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title of the thesis - Department of Geology - Queen's University

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Figure 4.23: Contoured domains <strong>of</strong> slip on cohesionless fractures at different angles <strong>of</strong> internal friction for<br />

(A) elastic model; (B) plastic model.<br />

4.6.2 Crack Initiation<br />

The initiation <strong>of</strong> new brittle failure is possible at stress levels much lower than <strong>the</strong> peak strength<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rock mass (Schultz, 1996). Crack initiation can be expected at levels from 0.3-0.5 σ UCS (Cai<br />

et al., 2004) and yield is modelled to occur between 0.4-0.5σ UCS for <strong>the</strong> Creighton granite<br />

(Diederichs, 2003). Fracture coalescence can occur from 0.7-0.8 σ UCS (Falmagne, 2001). Such<br />

thresholds have been applied to <strong>the</strong> 7400 Level using modelled stresses and <strong>the</strong> uniaxial<br />

compressive strength <strong>of</strong> footwall rocks to explore crack initiation as a mechanism for<br />

microseismicity in <strong>the</strong> Creighton Deep. The limits for fracture initiation and coalescence are<br />

shown in Figure 4.24.<br />

Crack initiation can also be described by differential stress, when its magnitude is a fraction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

peak strength. Differential stress threshold for <strong>the</strong> Lac du Bonnet granite is measured in <strong>the</strong> range<br />

<strong>of</strong> (σ 1 – σ 3 ) = 0.3 to 0.4σ UCS to (Falmagne, 2001). This threshold is used as an analogue to <strong>the</strong><br />

Creighton granite. Differential stress plots outline zones <strong>of</strong> potential crack initiation (Fig. 4.24).<br />

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