The Importance of Engineering Geology and Geotechnics in the Design Operation and Rehabilitation of Quarries
Presented by: Ruth Allington, Engineering Geologist
Venue: Ara Institute, Room N104, , Madras Street Christchurch
When: Wed November 15 2017
Time:Refreshments 5.30pm; Presentation 6.00pm
Presentation overview:
Successful quarry design will be presented as a staged and iterative process that results in:
- the safe, efficient and profitable extraction of the maximum usable material from the available land whilst causing
- the minimum of environmental and social disturbance and resulting in
- beneficial final restoration and land-uses and public acceptance
There is consensus that reliable ground models, based on a sound understanding of the geology,are vital for successful civil engineering projects, and they are equally vital in quarrying and open pit mining. In addition to describing the characteristics of ground models developed for quarry projects, the talk will highlight three distinctive characteristics of the design and operation of quarries that impact on professional practice in this area.
- First, the life-cycle of a quarry from initial excavation to closure and final rehabilitation is considerably longer than the construction and commissioning phases of most civil engineering projects.
- Second, the inevitable outcome of surface mineral extraction is to make significant permanent and temporary changes to ground conditions in and around a site during a quarry’s life.
- Third, in addition to understanding the ground conditions throughout the quarry life-cycle, some other issues must be thoroughly understood and taken into account in the planning and management of a quarry: the quality and quantity of recoverable material; the suitability of the recovered and processed material for its intended use; the viability of recovering and processing it; and the impacts on the natural environment and people.
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