STRATA CONTROL EXAM QUESTIONS

SECTION A: DEFINATIONS, UNITS AND TERMINOLOGY

1. Density
2. Strain
3. Axial strain
4. Normal Strain
5. Displacement
6. Elasticity
7. Gravity
8. Stress
9. Rock burst
10. Support Resistance
11. Weight
12. Deformation
13. Young’s Modulus
14. K- Ratio
15. Dip
16. Rock strength
17. Rockmass
18. Force
19. Induced stress
20. Closure
21. Convergence
22. Principal Stress
23. Gully
24. Triaxial Compression
25. Safety Factor
26. Elasticity
27. Brittle failure
28. K- ratio of stresses
29. Rock Quality Designation
30. Pillar Safety Factor
31. Shear stress
32. Cohesion
33. Coefficient of friction
34. Virgin Stress
35. Ductile
36. Isotropy
37. Rock Mechanics
38. Subsidence

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SECTION B: ROCKMASS CLASSIFICATION

1. The rock wall condition factor is used to determine the support requirements for an
excavation. The formula is given as

RCF= (3б1-б3)/ Fбc

a) List the different symbols used in the formula other than RCF
b) Explain the RCF criterion
c) Give the meaning of each symbol in the equation and the assumptions made when
using RCF criteria
d) Describe typical values of F
e) When would you use the RCF criterion?
f) Calculate the RCF value for a tunnel located in 100 MPa host rock with a GSI
rock mass rating of 50, at a depth of 1000 m and K-ratio of 1.2

The Q-rating system developed by Barton is often used to classify the rockmass on
mines. The formula for Q is given as follows:

Q= RQD/ Jn x Jr/ Ja x Jw/ SRF

g) List the meaning of different symbols in the formula other than Q.

h) Describe the main difference between the values obtained using the Q- system
versus those obtained using other typical rockmass rating systems.

2. Given the equation for the Hoek- Brown failure Criteria.

б1= б3 + √ mσcσ3 + sσc2

a) Give the meaning of each parameter in the equation, with the typical range of m
and s at particular site.
b) How would you estimate values of m and s at a particular site?
c) Which combination of parameters gives the uniaxial strength of the rock mass
d) What is the value of σ1 for an intact rock if σ3= 0.

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3. Jointing within a rock mass plays a critical role in determining the extent of any likely
instability surrounding a proposed excavation.

a) What is jointing
b) When collecting joint field data, what attributes of joints would you collect?
c) What factors influence the stability of an excavation in a jointed rock mass
d) In Rock Mass Classification, Rock Mass Quality ( Q) is given as.

Q = RQD/ Jn x Jr/Ja x Jw/ SRF

Which terms making up the value Q indicate?

i. The shear strength between the blocks in the rock mass

ii. The block size in the rock mass
iii. Which term is a function of the actual stress acting on the rock mass?
e) What is RQD? How can RQD are estimated when borehole core is unavailable.

4. Given the equation for the Hoek- Brown Failure Criteria:

σ1 = σ3 + (mσcσ3 + sσc2)1/2

a) Give the meaning of each parameter in the equation, what are typical values for s
and m for good quality rockmass.
b) What is the value of σ1 under uniaxial conditions, for intact rock?
c) The Hoek- Brown Failure Criterion, addresses two principal weaknesses of the
simple Mohr- Coulomb criterion, give one of these weaknesses.

5. Which critical rockmass parameters are used to calculate rockmass rating (RMR)
values? Give typical RMR values for, very good rock, good rock, poor rock and very
poor rock conditions.

6. Given the Barton Choubey equation:

ζ = σn tan (Φb + JRC log10 (JCS/ σn))

a) Explain the significance of each parameter.

b) Setting JCS = 90 MPa, JRC = 17 and Φb = 29°, calculate the shear strength for
values of normal stress σn = 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 MPa respectively
c) What is the effect of increasing σn

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7. A cross- cut is being driven in slightly weathered Quartzite towards the reef. The strata
deeps at 26°. The quartzite has a uniaxial compressive strength of 180 MPa. The
conditions in the cross-cut are wet. The jointing shows a rough surface with 3mm hard
cohesive infilling. The joint has an average length of 3.5m. Below are the measurements
taken of the length of the pieces of core separated by joints? The total length of the core
from a borehole drilled into the rock wall of the cross-cut is 2.0m.

18cm, 12cm, 6cm, 4cm, 4cm, 12cm, 14cm, 12cm, 18cm, 20cm,12cm, 10cm, 12cm, 6cm,
18cm, 22cm.

a) Calculate RQD
b) Calculate the average joint spacing
c) Calculate the RMR and determine the rockmass class, with the aid of the attached
Rockmass Rating System sheet.

8. Give the factors that influence joint strength. What influence would joints have on the
stability of excavation?

9. It is planned to re-open and continue the sinking of Daisy shaft, which has a diameter
of 10.0m. A diamond drill hole drilled vertically down from the centre of the present shaft
bottom has intersected an intensely jointed zone at approx 900m below surface.

The zone is some 30m thick, and 240 joints have been recorded from the core. There
appear to be two distinct joint sets, dipping at roughly 30 degrees and 70 degrees
respectively. Traces of seperntinite filling, varying from a smear 3mm thick, are visible in
the joint planes. No water appears to be present. There is also a 0.8m thick lamprophyre
dyke running through the middle of this zone, at an angle of 45 degrees.

a) Determine the rockmass quality by calculating the rockmass rating. Motivate the
reasons for your choice of each value used in the rock mass rating.( Make use of
the attached rockmass rating form)

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SECTION C: MINING LAYOUT

1. You are appointed as a strata control officer on a new mining project involving
declines. At a planning meeting, the vent department requests that a new horizontal
airway with cross-section of 20m2 be blasted from the shaft of the decline, a distance of
some 800m.

The surveyor has provided the manager with two choices of layout for the airway:
 Option 1- 6.5m wide x 3.0m high, developed using hand-held rock drills and rail
bound rocker shovel ( Boesman) loading and rail bound tramming.
 Option 2- 4.5m wide x 4.5m high, developed using a drill rig and LHD loading.
The manager requests your assistance in determining the preferred option, or
recommending a better alternative.

Using short notes assess each option in terms of:

a) Excavation stability
b) Productivity and rate of advance
c) Ease of access for examination, cleaning, support, etc.
d) Based on the above, explain which one is the best option, or are there other
alternatives methods of achieving the required volume that you could recommend.

2. Tabulate the average value or expected conditions for shallow, intermediate and deep
mining conditions, giving units where necessary, with respect to the following.

i. Typical depth
ii. Average regional ERR
iii. Vertical virgin stress levels
iv. Stress fracturing
v. Stope closure rate
vi. Influence of geology on hanging wall stability
vii. Falls of ground hazard
viii. Rock burst hazard

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3.

a) List factors governing the design of tabular stope support systems at various
depths.
b) What are the variables that influence the choice of stope support for multi-reef
mining conditions?

4. with respect to the stability and support of stope backs in steeply dipping vein/ tabular
deposits at shallow depth:

a) List the factors that should be considered in selecting a mining method.

b) List the hazards or potential hazards associated with this type of mining.

5.

a) In the intermediate to deep mining environment, what do you understand by term

Remnant and why they’re considered hazardous.
b) What layout considerations apply to the mining of remnants?
c) In Remnants the density and quality of the stope support must be upgraded from
that which is normally used. How can this are achieved.

6. Non- standard and anomalous (abnormal) conditions can be broadly defined as those
areas where the level of hazard, or risk of falls of ground, is increased relative to normal
conditions in a mining area.
a) Describe standard conditions for shallow, intermediate and deep stope
environments, with respect to stress conditions, fracturing, energy release rate,
seismicity and closure rates, and also describe geological factors which influence
support designs for these environments.
b) Describe the possible causes and the resulting changes with respect to non-
standard or anomalous stress conditions, closure rates and non- standard
geological factors.

7. Explain the layout, mining sequence, and rock mechanics implications for a sequential
grid mining method.

8.

a) In a deep mining environment, give 5 indications of high energy release rate,

which can be observed during normal mining operations.
b) Explain the term remnant, and explain why it is hazardous to mine a remnant.
c) What layout considerations apply in the safe and effective mining of remnants

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9. Discuss the support design methodology for shallow and deep mines, for the control of
rockfalls and seismic damage respectively, with regard to support resistance and energy
absorption requirements.

10. What considerations need to be applied to layouts for remnant extraction?

11.

a) With the aid of sketches describe the fracturing and closure behavior you would
associate with shallow, intermediate and deep level narrow reef stoping. Indicate
at which depths these conditions would usually be anticipated.
b) Briefly indicate mining methods that you would apply and the regional stability
strategies you would employ in each of these mining environments. Give reasons.
c) Give the criteria and characteristics you would consider appropriate for stope
support in each of these environments.

12. State the design criteria you would use and explain the principles for regional stability
in a deep level gold mine.

13.
a) Sketch a section view of the fracture zone ahead of a typical deep stope face.
b) Sketch the stresses 5m, 10m, and 15m ahead of a typical deep stope face and
indicate on all your sketches the necessary scales. Also indicate a suitable location
for re-raising ahead of a collapsed panel, stating your reasons.

14 list the advantages and disadvantages of sequential grid mining method. Comparing it
to long wall mining.

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SECTION D: PILLAR SUPPORT AND PILLAR DESIGN

1. Your mine’s management is planning the UG 2 reef by means of bord and pillar
method. Mining will be conducted from 40- 280m below surface, using a system of 9m
bords and 6m pillars. The average mining height is expected to be 1.8m. an average
material strength of 58 MPa has been determined for the UG2 reef in the area, with an
overburden density of 3000 tons/ m3 .

Stating all assumptions, determine:

a) The percentage extraction

b) The pillar strength
c) The stress acting on the pillars at the maximum mining depth.
d) The pillars factor of safety
The mine also wants to plan underground workshops which will be located in old
workings. For these workshops, the plan is to strip the hanging wall to obtain a working
height of 2.5m

e) Determine what will be pillar safety in this area.

f) Explain whether this safety factor is adequate. Motivate your answer.
g) Will any special precautions be required to ensure the stability of this workshop
area? If so what would you recommend?
Required formulae

Pillar strength = k (W 0.5)/ H 0.75

Pillar stress = q/ (1-e)

SF= Capacity/ Demand

2.

a) The primary support system use for shallow mining operations is reef pillars left
in-situ. There are four main types of these pillars. Describe briefly what each of
these types is used for, and what their fundamental characteristics are.

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3. A 1.5m thick, near horizontal orebody is located at a depth of 100m, with the hanging
wall density of 3200 kg/m3. The proposed layout is based on 15m panels and 4m square
strike pillars. The pillars are separated by 2m wide ventilation holdings on strike and the
full orebody thickness of 1.5m is being mined. The pillar strength is given by:

Pillar strength = 40 W0.5/ H0.75

Calculate the following:

a) Pre-mining stress
b) Average pillar stress
c) Pillar strength
d) Factor of safety
e) If the rockmass strength is 40 MPa, what is the estimate of the UCS of the
orebody?

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4. A horizontal orebody having a thickness of 2.1m is located at a depth of 120m, with the
overlying rock having a unit mass of 3200 kg/m3. A mining layout based on 8m bord
spans and 5m square pillars, with the full orebody thickness being mined. Use g = 9.81
m/s2

The pillar strength is defined by the empirical formula

S = 12.69 W0.5/ H0.7 where S is in MPa and W and H are in Metres

While APS is given by APS = σ/ (1-e).

a) Determine the areal percentage extraction.

b) Calculate the virgin state of stress
c) Determine the average pillar stress
d) Determine the factor of safety against the compressive failure of the pillars
e) State whether the pillars will fail. Would you recommend this factor of safety?

5. In a shallow mining environment, pillar design is based on Tributary Area Theory:

a) Describe the assumption of the concept

b) Sketch the conceptual stress-strain curve of a pillar.
c) Describe the primary functions and design methodology for rigid and non-rigid
stope pillars.

6. Sketch the complete stress strain curves for pillars at width and height ratios of 2,4,6,8
and comment on the implications for pillar design.

7. a 2.5m thick horizontal orebody is located at a depth of 90m, with the overlying rock
having a unit mass of 2600 Kg/m3. An initial mining layout is based on 6.0m room spans
and 5.0m square pillars, with the full orebody thickness being mined. Use g = 9.81 m/s2

The pillar strength is given by the empirical formula:

S = 10.44 W0.5/ H 0.7

S is in MPa and W and H are in metres.

APS = σv/ (1-e)

a) Determine the areal percentage extraction

b) Calculate the virgin state of stress
c) Determine the average pillar stress
d) Determine the factor of safety against compressive failure of the pillars
e) State whether the pillars will fail. Would you recommend this factor of safety?

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8. Calculate the percentage extraction and volume of rock extracted for a bord and pillar
method.

The pillars are 5.0m long, 5.0m wide, 5.0m high. The bords are 8.0m wide.
Calculate the average pillar stress, factor of safety, and comment on the stability of the
layout at 300m given the following.

Density of overburden = 2700 Kg/ m3

Rockmass UCS = 130 MPa
g = 9.81m/s2
Pillar strength = K x (W0.5/H 0.75)

APS = σv/ (1-e)

9. Describe the function of four types of pillars, briefly stating the designing
methodology for two types of pillars.

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SECTION E: BACKFILL SUPPORT

1. There are two primary sources of backfill material, namely metallurgical plant tailings
and waste derived from off reef development. Name four types of backfill that may be
derived from these sources, and discuss the use of each.

2. Backfill is an important support strategy to alleviate stress- induced in deep south

African mines.

a) What are the benefits of backfill with regards to local support

b) What are the benefits of backfill with regards to regional support
c) What aspects of the backfill need to be monitored and controlled to ensure a good
quality cemented classified backfill?

3.

a) Briefly describe monitoring procedures and measurements you would implement

to ensure the quality of a cycloned tailings backfill.
b) State why control of backfill is important
c) What would be the reason of using cementitious backfill?

4. Name at least four different backfill systems that can be considered for mining
operations, giving two disadvantages and advantages of each system.

5.
a) How can backfill be used to provide both local and regional support
b) State why quality control is important
c) Describe monitoring procedures and measurements you would implement to
ensure the quality of a deslimed tailings backfill.

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SECTION F: STOPE SUPPORT AND DESIGN

1. Packs are widely used as a support medium in stopes, with various types of packs
available to suit a wide variety of applications.

Typical matpack types include:

 Timber matpack
 Skeleton pack
 Quick crush pack
 Brick composite pack

For each of the following provide.

a) Sketch of the pack’s construction

b) A short note on the pack’s unique characteristics
c) A typical application
d) Load deformation curves use the same axis for all the packs.

2. Support resistance is defined as the force that support is capable of applying to the
hanging wall per unit area. Your mine code of practice prescribes two support resistance
criteria as follows:

Static conditions 50 KN/m2

Dynamic conditions 200 KN/m2

a) The formula for calculating support resistance is as follows:

Support resistance = Force (KN)/ Area (m2)
Calculate the static support resistance if props which generate loads of 20 tons
(200 KN) during press tests, are spaced 2.0 m on dip and 2.5m apart on strike.
b) Calculate what required spacing of these units would be for a shallow area of your
mine where you only need to design for static conditions
c) Calculate what the required spacing of these units would be for the deep areas of
your mine where you need to design for dynamic support conditions.
d) The following load deformation graph is supplied with a particular type of support
unit. The average load these units are able to generate is 420 KN. These support
units are spaced at 2.0m on dip and 2.0m on strike. Calculate the support
resistance that is generated under static load conditions
e) Will be the above support spacing be sufficient to cater for dynamic loading
conditions if not what spacing would you install these units.

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 f) Laboratory test results yield the following information about a particular pack
support unit.

Force (KN) Deformation (mm)

1000 38
2000 54
3000 70
4000 100
5000 168
6000 240
i. How much deformation would be measured on the pack if the dead weight of
a 10m thick hanging wall beams to be supported? The spacing of these units is
such that each pack supports 10m2 of hanging wall. The density of the hanging
wall rock is 2700 kg/m3
ii. What deformation will be experienced by the packs if the area supported per
pack is increased to 16m2

3. A number of factors the underground behavioral characteristics of packs. Name and

discuss five of these factors.

4. The convergence of a parallel-sided stope panel at 2000m depth is given as:

Sz = 2(1-v) q (l2 – x2)1/2

G
Where the modulus of rigidity, G= 30 GPa, q is the vertical virgin stress, v = 0.2

a) A pack is installed 5m from the stope face, when the stope span is 100m, what
will the closure on the pack be when the face advances by 25m.
b) If the face advances by a further 50m, how much closure will be experienced by
the pack?
c) Name three types of instruments that can be used to measure continuous closure.
d) Give a simple sketch of each instrument, and briefly describe how each one of
these instruments operates.

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5. In a shallow tabular mine, the average hanging wall thickness is 0.75m. The instope
panel support strategy calls for mechanical props as temporary support, rock tendon as
primary support and mine poles as secondary support.

Currently the strike and dip spacing of the mechanical props is 1.5m x 1.5m, the rock
tendons 1.5m x 1.5m, and the mine poles 2.0m x 1.5m.

Given that:
The load bearing capacity of mechanical prop is 150 KN, a rock tendon 119 KN, and a
mine pole 250 KN (down rated value)

The density of the hanging wall is 3200 kg/ m3 and gravitational constant is 9.81m/s2

a) Calculate the required support resistance

b) Calculate the required area per support unit to satisfy the support resistance
requirements.
c) Comment on whether the current support spacing conforms to the required
support resistance for each type of support.

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6. In Mine A and Mine B, stope support design calls for the use of support resistance and
energy absorption criteria where these are defined as follows.

SR= F/A E = 1/2mv2 + mgh

a) Calculate the required support resistance and energy absorption capabilities of the
support units in Mine A and Mine B, respectively, given that:

Depth below Rock density Fall out Support

Surface (m) (kg/m3) Thickness (m) Spacing (m)
Mine A 300 3200 0.9 1.5 x 1.5 Maximum
Mine B 2500 2700 1.2 2.0 x 2.0 downward
movement of the
hanging wall during a dynamic event should be limited to 0.2m with an expected peak
velocity of 3m/s.

b) Mine B is considered a deep mine; there are a number of factors that influence the
conditions in stope gullies. What are these factors?

7. Laboratory test results for pencil stick elongate and 9 pointer 1.1m x 1.1m composite
packs gave the results tabulated below:

For the pencil stick

Reading No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Deformation 1 2 3 5 10 20 50 70 90 100 130 140 160 180 200
(mm)
Load ( KN) 50 100 150 190 214 260 230 260 250 260 230 270 220 210 50

For the packs

Reading No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Deformation 20 50 70 110 150 170 200 220 240 270 300 330 360 380 400
(mm)
Load ( MN) 0 0.3 0.58 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.25 1.3 1.4 1.45 1.5 1.51 1.52

a) Plot the above test results on graphs and plot a de-rated graph for underground
conditions assuming a down rating of 30 %.
b) On the graph for the pencil stick calculate the total energy absorption capacity for
the elongate.

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Pencil sticks are installed 2.0m from the face and are spaced 1.5m apart on dip and strike.
They are installed with pre-stressed discs and pressurized to 150 KN. Packs are installed
4m from the face and spaced 2.0m apart skin to skin on dip and strike. Packs are pre-
stressed to 200 KN. The closure rate in the stope is 20 mm per metre of face advance.

At distances of 2.0m, 4.0m, 6.0m and 8.0m from the face calculate the following.

c) Support resistance of the pencil sticks.

d) Support resistance of the packs
e) For a tributary area 10m from the face calculate the combined support resistance
of the pencil sticks and the packs.

8. in deep tabular excavations:

a) Explain:
i. Stope closure
ii. Stope convergence
b) What type of instrumentation can be used to measure stope closure, and on what
basic principles do they work.
c) Elastic convergence, Sz of a horizontal parallel sided panel in isotropic ground is
given by:

Sz = 4(1-v) q (l2 – x2)1/2 Explain the symbols and give their units
E
d) In an elastic environment calculate the closure in the stope parallel sided panel,
having a span of 500m, which is situated at a depth of 2000m below surface. At
distances of 50, 100, 150, 200 metres back from the face, given

Rock density = 2700 kg/m3

Young’s modulus = 70 GPa
Poisson’s ratio = 0.2

9. Sketch the following add appropriate annotation:

a) The fracture pattern around a blast socket indicating the influence of stress.
b) The fracture pattern around an advance strike gully heading in a typical deep gold
mine
 Plan
 Section
c) The fracture that occur around a stope in a deep mine
 Plan
 Section.

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10. You are asked to design a stope support system for a tabular hard rock mine. Using
the methodology recommended in the guidelines for the compilation of codes of practice
calculate the support resistance and energy absorption criteria for the support system.

Given the following:

The thickness of the potential fall = 1.4 m

Density of the hanging wall is 2750 kg/m3

a) Show calculations and assumptions

b) How would you determine the potential fall thickness?

11. Sketch typical closure and ride directions in a tabular hard rock stope. What
components of closure would you measure and how would you differentiate between
them.

12. Describe with the aid of load deformation curves the behavior of four types of support
used on your mine. Use scales and units applicable to each support type. Describe the
installation method and purpose of each support type.

13. Briefly describe the factors you would consider when designing a support system for
a deep level hard rock tabular stope. Give your reasons and where applicable, probable
values for design parameters.

14.

a) The average load that a 200 mm prop can take is 400 KN. Calculate the support
resistance if the support units are spaced at 2.0m x 2.0m centres.
b) Calculate the required spacing for the above support units for conditions where a
support resistance of 200 KN/m2 is required under dynamic loading conditions.
c) Calculate the required spacing for the above support units for conditions where a
support resistance of 50 KN/m2 is required under static loading conditions
d) If the support units cost R120-00 each, what will be the support cost per m2 be
under the above dynamic and static conditions respectively.

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SECTION G: DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT AND DESIGN

1. You are the strata control officer on a shaft where it is planned to mine a large
excavation. This excavation is 7m high, 8.0m wide and 30.0m long. Your rock
engineering officer has recommended that the support will consist of:
 Primary support – 2.5m long full column grouted end anchor tendons on a
2m diamond pattern.
 Secondary support – 50mm thick layer of shotcrete, applied immediately
after the blast followed by meshing and lacing.
 4.5m full column grouted 25 ton cable anchors, on a 3m blocking pattern,
to be installed no more than 15m from the face.
 All of the support will be installed before the second cut.
It’s your responsibility to monitor the quality control on all these support units.

a) List 3 points that you would check to ensure that the end anchors have been
installed correctly.
b) Describe the installation procedure for the installation of pre-stressed cables
( make use of sketches)
c) List 2 points that you would check to determine whether a pre-stressed cable has
been pre-tensioned correctly and grouted as per procedure.
d) Describe the most fundamental differences between the application of wetcrete
and drycrete
e) Explain what quality control measure you would use to ensure that the
contractors apply the recommended thickness of shotcrete, and when must this be
done.
f) List at least 12 items that must be checked when conducting quality control on
meshing and lacing work.

2.
a) Calculate the virgin stress at a point 2500m below surface. Assume that the
density of the overburden rock is 2700 kg/m3 and acceleration due to gravity is
9.81 m/s2.
b) Name four factors that affect the peak stress acts on an off reef tunnel at this
depth. Explain briefly the effect of each of these factors.
c) With the aid of the sketch explain dog earring.
d) Draw the compressive zones, tensile zones, and fracture zones around a typical
square tunnel at great depth indicated below. State any assumptions regarding the
magnitudes of principal and minor stresses

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3. In development excavations likely to be affected by seismic events, the support system
must be capable of absorbing kinetic energy. The energy absorption criteria for the
components of the support system in the hanging wall and sidewall are:

Ehw = ½ mv2 + mgh and Esw = ½ mv2

On your mine you develop footwall drives 3.5m wide and 3.5m high. Your fall of ground
statistics indicate that you need to support a thickness of 1.2m, the rock density is 2700
kg/m3. Using a design philosophy of anchoring beyond the zone of instability, calculate

a) The required support resistance to prevent falls of ground.

b) Assume that the closure that can be tolerated under dynamic conditions is 300mm
and that the maximum expected peak ground velocity is 3m/s calculate the energy
resistance criteria for the hanging wall and sidewall.
Given that you install 8 ton yielding tendons per square metre of rock, and the rock
tendons have a maximum yield of 300mm before failing.

c) Calculate the support resistance and factor of safety of the system.

d) Calculate the energy absorption and the factor of safety of the system.

4. A circular tunnel is developed at depth. The radius of the tunnel is 1.6m. The tunnel
hanging wall and sidewalls are to be meshed and laced down to the mid height.

The rock density is 2700 kg/m3. Calculate:

a) The cross sectional area of the tunnel

b) The area of mesh and lacing required per metre of tunnel.
c) The tons of rock that have to be cleaned after each blast, if a face advance of 2.2m
is achieved.
d) Estimate the radial stress on the boundary at mid height of the tunnel sidewall and
crown of the hanging wall, stating your assumptions.
e) What is the difference in the area of a square tunnel 3.0m high and the area of the
circular tunnel?

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5. You have been asked to advise a Mine Overseer on some construction and support
aspects for the development and establishment of a circular travelling way. This
excavation is to have an excavation diameter of 2.0m and will be inclined at 30° to the
horizontal between two levels, which are 60.0m apart.

a) What is the length of the travelling way?

b) If development proceeds at 2.5m per day, how long will it take to complete the
excavation?
c) If the rock bulks (expands) 40% when blasted what is the volume of the bulked
rock which must be removed at the bottom of the travelling way.
d) If the bulked rock has a density of 1900 kg/m3, how many 1.5 tonne hoppers will
be required to remove the rock if each hopper is filled to only 85 % of capacity?
e) How much shotcrete will be required to completely line the travelling way
circumference and its total length, to and average thickness of 150mm if 27 % is
lost as rebound.
f) How much mesh wire will be required if hanging wall and of the travelling way is
to be meshed, if the mesh extends to the mid point of the sidewall on each side of
the travelling way.
g) How many rolls of wire mesh will be required if each roll is 15m long and 1.8m
wide and an overlap of 20 cm is needed between adjacent rolls.
h) If grouted rebar are going to be installed in rings spaced 1.5m apart and rebar
spaced 1.5m apart on each ring, how many rebar are required to support the
travelling way for 1.5m long rebar.
i) What is the total length of drilling which will be required for the rebar?
j) If 3 cement capsules are needed per metre of hole and each box contains 50
capsules, how many boxes must you order if you expect 20% of the capsules to be
wasted.

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6.
a) Name and sketch 4 of the mostly widely used rock bolt types, giving an advantage
and disadvantage of each type.
b) Name four common causes of rock bolt installation failure.

7. A circular tunnel is developed at depth. The radius of the tunnel is 1.5m the tunnel
hanging wall and sidewalls will be wire meshed and laced up to mid height. The rock
density is 2700 kg/m3 calculate.
a) The cross-sectional area of the tunnel
b) The area of the mesh and lacing required per metre of tunnel
c) The number of tons of rock that has to be cleaned after each blast assuming an
advance of 2.0m
d) What is the radial stress on the boundary at mid height and the crown of the
tunnel sidewalls and hanging wall?
e) What is the difference in the area of a square tunnel 3.0m high and the area of the
circular tunnel above?

8. a 3.0m diameter circular tunnel situated in a rock with UCS of 200 MPa at a depth of
2500m below surface. There is a biaxial stress field. The vertical stress is larger than the

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horizontal stress field. Assume the horizontal component of stress has developed under
complete confinement.

Given density = 2700 kg/m3; v = 0.2; g = 9.81m/s2; k = v/(1-v):

σr =

σθ =

Calculate the following:

a) The overburden stress

b) The K- ratio
c) The stresses on the boundary of the excavation, in the crown and sidewall of the
tunnel (θ = 0 in the sidewall at mid point height.

SECTION H: GULLY LAYOUTS

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1.
a) When specifying gully layouts there are 9 essential dimensions which define
overall gully geometry. Describe with aid of sketches.
b) Poor blasting practice can add to gully instability problems. There are a number of
key aspects in this regard. Discuss two of these.
2.
a) Define and explain the term gully as is used in south African mines
b) If you had to draw a check list to ensure good blasting practices for the excavation
of a gully, list 14 points would be included in the checklist.

3. Good mining practice is essential to minimize rock related hazards in a stope gully.
Describe the issues, which influence the creation and maintenance of a stable, safe and
effective gully in both the shallow and deep mining environment.

4. Draw up a gully practice checklist in terms of the following:

a) Blasting practice
b) Gully support practice
c) Gully layout on the Mine Plan
d) Gully layout Underground
e) Does the gully form a safe access?

SECTION I: CODE OF PRACTICE

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1. According to the department of minerals and energy, mine based rock engineers must
report dangerous occurrences to the principal inspector of mines. Name these occurrences
and state hoe they’re reported (i.e. name two SAMRASS forms that are required to be
completed and returned.)

2. The principal Inspector of Mines requires that certain classes and sizes of rock fall
must be reported to him. Describe these classes and give their specified minimum
dimensions.

3. According to the guidelines for the Compilation of a mandatory Code of Practice

(COP) to combat Rock falls and rock burst Accidents in Tabular Metalliferous Mines.

4. Your mine is expecting a high percentage of falls of ground accidents due to poor
barring practices. In your capacity as a Strata Control Officer, you have been asked to
draw up a training module for barring procedures.

What are the points or rules that you would include in the training module to ensure
effective and safe barring practices are implemented on your mine.

5. according to the guideline for the compilation of a mandatory Code of Practice to

Combat Rock fall and Rock Burst Accidents

a) Special areas as defined by the guideline, and how are they classified.
b) Ground control districts as defined by the guideline.

6. On your mine conditions that may give rise to hazard situations are encountered daily.
Draw up a checklist that will guide production personnel to identify changes in
conditions in the stope since the last blast. Ask questions with respect to stress, closure,
geological structures and ground conditions. Also query what options need to be
considered to control identified risks.

7. Describe the functions and responsibilities of the rock engineering staff on your mine.

8. Explain how your mine’s code of practice assesses the fall of ground and or rock burst
hazard for each working area. List the parameters included in the assessment and briefly
describe why they are appropriate on your mine.

9. In your mine’s Code of Practice to combat rock related accidents there are key
elements required by the guidelines. Describe these with reference to your mine.

SECTION J: ROCKBURST AND ROCKBUSTS HAZARDS

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1. You are on a mine that has a high incidence of rock bursts in the stope, one of the
means to control the rock burst hazard is pre-conditioning.

a) Describe the techniques available to you.

b) Motivate your selection of technique, stating the potential benefits of pre-
condition.
c) State the monitoring system you would put in place to ensure that the potential
benefits are being achieved.

2.
a) Define and explain the term rock burst
b) List 6 sources mechanisms of rock bursts

3. The mining of reefs at great depth includes extremely high stresses on the rockmass
near any stope excavation. To ameliorate the rock burst hazard, a rock burst control
technique known as pre-conditioning has been developed

a) Explain what is preconditioning

b) Sketch and describe a typical face perpendicular pre-conditioning layout, with
respect to the pattern, length, spacing and position of the pre-conditioned holes.
c) Sketch and describe the charging up and stemming of the face perpendicular pre-
conditioning holes.

SECTION K: ROCK STRENGHT TEST AND CALCULATIONS

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1. A standard uniaxial compression test was carried out on a rock specimen. The initial
dimensions were 47.2mm in diameter and 96.4mm in length. The load deformation
record showed that the specimen deformed in a perfectly elastic manner, and that it has
been compressed to a length of 96.2 mm. Failure occurred at a load of 213 KN, the lateral
strain at this stage was 0.00058.

Calculate the following:

a) Stress at failure
b) Axial strain at failure
c) Lateral deformation at failure
d) Poisson’s ratio
e) Modulus of elasticity
f) Shear modulus.

2.

a) Explain how the point load test of rock specimen is done.

b) Why would you use a point load testing machine and what are the advantages of
using it.
c) Calculate the average UCS of five length of 50mm diameter borehole core, given
the following values of the load applied.

Test Load (N)

1 185
2 112
3 164
4 128
5 147

Where Is = P/D2 and UCS = 24 x Is

d) If a borehole core is to be used for point load testing, what should the dimensions
of the sample be?

3. Describe the behavior of rock with increasing confining pressure. Schematically

indicate on a stress-strain diagram, with increasing confinement, brittle and ductile
behavior as well as the residual strength of rock.

4. two gauge marks are made 3cm apart along the axis of a cylindrical rock specimen 6
cm long and a cross sectional area of 7 cm2 the specimen is then subjected to a
compressive force of 100 KN. Take E = 60 GPa, v = 0.3;

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Using basic definitions calculate the following:

a) The stress
b) The strain
c) Contraction between the gauge marks
d) Total contraction of the spacemen
e) The change in cross-sectional area of the specimen.

5. Using basic definitions calculate the following:

a) The uniaxial tensile strength of a rebar with cross sectional area of 300 mm2 is
500 MPa. Calculate the tensile force at which the rebar should fail.
b) Two gauge marks are made 60mm apart along the axis of a cylindrical rock
specimen 10 cm long with a diameter of 52mm. the specimen is then subjected to
a compressive strength of 300 KN. Take E = 50 GPa,
Calculate:

 The area of specimen

 The axial stress
 The axial strain
 The contraction between the gauge marks
 The final length of the specimen at 300 KN compressive forces.

6. Using basic definitions and given the following:

A rock sample is subjected to uniaxial compression and the following results are
obtained:

Diameter = 42mm
Length = 85mm

Force (KN) Axial stress Axial strain Elastic Modulus

0 0
10.4 0.000089
20.4 0.00017
30.3 0.000267

Compile and compete a table filling in the appropriate units and values.

a) Determine the stress values in the table.

b) Determine the elastic modulus and calculate the average modulus.
c) Calculate the length of specimen at the load 30.3 KN.

7. With the use of diagrams illustrate the following models of rock behavior:

a) Linear elasticity

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 b) Non-linear elasticity
c) Pure elastic
d) The stress-strain behavior of a hard rock crush pillar. Indicate the peak strength
and residual strength of the pillar
e) Using a diagram illustrate the effect of confinement on rock strength and briefly
describe the changes in the behavior of the rock.

8. Show all calculations and units.

a) A cylindrical rock specimen is subjected to an axial force of 200 KN. If the

diameter of the specimen is 50mm, calculate the axial stress at mid height.
b) The axial strength of a rebar with a cross sectional area of 250 mm2 is 500 MPa.
Calculate the tensile force at which the rebar should fail.
c) Two gauge marks are made 3 cm apart along the axis of a cylindrical rock
specimen 6 cm long with a cross- sectional area of 7 cm2. the specimen is
subjected to a compressive force of 100 KN. Take E = 50 GPa, find:
 The stress
 The strain
 Contraction between the gauge marks
 Total contraction of the specimen

9. State the essential features of the of the recommended test procedure for determining
the uniaxial compressive strength of a rock specimen. Show how UCS is calculated and
draw a typical stress-strain curve for a brittle rock type.

10. Explain and describe the point load test. Include the equipment and sample
preparation to reduce errors with this testing method

SECTION L: MONITORING AND INSTRUMENTATION

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1. monitoring and instrumentation are an integral part of good rock engineering practice
both from the point of view of understanding and quantifying local rock mass behavior,
and for monitoring the effects of implementing new designs or procedures.

List the parameters that can be monitored in underground mining operations, giving an
example of each, as well as the recommended instruments to be used.

2. In rock engineering there are four main reasons for conducting monitoring
programmes.

a) State these four reasons

b) What types of monitoring can be in stopes
c) Describe the monitoring that you would do on your mine and the reason for doing
it.
d) What are the following instruments used for:
 CSIR Doorstopper Strain cell
 Borehole Petroscope
 Accelerators or Geophones
 Wire extensometer
 Load cell

SECTION M: GEOLOGY

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1.
a) Give three main geological classifications of rocks and give an example of each.
b) Sketch a simple section (statigraphic column) of the rock types found at your
mine. On the sketch give the relative strength of the reef, immediate hanging wall
and footwall rock types.

2. Using brief descriptions and sketches explain the following geological structures and
terms

a) Normal fault
b) Reverse fault
c) Slickensides
d) Mylonite
e) Gouge

SECTION N: BLASTING TECHNOLOGY

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1.
a) Describe the mechanism of breaking rock by the use of explosives.
b) Describe the factors, which must be considered to ensure that good blasting
techniques are adhered to.
c) Explain the strategies to be adopted with regard to rock breaking as set out in the
code of practice to combat rock burst and rockfalls, to meet to meet the
requirements of the guidelines issued by the department of Mines and Minerals
energy.

2.

a) Blasting practice will have an effect on the ground conditions in a tabular stoping
environment. Describe the factors that need to be considered in the blast design to
achieve the best results with the minimum damage to the rock walls. Give reasons
why each needs to be correct.
b) With the aid of a sketch describe the fracture pattern around a blast hole in a rock
subjected to a high vertical stress.

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