The fundamental questions in cave mining are whether the orebody is going to cave and, if so, how?

The ability to forecast cave propagation by understanding the evolving size and shape of seismogenic, yielded, and mobilized zones associated with caving is critical to the mine design. This establishes a critical hydraulic radius and sheds light on the potential for hang-ups and air gap formation.

Some of the tasks that go along with this subject include:

• Caveability assessments for initiation and propagation of caving, including the role of geological structures, strength degradation and stress paths via IMASS constitutive model.

• Development of 3D numerical models to assess in-situ and induced stresses, damage zones, and rock mass degradation.

• Analysis of rock mass preconditioning via hydraulic fracturing to ensure propagation. Use of codes such as XSite to define a preconditioning strategy.

• Prediction of cave stalling and/or intermittent caving with their undesired side-risk of airblast.

• Identification of high-risk zones affecting production levels, infrastructure, and long-term mine layout.

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