The Monitoring and Modelling of Ground Movements Caused by Open Pit Mining and Their Effect on Mine Infrastructure

This paper discusses the generation, and the extent of development, of ground strains in and around the large open pit mines of the Latrobe Valley in Victoria. These pits range in depth from 75m to 160m and individually cover areas of up to 16km². They supply coal to a number of large mine mouth thermal power stations. The station complexes and their related infrastructure are located close to the mine batters.

Extraction of overburden, coal and groundwater from the mines generates considerable vertical and horizontal ground movement in the base of the mines, in the batters and the surrounding areas. This paper discusses the methods used to predict the ground movements associated with current and future mining activities, in particular the computer programs FLAC (ground movements and subsidence) and COMPAC (subsidence modelling).

The paper discusses the mechanisms of ground movement experienced in and around the mines and how their effects are predicted. In addition, this paper broadly discusses the effectiveness of the modelling techniques, the benefits gained from modelling and the reasons for computer modelling not being adopted in some instances.