EXAMINATION PAPER

SUBJECT: EXAMINER: Y. JOOSTE

CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA –
CERTIFICATE IN STRATA CONTROL –
METALLIFEROUS
MODERATOR:D.A. ARNOLD.
SUBJECT CODE: COMCSC

EXAMINATION DATE:
TOTAL MARKS: [108 ½ ]
TIME: 14:30 – 17:30
PASS MARK: (60%)

NUMBER OF PAGES:

THIS ISNOT AN OPENBOOK EXAMINATION – ONLY REFERENCES PROVIDED ARE

ALLOWED

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Answer all questions. Answer the questionslegibly in English.
2. Write your ID Number on the outside cover of each book used and on any graph paper or
other loose sheets handed in.
NB: Your name must not appear on any answer book or loose sheets.
3. Show all calculations and check calculations on which the answers are based.
4. Hand-held electronic calculators may be used for calculations. Reference notes may not be
programmed into calculators.
5. Writelegibly in ink on theright hand page only – left hand pages will not be marked.
6. Illustrate your answers by means of sketches or diagrams wherever possible.
7. Final answers must be given to an accuracy which is typical of practical conditions,
However be careful not to use too few decimal places during your calculations, as rounding
errors may result in incorrect answers
NB Ensure that the correct unit of measure (SI unit) are recorded as marks will be
deducted from answers if the incorrect unit is used. (even if the calculated value is correct).
8. In answering the questions, full advantage should be taken of your practical experience as
well as data given.
9. Please note that you are not allowed to contact your examiner or moderator regarding
this examination.
10.Cell phones are NOT allowed in the examination room.
QUESTION 1 – DEFINITIONS

Define the following terms and where applicable give the symbol and units used:

1.1 Uni-axial tension

(the state of a body under tensile forces/stresses in one direction)

1.2 Burden

(Burden is the distance between the top holes along the face and also the vertical distance
between top and bottom holes.)

1.3 Support resistance

(is the concept whereby the force generated by a support unit of the smallest
representative section of a support system is averaged over the tributary area of
hangingwall to be supported by that unit. kN/m2

1.4 Mass

(is the amount of matter in a body measured in kilograms (volume x density)

1.5 Angle of internal friction

Angle between the axis of normal stress and the tangent to the Mohr envelope at a
point representing a given failure-to-stress condition for a solid material. . Symbol is phi
(Φ).

1.6 Induced stress

1.7 Tri-axial Compression

Compression caused by the application of normal stresses in three perpendicular

directions.

1.8 Hysteresis

Hysteresis is the incomplete recovery of strain during unloading due to energy

consumption

1.9 Sedimentary rock

 Processes such as weathering, corrasion and corrosion result in the soils and pre-existing rocks near earth’s
surface being changed or broken down. These particles are transported by wind and water and subsequently
deposited. In a favourable locality these deposits are built up in layers to form sedimentary rocks.

1.10 Strike

Strike is the line joining points of equal elevation and is the direction along an inclined plane in
which the dip is zero. Strike and the direction of true dip are always at right angles to each other.

STRESSES AND FRACTURING

2.1 Draw 4 graphs (no description) describing the following

2.1.1 Linear elastic
2.1.2 Non Linear elastic
2.1.3 Elasto plastic
2.1.4 Pure plastic
Note: NO marks for description, graphs only (8)

σ σ

ε ε ε ε
Linear Non – linear Elasto Pure
elastic elastic Plastic plastic

2.2 What is de-stressing and why is it used? (2)

Distressing is a means used to ensure that service excavations are placed in low stress enviroment. Purpose is to

remove high induced stresses caused by the mining environment.

2.3 Using a sketch only, show how you will de-stress a tunnel, using the 45 degree
rule. (2)
2.4 Using sketches only – show the difference in fracturing along a square tunnel
with a k- ratio equal to
2.4.1 2.0
2.4.2 0.5 (4)

2.5 Using only a sketch and show the difference between underhand and overhand
mining configurations. (4)

[20]

QUESTION 3– BLASTING

3.1 Describe two types of preconditioning used in the industry? (6)

• Face-parallel preconditioning
o Most effective method
o Holes drilled parallel to face

• Face – perpendicular preconditioning

o Difficult to implement
o Hole drilled perpendicular to face
o In addition to normal production holes
3.2 List 5 items you would check to improve poor ground conditions in a tunnel caused
by sub-standard drilling and blasting practice. (5)

• Timing of shot holes

• Stemming / tamping;
• Hole position / spacing;
• Missing holes;
• Short holes;
• Overcharged holes / de-coupling;
• Explosive type;
• Application of smooth blasting.

3.3 Define perimeter blasting (2)

In tunneling operations, the perimeter holes are typically drilled with a tighter
spacing and the holes loaded more lightly in order to reduce
overbreak. The use of perimeter blasting techniques will also reduce the
amount of scaling and ground support required to make the tunnel safe after
blasting.

Closely controlled blasting which is applied to produce a geometrically precise

and relatively undisturbed surface.

3.4 What is the function of stemming (tamping)? (2)

To retain the products of the detonation of an explosive charge in an enclosed space
[15]

QUESTION 4- SUPPORT

4.1 What is meant by active and passive support? Give an example of each. (4)

Active support - Exerts force immediately once installed example pre-stressed

elongate
Passive support - Requires rock movement to exerts a force – example pack

4.2 Backfill is widely used by the mining industry. List 5 advantages of backfill as
local support and 5 advantages of backfill as regional support. (10)

local
• Reduce rockburst/ face burst
• Maintain integrity of fractured rockmass
• Reduce stoping width
• Improve face conditions/ strata control conditions
• Good sweepings
• Reduce ventilation losses
• Improves areal coverage of working area
 • Improves gully and face conditions

Regional
• Reduce ventilation losses
• Reduce fire hazard
• Reduction of seismic wave velocity
• Reduce overall stress levels, reduce shear stress along structures which reduce seismic
activity
• Reduce the exposed rock surface in excavations
• Increase extraction percentage
• Reduce risk of surface subsidence
• Reduce stress on pillars

4.3 You are required to design an elongate support system for rock fall conditions
given the following information: Rock density = 2 750kg/m3, 95% cumulative
fallout height = 1.8m, elongate load capacity = 250kN.

Determine the support spacings on dip and strike. (8)

Calculate the support design criterion:

S.R. = ρ x g x h (1 mark)
= 2 750kg/m3 x 9.81m/s2 x 1.8m (1 mark)
= 48559N/m2
= 48.56 kN/m2 (1 mark)

Calculate the area supported by each elongate:

Area = Prop capacity / S.R.
= 250kN / 48.56kN/m2 (1 mark)
= 5.148m2 / unit (1 mark)

Calculate dip and strike spacing, assuming dip spacing equals strike spacing:
Spacing =(Area / unit)½ (1 mark)
=(5.148m2)½
=2.2m (1 mark)
=2.2m on dip and strike (1 mark)

4.4 Define energy absorption capabilities. (2)

During dynamic deformation of the HW, kinetic energy is impacted to an

ejected block which must be absorbed by the support units without
undergoing undue deformation.

[24]
QUESTION 5– ROCK MASS RATINGS

5.1 Define rock quality designation. (2)

 Rock-quality designation (RQD) is the measure of the degree of jointing or fractures in a
rockmass, measured as a percentage of the drill core in lengths of 10 cm or more.

5.2 The core recovered from a borehole, with length 16m is retrieved in the following
core sizes:

▪ 4 x 27 mm
▪ 6 x 3.5 cm
▪ 5 x 122 mm
▪ 14 x 7.5 mm
▪ 17 x 23 cm
▪ 9 x 350 mm
▪ 35 x 6.5 mm
▪ 21 x 15 cm
▪ 12 x 320 mm

Determine the RQD of this rock. (5)

(5x122)+ (17x230)+(9X350)+(21x150)+(12x320) = 14660

= ( 14660/1600mm ) x 100 = 91.62

5.3 You have recently been employed at Golden Mining Company. The previous
Rock Engineer was busy with a support design project for a service tunnel that
will be developed between the main and sub-vertical shafts. The tunnel will be
used for the transporting of all men and material as well as forming part of the
ventilation reticulation system. Core was retrieved from a 32mm diameter
borehole along the tunnel position and the previous Rock Engineer logged the
core in order to carry out a rockmass classification.

Results of Rockmass Rating

Spacing
UCS RQD Ground
Zone of Joint Joint Condition
(MPa) (%) Water
(mm)
Lava 187 72 320 Very rough surface. None
 Not continuous.
No separation.
Weathered wall rock.
ZB Shale 85 43 180 Slightly rough surface. Wet
Separation <1mm.
Highly weathered rock.
QBM 210 89 2100 Slightly rough surfaces. Dripping
Quartzite Separation < 1mm.
Slightly weathered
walls.
Tuff 108 24 28 Joints open 1 – 5mm None
and continuous.
Reef Zone 193 95 1750 Very rough surfaces. Damp
Not continuous.
No separation.
Weathered wall rock.

5.3.1 Using the table provided (APPENDIX B) you are required to determine the
Rockmass Rating for the various zones identified. Fill answers into the Table in
APPENDIX A (12 ½ )

5.3.2 You now realize that the calibrated mine specific support graphs make use of the
Q-rating system. Convert the Rock Mass Rating values for the zones in question
3.1 to a Q-value using the formula provided. Fill answers into the Table in
APPENDIX A

RMR = 9 ln Q + 44 (5)
[24 ½ ]

QUESTION 6– ROCK MONITORING

6.1 Determine the force at failure obtained from a Point Load Test on a 50 mm
diameter core, if the UCS was calculated to be 180 MPa, based on the result of
this test. (5)
UCS (σc) = 24 x Is for 50 mm diameter samples
180 MPa = Is
24
Is = 7.5 MPa
BUT Is = P
2
D
7.5 MPa = P
0.0025
P = 7.5 MPa x 0.0025
= 18.75 KN

[5]

TOTAL MARKS: [108 ½ ]

APPENDIX A Id nr:

Spacing Joint Ground

UCS RQD RMR Q
Zone of Joints Condition Water
Rating Rating Rating Rating
Rating Rating Rating
Lava 12 13 10 30 15 80 54.6
(A)
ZB Shale 7 8 8 20 7 50 1.95
(B)

QBM 12 17 20 25 4 78 43.72
Quartzite
(C)

Tuff 12 3 5 10 15 45 1.12
(D)
Reef Zone 12 20 15 30 10 87 118.84
(E)
APPENDIX B
FORMULE SHEET
1. Total Energy = ½ m v2 + mgh
2(1 −  ) q
2. sz = l 2 − x2
G
sm G
3. lc =
2(1 −  )q

R00.5933  0.5933  R   


4.  s = 7.2 0.0667    − 1 + 1MPa

V    R0   
ww
5. e = 1 − 1 2
C1C2
U m  (1 −  )lq 2
6. ERR = =
A 2G
 + 2G G
7.  p = s =
 

8.

9.

10.

11. Q = RQD/Jn x Jr/Ja x Jw/SRF

12. G = E
2(1+ν)

13. τ = σn tan(Ø + JRC 10 log tan( JCS/σn ))

14. APS = qv/(1-e)

15. ε = ∆ℓ / L
16. E = σ/ε
17.  =  r /  a
0.46
18. Ps = K
w
h 0.66
19. 0.5
Ps = K w
h 0.75