Geotechnical Engineering in Open Pit Mines

Open pit mining is the most common approach to extracting ore from shallow deposits with appropriate shapes and sizes. Open pit mines are suitable for a wide range of environments, such as mountains, valley floors, hard bedrock or soft. The pit is made by digging benches of relatively uniform size until the final pit dimensions and depth are reached. Slope stability must be maintained throughout the mining process to ensure safe operations. Slope stability also has an impact on the duration and profitability of a mining project. Ground control in underground mines has been featured in previous issues of RMI Magazine. Geotechnics is the equivalent concept for open pit mines. This article discusses various aspects of pit wall stability.