Abstract
The most accepted approach to define basic geotechnical units, in the mining industry, is the one proposed by Flores and Karzulovic (2003) based on the superposition of lithology, alteration and mineral zone, where the use of the latter is related to the differentiation between the environment of primary and secondary mineralization.
Although this methodology may seem very easy to apply, the implementation in those mining projects where the mineral zones were defined according to geological or metallurgical criteria, that do not necessarily coincide with the geotechnical quality criteria, frequently do not achieved a good distinction between the different geotechnical units.
The purpose of this work is to propose a methodology to define the basic geotechnical units based on the combination of lithology, alteration and the geotechnical zones instead of the mineral zones. In this study is introduced the concept of the geotechnical zones based on the degree of weathering and the geotechnical quality of the rock mass.
The geotechnical zones defined correspond to (1) the secondary sensu stricto (2ºss) which is located in the shallowest part of the deposit and is recognized by intense leaching or oxidation affecting both the rock matrix and discontinuities, (2) the secondary transition (2ºtr) which is located below the 2ºss zone and where the effects of leaching or oxidation are slight in the rock matrix, concentrating mainly in the discontinuities and finally, (3) the primary geotechnical zone (1º) which is characterized by being an impermeable rock mass, fresh and unaltered from the point of view of weathering.
Authors
Andrea Russo | Corporate Consultant (Rock Mechanics), SRK Chile
Catalina Ramírez | Geóloga, SRK Chile
Date: Friday, December 6, 12:00 - 12:20 PM, Session 2
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