1887
Volume 32, Issue 3-4
  • ISSN: 0812-3985
  • E-ISSN: 1834-7533

Abstract

Conventionally, geotechnical information comes from cored drill holes. However, coring is expensive and most boreholes are drilled without, or with very limited coring. Alternative ways of obtaining geotechnical information need to be found. One approach is by geophysical logging, which is carried out routinely at coal mines. It measures various in-situ petrophysical parameters which are usually correlated with rock types and can be used for rock mass characterisation, litho-stratigraphic interpretation, orebody delineation and grade estimation.

This paper presents examples of automated geotechnical characterisation from geophysical logs to identify the key strata responsible for caving behaviours during longwall coal mining at Southern Colliery in Central Queensland. The method is based on computer program ‘LogTrans’. Conventional logs such as density, natural gamma and sonic derived UCS (Uniaxial Compressive Strength) logs and full waveform sonic data are examined. The geotechnical units predicted from the geophysical logs are well matched with the original strata classification and core photographs. The results could assist site geologists, planning and production engineers predict and manage mining conditions on an ongoing basis.

© 2001 ASEG
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1071/EG01336
2001-09-01
2026-01-18

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1071/EG01336
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Davies, A. L. and McManus, D. A., 1990, Geotechnical applications of downhole sonic and neutron logging for surface mining: Exploration Geophysics, 21,73-81.
  2. Emilsson, J., 1993, Geophysical multi-parameter logging techniques applied to ore exploration in the Skellefte Field, MSc thesis, Tekniska Högskolan i Luleå, Sweden, (unpubl.).
  3. Elkington, P. A. S., Stouthamer, P., and Brown, J. R., 1082, Rock strength prediction from wireline logs: Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 19, 91-97.
  4. Fallon, G., Fullagar, PK. and Zhou, B., 2000, Towards grade estimation via automated interpretation of geophysical borehole logs: Exploration Geophysics, 31, 236242.
  5. Fullagar, P. K. and Fallon, G. N., 1997, Geophysics in metalliferous mines for orebody delineation and rock mass characterisation, in Proceedings of Exploration 7#x2018;97 - Fourth Decennial International Conference on Mineral Exploration, Gubins A. G. (ed.), 573-584.
  6. Fullagar, P. K., Zhou, B. and Fallon, G. N., 1999, Automated interpretation of geophysical borehole logs for orebody delineation and grade estimation: Mineral Resources Engineering, 8, 269-284.
  7. Guo, H., Zhou, B., Poulsen, B. and Biggs, M., 2000, 3D overburden geotechnical characterization for longwall mining at southern colliery: Proceedings of Bowen Basin Symposium 2000, Rockhampton, Queensland, October 22-24.
  8. McNally, G. H., 1990, The prediction of geotechnical rock properties from sonic and neutron logs: Exploration Geophysics, 21, 65-71.
  9. Schön, J.H., 1996, Physical properties of rocks: Fundamentals and principles of petrophysics: Elsevier Science Ltd.
  10. Ward, B., 1998, German Creek Mines Rock strength from velocity logs. Unpublished report for Capricorn Coal Management Pty Ltd.
/content/journals/10.1071/EG01336
Loading
  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): full waveform sonic; geophysical logs; geotechnical characterisation; strata

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error