- Title
- A method to assess rock strength and excavatability of diamondiferous kimberlite ore through in situ rock testing
- Creator
- Elbaz, S.; Crawford, D.; Tuck, Michael
- Date
- 2016
- Type
- Text; Conference paper
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/161646
- Identifier
- vital:12521
- Identifier
- ISBN:978-0-9946261-2-7
- Identifier
- https://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/services/Download/vital:12521/SOURCE1
- Abstract
- This investigation considers the excavatability of diamondiferous kimberlite pipes of the Merlin field in the Northern Territory, Australia, through the use of in situ rock testing to assess hardness and subsequently excavatability. Historical diamond mining of the Merlin kimberlite pipes identified variable ore hardness both aerially and at depth within the pipe, which was attributed to the preferential weathering of the kimberlite. This variation in hardness presents a problem when determining the best method of excavation and hence can significantly influence production rates. This paper provides a relationship that can be used to relate field testing of rock hardness with rock strength. The results of the hardness to strength relationship are used in established empirical equations to confirm excavatability of the kimberlite ore. The relationships developed in this investigation enable in situ rock hardness testing to be directly related to rock strength for assessment of ore excavatability.
- Relation
- Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization p. 1083-1086
- Rights
- Copyright Australian Geoemechnics
- Rights
- Open Access
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Full Text
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Published version | 510 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |