Inter-ramp and bench design of open-pit mines: the Portage pit case study (original) (raw)

Using a case study, this paper presents an integrated methodology for assessing structural slope stability at the inter-ramp and bench levels. Robust algorithms have been developed and implemented to compute, at inter-ramp and bench levels, slope orientations and slope stability using input data compatible with a commercially available mine-design software tool database structure. Multi-criteria stability analyses were performed based on various design criteria. Susceptibility maps were produced enabling the identification of zones of concern in the designed pit. The obtained results suggest that inter-ramp angles do not present instability concerns over the entire pit surface. At bench levels, potential instability zones were identified within two structural domains totalling 6% of the total pit surface.