall. The stability factors in this case will be 1.24 and 1.21, respectively.