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

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Chapter 4<br />

Modelling Stress in <strong>the</strong> Creighton Deep<br />

4.1 Introduction<br />

Stress in <strong>the</strong> mine environment results from a superposition <strong>of</strong> regional tectonic stresses, local<br />

stress induced by mining geometry and material extraction and is also influenced by <strong>the</strong> presence<br />

<strong>of</strong> geological structures and differences in material properties. It is impossible to model exact<br />

stress conditions within a mine because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> complex nature <strong>of</strong> rock and <strong>the</strong> unknown state <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> pre-mining stress conditions. However, simplified constitutive models with specified material<br />

properties, initial and boundary conditions allow for insight into more complex rock mass and<br />

fault behaviour.<br />

Numerical stress analysis models <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 7400 Level at Creighton Mine were used to provide<br />

insight into:<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<strong>the</strong> influences <strong>of</strong> mining geometry and structure on stress distribution in <strong>the</strong> mine;<br />

<strong>the</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> yield zone surrounding <strong>the</strong> excavation;<br />

and <strong>the</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> induced displacement along faults.<br />

The sensitivity <strong>of</strong> modelled results was assessed by varying <strong>the</strong> fault strength, selectively<br />

weakening faults based on geological insight and by changing boundary stress conditions. In<br />

doing so, constraints were placed on existing stress conditions. The ultimate goal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> numerical<br />

modelling is to compare modelled stress with observed seismicity and integrate geological<br />

knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rock mass, in order to develop an understanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> influence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

structural system in <strong>the</strong> Creighton Deep on seismic behaviour.<br />

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