Open Pit Mine Slope Stability: Methodological Framework

Abstract

The article describes the development stages of an adequate regulatory structure for the slope stability in open pit mines. Some supplementary factors that have influence on stability of slopes in open pit mines in the gravity–tectonic stress field are discussed. The main trends of research of pitwall rock mass in operating surface mines are presented, and the necessity of determining the tectonic stresses in pitwall rock mass and taking into account their impact on slope stability is emphasized. The algorithm is developed for justifying slope parameters for open pit mines under tectonic stresses, the drilling-and-blasting principles are formulated for the operation in pitwall rock mass, and the methods are proposed to mitigate the blasting-induced impact on adjacent rocks.