Staff Training - Geotechnical

1999

In about 1996, Dr. Sims was talking with an exploration geologist and explained that he mapped and modeled geology for slope design. The exploration geologist responded that if he ever got old and tired of thinking, maybe he would do something like that. The reality is that there is no intellectual hierarchy. Instead, exploration geologists, mine geologists and engineering geologists perform very different duties and each job requires different skills. Many mines have discovered that using "any old geologist" is not appropriate and that the results will often disappoint.

Similarly, hiring the best engineer may increases chances for success, but it will not cover for inadequate geological data. Unexpected slope failures are typically not a result of engineering error. When a potential instability goes unnoticed, it is likely because engineers are modelling geological conditions that do not actually exist.

For slope stability and mine design, the most important geological attribute is structure. It is critical that the data are collected and interpreted to match the needs of the slope design engineers. Many great engineers and geologists have worked for many years to develop the tools and techniques for proper data collection and interpretation techniques and this is a specialized field of study and practice.

Services Offered

Collecting and Using Geologic Structure Data for Slope Design (David E. Nicholas and Danny B. Sims, 2000) (Chapter 2 of the SME Special Publication: Slope Stability in Surface Mining)

"The three most important factors in the evaluation of open-pit slope stability are structure, structure and structure."

Not every mine has structural geologist on staff who is experienced in slope stability, and it is likely more cost effective to call one in as needed than to keep one on staff. The question is: when is one needed? Proactive work is best because it allows for potential issues to be identified early and surprise slope failures can potentially be avoided.

Dr. Sims is an expert in this field. He has evaluated structure data at numerous mines, collected and interpreted data where necessary, and trained many mine geologists and engineers. Training typically occurs because the mine is having problems with its slopes, it calls in consulting engineers, and the engineers are demanding adequate geological data. It is not unusual that geotechnical core holes must be drilled next to exploration core holes for which geotechnical logs could have been made with little effort at the time of drilling, but the work was not done. Then there is the structure mapping. It is common that regional structures are previously mapped, but that the entire pit must now be mapped for fabric data and intermediate major structures. The bill for the geologic data collection inevitably dwarfs the bill for engineering analyses, and the mine decides that Dr. Sims should train the mine geologists to do this work in-house.

Ground Control in Open Pit Mines, Draft Code of Practice, Safe Work Australia (2011) and Safe Work New Zealand (2011)

"The task of developing the structural model is one for an experienced structural geologist. Exploration and mine geologists are an essential part of the modeling team, but the team leader should be a structural geologist who has the specific skills and the experience in structural geology. Information on collecting and using geologic structure data for slope design can be found in Nicholas and Sims (2000)."

Staff Training - Geotechnical

Sims Professional Services

Slope Stability (C. A. Kliche, 2011) SME Mining Engineering Handbook, 3rd edition

"The two most important factors that control slope stability are (1) discontinuity strength, and (2) the location and orientation of the discontinuities with respect to the slope. ... Geologic structures, which are important for open-pit slope stability, can be divided into rock fabric, which is defined as geologic structures that are too numerous to be evaluated individually and are, therefore, treated statistically in slope design analysis; intermediate structures, which include only major structures that are longer than a lower-limit baseline, and regional structures, which are major structures that are of a regional scale, and often faults with measured length >100 m (330 ft) (Nicholas and Sims, 2000)."

Dr. Sims will personally train your staff in the field. This includes major structure mapping, fabric mapping, geotechnical core logging, oriented core logging, slope monitoring methods and interpretation methods. Dr. Sims has mapped over 200 linear miles of bench face for slope design and he knows most of the common sources of error, and what works best. Classroom activities include practical exercises where geologists and engineers work with level maps and cross sections, learn structure domain analysis and how to project geology to future pits and analyze for interramp and overall slope stability. Dr. Sims also works with computer modelers to demonstrate how structure data can be managed and used for slope design analysis.

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