Rock-Falls into Water and Potential Wave Damage

This paper presents the findings of experimental work undertaken to investigate the potential for wave damage caused by rock -falls into partially water-filled open pit mines. A particular mine geometry has been used to model the situation in a wave flume, with a modelled rock-fall of 10,000 tonnes. The main findings of interest to the mining industry are: a) transfer of energy efficiency from a rock-fall to the water ranges between 5 and 80% depending on slide impact velocity; b) maximum wave run-up distance up slope is about 40 meters; c) available evacuation times for personnel located at a pumping station within the maximum wave run-up distance is about 37 seconds , which is insufficient.