Chapter 34

W A S T E D U M P STABILITY A T FORDING C O A L LIMITED I N B . C . R o b e r t S. N i c h o l s

S e n i o r P l a n n i n g E n g i n e e r , F o r d i n g Coal Limited E l k f o r d , B.C.

ABSTRACT

Fording Coal L i m i t e d ' s mine B.C. h a s produced 21.8 m i l l i o n from 1971 t o 1980, i n c l u s i v e . s e v e r a l p i t a r e a s and r e q u i r e d c u b i c meters o f waste r o c k and dragline operations.

i n t h e Rocky Mountains n e a r E l k f o r d , clean tonnes of m e t a l l u r g i c a l c o a l T h i s p r o d u c t i o n h a s come from t h e removal o f 149.1 m i l l i o n bank overburden by t r u c k - s h o v e l and

Waste dumps from 30m t o 200111 i n h e i g h t have been s u c c e s s f u l l y c o n s t r u c t e d on n a t u r a l s l o p e s , g e n e r a l l y between 1 0 0 and 26O. Design c o n s i d e r a t i o n s f o r t h e dumps i n c l u d e f o u n d a t i o n and s o i l c o n d i t i o n s , n a t u r a l s l o p e a n g l e s and c o n t a i n m e n t o f weak o v e r b u r d e n o r rehandle materials. Dump c o n t r o l i s m a i n t a i n e d by m o n i t o r i n g t h e c r e s t and t h e f a c e o f a n a c t i v e dump a r e a . C r e s t movement i s measured by e x t e n s o m e t e r s l o c a l l y termed " S p o i l M o n i t o r s " . When c r e s t movement r a t e s p r o g r e s s i v e l y i n c r e a s e above normal, dumping o p e r a t i o n s a r e t e m p o r a r i l y r e l o c a t e d . Some u n s t a b l e c o n d i t i o n s and mass f a i l u r e s h a v e o c c u r r e d a s t h e r e s u l t o f n a t u r a l f o u n d a t i o n s l o p e s b e i n g i n e x c e s s o f 26O, f a i l u r e o f weak w a t e r s a t u r a t e d f o u n d a t i o n s o i l s o r weak m a t e r i a l b e i n g p l a c e d on t h e dump. INTRODUCTION The Fording River Mine i s l o c a t e d i n t h e Rocky Mountains o f s o u t h e a s t e r n B r i t i s h Columbia a s shown i n F i g u r e 1.
A l l p r o d u c t i o n i s from multi-seam open p i t mining a t e l e v a t i o n s r a n g i n g from 1600m t o 2200111.

795

3RD STABILITY IN SURFACE MINING

F i g u r e 1. F o r d i n g C o a l Location Map The mine i s l o c a t e d i n a c o n t i n e n t a l c l i m a t i c zone w i t h t e m p e r a t u r e s r a n g i n g from -40 C i n J a n u a r y t o +35O i n J u l y . Annual p r e c i p i t a t i o n c o n s i s t s o f r a i n f a l l between 220 t o 350mm p l u s s n o w f a l l i n t h e r a n g e o f 240 t o 680 cm. Cleaned c o a l p r o d u c t i o n a t a n a n n u a l r a t e o f 3.0 m i l l i o n tonnes began i n 1972. A t o t a l o f 1 4 9 . 1 m i l l i o n bank c u b i c m e t r e s (bcm) of w a s t e r o c k , overburden and r e h a n d l e h a s been moved by t r u c k - s h o v e l o p e r a t i o n s and a 46 m3 d r a g l i n e . I n 1980, a major e x p a n s i o n program was i n i t i a t e d t o i n c r e a s e a n n u a l p r o d u c t i o n t o 5.0 m i l l i o n t o n n e s . This w i l l r e q u i r e 40.0 m i l l i o n bcm o f w a s t e t o b e removed p e r y e a r . P l a n n i n g , c o n s t r u c t i n g and m a i n t a i n i n g s t a b l e waste p i l e s a l o n g t h e v a l l e y s l o p e s h a s been a s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t o r i n t h e s u c c e s s o f

this operation. This paper describes the design considerations, development and control used at Fording to maximize waste dump stability. GENERAL MINE LAYOUT Multi-seam open pit mining is done in pit areas on the east and west sides of the Fording River. The pits are designed to an overall average strip ratio of 7 bcm waste : 1 bcm raw coal. The Eagle Mountain side east of the river with Clode, Turnbull, Taylor and Blackwood truck-shovel pits has produced 53% of the waste from 1971-1980 inclusive. The Greenhills truck-shovel pits on the west side of the river, have produced 13% of the waste. The remaining 34% waste, including rehandle, was moved by a 46 m3 dragline. Ten mineable coal seams occur in the lower Cretaceous Coal Bearing Member of the Kootenay Formation. The 4SOm thick sequence consists of interbedded sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, shale and subbituminous coal. DETERMINING WASTE DUMP LOCATIONS Placement of the large quantities of waste material removed to meet coal targets is a major concern to mine planning, environmental and production departments. Figure 2 outlines the areas which cannot be readily used for developing waste dumps because they are within resource areas, plantsite and facilities areas, areas of steep slopes and environmentally sensitive areas. Note that dumps are numbered on the Eagle Mountain side and lettered on the Greenhills side. Coal Reserves It is desireable to locate waste dumps outside areas of potential economic open pit coal reserves. The exceptions to this are relatively small dumps which are planned to be rehandled at a later date. No. 1 Spoil, Turnbull Spoils and K Spoil were developed during early stages of mining within reserve areas. Pit development has not sufficiently advanced to begin backfilling except for the dragline pits. Plant Site and Facilities This area occupies a major portion of the valley floor. Included in the facilities are the tailings pond areas, coarse reject storage area and the railway and road access. The plant site area includes the washplant complex, offices, warehouse, shops and dry.

798

3RD STABILITY IN SURFACE MINING

F i g u r e 2. P l a n Showing P i t s and Dumps R e l a t i v e t o R e s t r i c t e d Areas Steep Slopes The v a l l e y w a l l s i n some a r e a s , a r e t o o s t e e p on which t o develop s t a b l e w a s t e dumps. I n g e n e r a l , a w a s t e dump i s n o t developed on a f o u n d a t i o n s l o p e i n e x c e s s of 24O. Some e x c e p t i o n s t o t h i s a r e i n a r e a s where t o e s u p p o r t i s e s t a b l i s h e d f i r s t on s h a l l o w s l o p e s o r where c o n t r o l l e d development t o r e a c h s h a l l o w e r s l o p e s i s n e c e s s a r y t o minimize h a u l a g e d i s t a n c e s . Environmental The e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y s e n s i t i v e a r e a s a r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h major drainage patterns. P r e s e n t p l a n n i n g a l l o w s f o r a 50 - l O O m d i s t a n c e between t h e 1,000 y e a r f l o o d p l a i n l i m i t and a 26O r e s l o p e d dump toe. T h i s d i s t a n c e p r o v i d e s a long t e r m w i l d l i f e c o r r i d o r f o r migrating animals i n t h e v a l l e y . O t h e r Concerns O t h e r f a c t o r s c o n s i d e r e d when c h o o s i n g a dump s i t e a r e haulage d i s t a n c e s , h a u l r o a d g r a d e s , and d r a i n a g e c o n t r o l .

800

3RD STABILITY IN SURFACE MINING

Waste Dump Materials Dump materials can be o f t h r e e t y p e s : and rehandle. waste rock, overburden

Waste rock i s estimated t o comprise 80% o f t h e t o t a l property waste (excluding dragline r e h a n d l e ) . The waste rock i s a combina t i o n o f 5 5 % s i l t s t o n e , 28% sandstone, 15% carbonaceous mudstone and shale and 2 % non-recoverable coal. The q u a n t i t i e s o f each rock type delivered t o a p a r t i c u l a r dump depend on what s t r a t i graphic l e v e l a p a r t i c u l a r bench i s a t . This material has a dry d e n s i t y o f 1.76 kg/m3 and a f r i c t i o n angle o f 37O. The sandstone i s t y p i c a l l y coarse grained, durable, blocky and not s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t e d by weathering. The s i l t s t o n e may grade t o f i n e grained sandstone and can a l s o be blocky depending on i t s sand c o n t e n t . S i l t s t o n e u s u a l l y weathers w e l l , although t h i s i s a l s o a f u n c t i o n o f t h e sand c o n t e n t . The carbonaceous mudstone and shale i s u s u a l l y f i n e , f r i a b l e and r e a d i l y breaks down t o f i n e p a r t i c l e s when weathered. Overburden i s a mixture o f g l a c i a l till and weathered rock. This material i s n o t f r e e draining and contains an average 15% moisture a t a d e n s i t y o f 1.72 kg/m3. The undrained shear strength was determined t o be 5 5 . 2 kPa w i t h a O0 f r i c t i o n angle. Therefore, t h e height o f a dump developed w i t h t h i s material i s c r i t i c a l . I n Greenhills K-Spoil f o r example, t h i s material, a t a height o f 24m, was found t o slump from an i n i t i a l face angle o f 40 down t o 26O over a period o f several months. For planning purposes, t h e material must be k e p t t o a minimum h e i g h t and be contained. Rehandle c o n s i s t s o f a mixture estimated t o be 85% waste rock and 15% overburden which has been subjected t o weathering f o r 5 - 10 years. T h i s m a t e r i a l i s not f r e e draining b u t does drain s i g n i f i c a n t l y b e t t e r than overburden. The f r i c t i o n angle i s 33O. Samples o f rehandle from Taylor P i t show a s i z e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f 68% gravel, 27% sand and 5 % s i l t and c l a y . I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o note t h a t a f t e r compaction t e s t i n g , t h e r e i s a s h i f t i n t h e s i z e d i s t r i b u t i o n between 15 and 20% t o t h e f i n e r s i d e . T h i s material has caused uns t a b l e c o n d i t i o n s i n No. 2 S p o i l , which i s 200m h i g h , both a t the time o f dumping and many months l a t e r a f t e r it had been covered by waste rock. During i n i t i a l dumping, t h e rehandle did not f r e e - r o l l t o t h e dump bottom. T h i s created an oversteepened face o f 40. For planning purposes, t h i s m a t e r i a l should be contained and kept t o a minimum h e i g h t . Dump Height For waste r o c k , t h e r e i s no r e s t r i c t i o n on t h e dump h e i g h t . Where overburden i s t o be placed i n an unconfined dump a r e a , t h e maximum h e i g h t designed i s 25m. An estimated height o f 60m i s used f o r

FORDING COAL LIMITED

801

rehandle. This e s t i m a t e i s based on % of t h e f r e e - r o l l i n g h e i g h t o f t h e rehandle observed on No. 2 S p o i l . Development of t h e Waste Dumps Three main types of dumps developed a t Fording a r e f r e e , wraparound and formed p i l e s a s i l l u s t r a t e d i n F i g u r e 3. Dump a r e a s a r e b u i l t using a combination of t h e s e t y p e s . The t y p e of dump chosen depends on p h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n s of t h e s i t e , t h e q u a n t i t y of p a r t i c u l a r m a t e r i a l s expected from t h e p i t and t h e i r d e l i v e r y schedule. Free dumping i n v o l v e s t h e placement o f m a t e r i a l s from a s p e c i f i c e l e v a t i o n i n one l i f t o n l y . These dumps a r e g e n e r a l l y a t l e a s t 90m high. The h e i g h t of t h e s e dumps does n o t a l l o w f o r t h e placement o f s i g n i f i c a n t q u a n t i t i e s of overburden o r r e h a n d l e . Free dumps on t h e Eagle Mountain s i d e were e s t a b l i s h e d t o accommodate s h o r t waste h a u l s from t h e h i g h e r e l e v a t i o n s i n Clode and Taylor P i t s ( s e e F i g u r e s 2 and 8 ) . Wrap-around dumps i n v o l v e t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of long dumps a t s u c c e s s i v e l y lower e l e v a t i o n s . They g e n e r a l l y p a r a l l e l t h e s l o p e contours of t h e v a l l e y w a l l s . T h i s t y p e of dump i s used f o r road c o n s t r u c t i o n and containment of weak m a t e r i a l . The lower p o r t i o n o f t h e wrap-around a l s o p r o v i d e s t o e s u p p o r t t o t h e h i g h e r dumps. Res l o p i n g of t h e s e dumps f o r r e c l a m a t i o n , r e q u i r e s t h e l e a s t amount o f work. There a r e two ways i n which t h e wrap-around method can b e The used t o c o n t a i n t h e weak m a t e r i a l s a s shown i n F i g u r e 4. b a r r i e r t y p e i s used where t h e r e i s s u f f i c i e n t q u a n t i t y of waste rock a v a i l a b l e t o p r e c e d e d e l i v e r y of t h e weak m a t e r i a l . The waste rock t o e t y p e i s used when t h e weak m a t e r i a l i s r e l e a s e d b e f o r e t h e waste rock i s a v a i l a b l e . The waste rock wrap-around i s b u i l t a s soon a s p o s s i b l e ( w i t h i n months) a f t e r t h e weak m a t e r i a l i s i n p l a c e . Formed dumps a r e developed by t h e d e p o s i t i o n of waste i n l a y e r s o r l i f t s . This type of dump i s used i n t h e G r e e n h i l l s p i t a r e a s t o minimize u p h i l l waste haulage ( s e e F i g u r e 9 ) . T h i s type of dump w i l l accommodate overburden m a t e r i a l s because of t h e r e l a t i v e l y low l i f t height. U W MONITORING AND CONTROL W A S T E D Monitoring The two t y p e s of monitoring a r e v i s u a l and measured. The v i s u a l examination i s done by r e g u l a r o b s e r v a t i o n of t h e dump f a c e f o r bulges and t h e dump s u r f a c e f o r c r a c k s . S i g n i f i c a n t b u l g e s a r e those which i n t e r r u p t t h e l i n e of s i g h t t o t h e dump t o e . Tension and s h e a r c r a c k s a r e common on a l l dumps. Large t e n s i o n c r a c k s p a r a l l e l t o t h e f a c e , can b e 30 t o 60m long and up t o l O O m back from t h e f a c e . These c r a c k s do n o t a p p e a r t o b e r e l a t e d t o dump

3RD STABILITY IN SURFACE MINING

WASTE DUMP TYPES AT FORDING

2. Wrap-Around Dump

Figure 3. Idealized Section Showing Dump Type and Development Sequence stability. They are believed to be a result of differential compaction due to increased dump height toward the crest. Shear cracks are most common near the dump crest. These cracks indicate the amount of crest movement which is directly related to dump stability. The rate of movement at the dump crest is measured on a routine basis using an extensometer, locally termed a "spoil-monitor." The monitors consist of two stands with pulleys, a steel pin, a weight and durable light wire. The set-up is illustrated in Figure 5. Figure 6 shows a monitor set-up on No. 2 Spoil. As the face of the pile settles, the relative displacement between the pin and weight is measured. The monitors are placed 30 to

FORDING COAL LIMITED

CONTAINMENT METHODS AT FORDING

1 Waste Rock Barrier

2 Waste Rock Toe Support

WEAK MATERIAL

Figure 4. Sketch Showing Methods Used to Contain Weak Material lOOm beside the active face. Readings are taken once per shift under normal circumstances. If the daily displacement increases and exceeds 0.5m, then readings are taken more frequently. The steepness of the foundation slope has an influence on monitor rates. On No. 2 Spoil, crest movement decreased from 0.6 0.8m/day to less than 0.2m/day as the toe advanced over a 27O slope to a 14O slope. Precipitation has not influenced the rate of movement.

3RD STABILIW IN SURFACE MINING

FORDING WASTE PILE MONITORING

-1
30-IW~

1 -

7 C R E S T MOVEMENT

Figure 5. I d e a l i z e d Diagram Showing Monitoring Done on Waste Dumps Dump Control Dump c o n t r o l i s maintained by monitoring t h e c r e s t movement and developing a long o r a l t e r n a t e dump a r e a . Most dumps a r e b u i l t with a 300m long f a c e t o enable development of s e v e r a l dump a r e a s . When c r e s t movement i s a c c e l e r a t i n g and exceeds 0.5m/day, dumping i n the This 0.5m/day l i m i t i s considered a r e a i s temporarily stopped. c o n s e r v a t i v e . Rates of movement i n e x c e s s of 1.5m/day have occurred on No. 2 S p o i l without any subsequent mass f a i l u r e . Figure 7 shows a r e c e n t example of dump c o n t r o l on No. 2 S p o i l . I t i s e v i d e n t t h a t s h o r t l y a f t e r times of "no dump", t h e c r e s t movements decreased r a p i d l y back t o normal. The unstable conditions occurred d i r e c t l y a s t h e r e s u l t of rehandle being placed i n t h e dump. S h o r t l y a f t e r it had been b u i l t up, t h e rehandle a r e a beqan t o s e t t l e r a p i d l y u n t i l it reached a s t a b l e condition. Once c r e s t movements had decreased and s t a b i l i z e d , waste rock was dumped over i t . The rehandle beqan t o y i e l d a g a i n a f t e r e i g h t months. Rapidly i n c r e a s i n g c r e s t movements slowed back t o normal r a t e s a f t e r dumpinq was stopped. Figure 7 a l s o shows t h a t p r e c i p i t a t i o n does n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n f l u e n c e c r e s t movement. There was a l s o no e f f e c t when the average

3RD STABILITY IN SURFACE MINING

p ? 6 -

-WASTE 1 . 5J

R O C K -

lll~rthsno d u m p l d r d dump swlh l o m t h IREH'LI ..--NORTH MONITOR

-1.0-

3 2 IND~!~) 5 5 (Soulhl

SOUTH MONITOR

=
I -

; I
O.L---

iE

0 >

0
I w C

Figure 7 . Chart showing r a t e of c r e s t movement r e l a t e d t o dump a c t i v i t y , d a i l y r a t e of waste production from Taylor P i t and d a i l y p r e c i p i t a t i o n . Note t h a t during p e r i o d s of "no dump", waste was hauled t o an a l t e r n a t e dump.

T a b l e 1: Waste Dumps a t F o r d i n g Dump Foundation Slopes

Dump
Review o f S t a b i l i t y

Features

Height

Dump Type

EAGLE MOUNTAIN ( s e e F i g u r e 7)

NO.

1
17O No F a i l u r e s . Free

1. Developed i n a g u l l e y 2. C o n t a i n s i n i t i a l C l o d e P i t w a s t e which w i l l be rehandled during T a y l o r P i t mining.

ax.

eon

- - -

NO.

1. w i l l u l t i m a t e l y c o n t a i n 21.2 m i l l i o n bcm w a s t e from Clode and T a y l o r pits.

5O-31 200~ Free

la0

1. May, 1972. ~ w o f a i l u r e s on foundation slopes o f 255O - 375O. 2. ~ u l y , 1974. A f a i l u r e r e s u l t e d f r o m c o n t i n u e d dumping d e s p i t e a b n o r m a l l y h i g h c r e s t movement. 3. Nov. 1974. A f a i l u r e r e s u l t e d from c h a n g e i n s l o p e p r o f i l e from t o 30. 4. Nov. 1974. A f a i l u r e r e s u l t e d from y i e l d i n g o f a l o c a l a r e a o f weak o r g a n i c f o u n d a t i o n s o i l s . 5. 1980-81. Dump c o n t r o l n e c e s s a r y t o s t a b i l i z e r e h a n d l e p l a c e d o n t h e dump.
NO

8
failures.

f~o.5 10'-20' 160m Free

1. P a r t i a l l y d e v e l o p e d o n s l i d e d e b r i s from NO. 2.
5O 50m Wrap-Around

5
NO

r F
failures.

No.

1. owes st w r a p i n t h e E a g l e Mtn. dump complex. 2. Used a s c o a l h a u l a g e road f o r Turnbull.

=i

NO.

1. C o n t a i n s a n e s t i m a t e d 15% o v e r b u r d e n . 2. Used a s c o a l h a u l a g e r o a d f o r C l o d e and Taylor Pits.

5O 90m

Wrap-Around

No f a i l u r e s .

TURNBULL

1. T h e s e dumps h a v e b e e n r e s l o ~ e dt o 26' 28O and reclaimed.

50m 7O-28' 60m

10'

Free

NO

failures.

BLACKWOOD

1. C o n t a i n s 2 . 3 m i l l i o n bcm w a s t e r o c k .

Free

1. Aug. 1980. A f a i l u r e r e s u l t e d from y i e l d i n g o f a l o c a l a r e a o f weak o r g a n i c f o u n d a t i o n s o i l s .

0 0

' a

Foundation Slopes

Dump

Dump Type Review o f S t a b i l i t y

L!%!
Height

Features

GREENHILLS R A N G E (see Figure 8) 15' No f a i l u r e s . Max. 60m Free + w r a p Around

1. C o n s t r u c t i o n o f a l a r g e

w a s t e r o c k "donut" a r o u n d o r g a n i c found a t i o n m a t e r i a l provided a p l a c e f o r t h e 200 o v e r b u r d e n i n t h i s dump. 2. 40,700 bcm o r g a n i c p e a t removed from the southeastern foundation a r e a .

lsO Max.
60m

"C"

1. Overburden can be placed i n the central portion 10~-12~ 30m Wrap-Around

o0
14m Formed

No f a i l u r e s

1. C o n t a i n s a n e s t i m a t e d

No f a i l u r e s .

60% o v e r b u r d e n . 2. The o v e r b u r d e n i s 24m h i g h and i s c o n t a i n e d by a w a s t e r o c k t o e b u i l t 15m below t h e overburden e l e v a t i o n . N / A 90m N / A

DRAGLINE

1. Some f a i l u r e s o c c u r r e d i n t h e e a r l y s t a g e s o f
mining when s a t u r a t e d o v e r b u r d e n was p l a c e d i n p i l e s on a 5 ' foundation slope.

1. T h e r e is no s e g r e qation of coarse rock t o t h e bottom

T a b l e 1 ( c o n t . ) : Waste Dumps a t F o r d i n g

FORDING COAL LIMITED

81 1

i n p a r t i c u l a r , D.B. Campbell. The e n g i n e e r i n g s t a f f a t F o r d i n g were v e r y h e l p f u l i n c r i t i c a l l y r e v i e w i n g t h i s p a p e r .

REFERENCES Campbell, D.B., and Shaw, W . H . , 1978 "Performance of a Waste Rock Dump on Moderate t o S t e e p l y S l o p i n g F o u n d a t i o n s " , S t a b i l i t y i n Coal Mining, p r o c e e d i n g s of t h e f i r s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l Symposium on S t a b i l i t y i n Coal Mining, Vancouver, B.C., A p r i l , 1978,

Question

Is dump movement o c c u r r i n g a l o n g t h e a r e a o f c o n t a c t w i t h t h e foundation, i n t h e foundation s u b s o i l s o r confined t o t h e waste material.

Answer The dump movement t h a t we m o n i t o r o c c u r s a s a r e s u l t of s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e m a t e r i a l w i t h i n t h e p i l e s n e a r t h e c r e s t . Movement of t h e dump a t t h e f o u n d a t i o n o n l y o c c u r s i n l o c a l a r e a s where weak o r g a n i c s o i l s g r e a t e r t h a n 0.3m t h i c k h a v e n o t been removed. G e n e r a l l y , t h e r e is no dump movement a l o n g t h e f o u n d a t i o n c o n t a c t b e c a u s e t h e compacted till s o i l i s s t r o n g e r t h a n t h e w a s t e m a t e r i a l s . Question I n l e a c h i n g dumps, t i m e l a g s between w a t e r on-flow r a t e s and r e c o v e r y r a t e s a t t h e dump t o e may b e s e v e r a l weeks. Have you c o n s i d e r e d t h i s i n your p r e c i p i t a t i o n c o r r e l a t i o n . Answer No. The extreme c a s e o f t h i s would b e s n o w f a l l where t h e r u n - o f f o r "recovery" c o u l d be months a f t e r t h e p r e c i p i t a t i o n . However, i t h a s been o u r e x p e r i e n c e t h a t r a i n f a l l d o e s n o t immediately ( w i t h i n one week) a f f e c t t h e dump. I t can a f f e c t t h e s t r e n g t h o f o r g a n i c founda t i o n s o i l s and c a u s e them t o f a i l . Question What p o s s i b i l i t y i s t h e r e t h a t w i t h t i m e , t h e r e a d i l y d e g r a d a b l e s h a l e s w i l l e v e n t u a l l y s e t t l e t o t h e l o w e r p o r t i o n o f t h e dumps, t h u s l y r e d u c i n g t h e p e r m e a b i l i t y and i n c r e a s e dump w e i g h t due t o increased water.

812
Answer

3RD STABILITY IN SURFACE MINING

The key p o i n t s h e r e a r e ' t i m e ' and ' s l o p e ' . W e d o n ' t know how long i t would t a k e f o r t h i s mechanism t o o c c u r i f it w i l l o c c u r . Our e x p e r i e n c e i s t h a t No. 1 dump, which was developed o v e r e i g h t ( 8 ) y e a r s a g o , s t i l l d r a i n s e f f e c t i v e l y a t t h e t o e . You may r e c a l l from m y p r e s e n t a t i o n , a s l i d e which showed a l a r g e "bowl" above No. 1 dump. S n o w f a l l a c c u m u l a t i o n s i n t h i s bowl can be s i x metres p e r y e a r . A l l t h e run-off from t h a t a r e a goes through No. 1 dump. The second p o i n t i s t h e f o u n d a t i o n s l o p e . Water flowing on a r e l a t i v e l y s t e e p s l o p e w i l l be a b l e t o c a r r y a g r e a t e r sediment l o a d t h a n on v e r y s h a l l o w o r f l a t s l o p e s because o f t h e h y d r a u l i c g r a d i e n t . No. 1 dump h a s f o u n d a t i o n s l o p e s from lo0 t o 17O. Question Have you managed t o c o r r e l a t e dump c r e s t i n s t a b i l i t y w i t h r , a t e of dump advance. A t B o u g a i n v i l l e , e x p e r i e n c e h a s i n d i c a t e d t h a t 1 metre/ day i s c r i t i c a l f o r t h i s s i t u a t i o n . Answer The r a t e of dump advance a t F o r d i n g depends on t h e r a t e of l o a d i n g and t h e dump h e i g h t . W e d o n o t measure t h e r a t e o f advance b u t u s e t h e " S p o i l Monitors" t o measure t h e r a t e o f c r e s t movement. The c r i t e r i a t h a t we c o n s i d e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f a n u n s t a b l e c o n d i t i o n developing i s when t h e m o n i t o r s i n d i c a t e a n a c c e l e r a t i n g c r e s t movement above a r a t e of 0.5 m/day.
A s shown i n F i g u r e 7 , t h e normal c r e s t movement f o r o u r h i g h e s t dump, No. 2 dump, d o e s n o t change when t h e r a t e of l o a d i n g i s i n c r e a s e d

from 8 , 0 0 0 bcm/day Question

t o 1 6 , 0 0 0 bcm/day.

Are t h e dumps l o c a t e d i n a s e i s m i c l y a c t i v e a r e a . I f s o , h a s t h i s been incorporated i n the design. Answer The p r o p e r t y i s n o t l o c a t e d i n a s e i s m i c l y a c t i v e a r e a and we do not incorporate t h i s aspect i n t o our design.
I s h o u l d n o t e t h a t l a r g e b l a s t s ( a p p r o a c h i n g 500,000 K g of e x p l o s i v e s ) i n nearby Clode and T a y l o r P i t s have n o t had any e f f e c t on dump stability.

Question What p r e p a r a t i o n s a r e made on n a t u r a l ground s u r f a c e p r i o r t o w a s t i n g on t h a t s u r f a c e . Answer G e n e r a l l y , where weak o r g a n i c s o i l s a r e i n e x c e s s o f 0.3m t h i c k , t h e y

FORDING COAL LIMITED

a r e removed. The g l a c i a l till below t h i s i s n o t removed b e c a u s e i t i s s t r o n g e r t h a n t h e w a s t e m a t e r i a l s p l a c e d on it. Question Did you e s t a b l i s h a m a t h e m a t i c a l model t o e x p l a i n t h e t y p e o f f a i l u r e s you've g o t . Answer No. However, a l l f a i l u r e s have been a combination o f c i r c u l a r a r c t y p e through t h e dump and p l a n e f a i l u r e a l o n g t h e f o u n d a t i o n . Question
I t would a p p e a r t h a t w a s t e dumps a t F o r d i n g a r e c o n s t r u c t e d by g u i d e l i n e s t h a t a r e f a r from t h o s e t h a t would b e allowed by O.S.M. i n t h e United S t a t e s . Could you comment on t h e P r o v i n c i a l r e g u l a t i o n s t h a t govern t h e s t a b i l i t y o f w a s t e dumps i n B.C.

Answer B a s i c a l l y , f o u r a r e a s must b e a d d r e s s e d when a p p l y i n g f o r Government a p p r o v a l t o b u i l d dumps: a. A g e o t e c h n i c a l a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e dump s t a b i l i t y must be made f o r t h e development s t a g e and f i n a l dump. At F o r d i n g , we u s e c o n s u l t a n t s t o a n a l y s e t h e s t a b i l i t y o f a p r o p o s e d dump and s u b m i t t h e i r r e p o r t w i t h t h e p e r m i t a p p l i c a t i o n . The e f f e c t s on w a t e r q u a l i t y a r e p r e d i c t e d . T h i s work i s u s u a l l y done in-house a t F o r d i n g . The l a n d d i s t u r b a n c e must b e o u t l i n e d . T h i s i n v o l v e s a s s e s s i n g t h e e c o l o g i c a l e f f e c t o f b u i l d i n g a w a s t e dump i n a c e r t a i n l o c a t i o n . T h i s work i s done in-house a t Fording. A p l a n f o r r e c l a m a t i o n i s a l s o i n c l u d e d . The l o n g t e r m d e s i g n must a l l o w f o r r e s l o p i n g and r e v e g e t a t i n g t h e dumps.

b.

c.

d.

Once t h e dump i s completed, t h e f o l l o w i n g t h r e e t h i n g s must b e done a s follow-up: a. b. c. The dump must be r e s l o p e d t o 26O. The 26' s l o p e s must b e r e v e g e t a t e d t o t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e M i n i s t e r o f Energy, Mines & P e t r o l e u m R e s o u r c e s . Drainage i n t h e a r e a must b e r e - e s t a b l i s h e d t o t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e M i n i s t e r o f Environment