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Abstracts

Slope Stability Abstracts

Numerical Simulation of Complex Slope Displacement
4th North American Rock Mechanics Symposium, Pacific Rocks 2000: Rock Around the Rim, 31 July–3 August 2000
Authors: J. Cremeens (AAI), R. Cellan and A. Cox (Homestake Mining Company), and L. Gilbride (AAI)

Numerical simulation of complex pit slope instability at the Homestake Mining Company, Pitch Reclamation Project is presented. Slope monitoring data and field observations suggested that the slope displacement mechanism involved plastic deformation at a lower block, which allowed rotation of a fault-bounded middle block into the pit. This created a zone of tension that eventually mobilized plane shear of a highly weathered surficial upper block. The complex displacement mechanism was inadequately simulated by limit equilibrium models. The mechanism was reproduced using a two-dimensional distinct element model, which accounted for the rotation, bending, frictional sliding, and plastic deformation of the individual blocks in the slope. The model was extended to predict performance of the pit slope under historic worst-case piezometric conditions.

Geologic Controls on Complex Slope Displacement at the Pitch Reclamation Project (click to view entire paper in PDF format)
Engineering Geology in Colorado:  Contributions, Trends, and Case Histories
Authors: J. Cremeens (AAI)

Moment-driven, regressive slope deformation has been observed in many large open pits.  The Homestake Pitch Mine provides another example of this type of pit slope stability.  The North Pit of the Pitch Mine was developed in a geologic setting that led to moment-driven slope instability.  Moment-driven slope movement is typically regressive and often manageable during mining operations.  However, pit excavation, coupled with extreme climatic conditions, led to large-scale, rapid slope failures that eventually terminated mining in the North Pit.  The Pitch site is currently in reclamation.  The North Pit slopes are in a regressive state and displacement velocities continue to decline.

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