ACG Research Projects

This project focuses on developing robust approaches to assessing the geotechnical stability of tailings storage facilities, including filtered tailings stacks, with sub-projects contributing to knowledge generation on topics of choice of design strength parameters, optimising compaction of filtered tailings and development of guidelines for estimating potential runout from filtered tailings stacks.

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This research project focuses on rockburst risk management with sub-projects contributing to knowledge consolidation, knowledge creation and knowledge transfer. It is a 4-year project which commenced in August 2024.  

For detailed information, visit acg.uwa.edu.au/mining-induced-seismicity-and-rockburst-risk-management-in-hard-rock-mines

This project will develop new and innovative tools to assess the performance of completed stopes in terms of overbreak and underbreak. This reconciliation will feed into a new probabilistic stope design approach which will enable improved stope performance with lower overbreak and underbreak. Read more.

The key objective of this project is to facilitate the widespread adoption within the mining and processing industry of filtered and stacked tailings as a viable, safe and cost-effective management strategy. Read more.

In situ leaching coupled with electrokinetics (EK-ISL) potentially enables recovery of metals from (sub-economic) ores with a significantly smaller environmental footprint than current mining approaches. This project is seeking a refined process understanding of the gold EK-ISL system and explore the potential of EK-ISL on liberating and recovering other metals such as copper.

Key researchers: Professor Andy Fourie, Dr James Jamieson, The University of Western Australia; Professor Henning Prommer (The University of Western Australia and CSIRO); Associate Professor Massimo Rolle (Technical University of Denmark).

Sponsors: BHP, Evolution Mining, Newcrest Mining, Newmont Australia, and the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia.

Please contact the ACG for further information about this project at info-acg@uwa.edu.au

The project aims to improve the industry’s understanding of cave propagation. It involves testing of physical models of caving using a geotechnical centrifuge in order to visually observe cave propagation, something which is not achievable in caving mines. Read more

The main aims of this project are to: better understand the process of cave breakthrough into an existing cave and the associated mechanisms; test the efficacy of commonly used seismic analysis techniques in describing cave propagation and breakthrough; and test the efficacy of numerical modelling in describing cave propagation and breakthrough, including the impact of different levels of knowledge on the numerical modelling efficacy.

This project is being performed in collaboration with the Geotechnical Centrifuge Laboratory at the University of Pretoria’s Civil Engineering Department (UPCE) in South Africa.

Key researchers: Dr Daniel Cumming-Potvin; Professor Johan Wesseloo, Professor Yves Potvin, Australian Centre for Geomechanics.

Sponsor: OZ Minerals Carrapateena Pty Ltd

Please contact the ACG for further information about this project: info-acg@uwa.edu.au

This project involves testing of ground support capacity in order to improve measures to limit rockburst damage following blasting at the Cadia underground mine. Ground support is one of the main control measures used to limit rockburst damage in underground mines and thus control the seismic risk. In order to minimise damage, the capacity of the installed ground support should exceed the demand placed on it by the rockburst and the components of the support system should work as a unit.

Key researchers:  Professor Yves Potvin, Professor Johan Wesseloo, Dr Daniel Cumming-Potvin; Australian Centre for Geomechanics.

Sponsor: Newcrest Mining Limited

This project addressed technology gaps that currently exist relating to the use of tailings-based backfills and that result in significant residual risks at present. The principles of effective stress will be used to analyse the mechanisms associated with placement mechanics as well as the post placement aspects associated with exposure stability. Read more

Professor Yves Potvin, director of the ACG at the University of Western Australia, initiated the High Energy Absorption (HEA) Mesh project. The ACG has developed the new high energy absorption mesh to tackle the challenges presented by deep and high stress mining conditions and mechanised mining. Read more

Rockfalls remain the principal cause of serious injuries and fatalities in underground mines throughout the world. Mine regulators have implemented new guidelines and codes of practice to address this challenge. Additionally, mining companies have undertaken a variety of data collection programs to improve the situation. Nevertheless, the problem is by no means resolved, and there is still significant potential for sustainable reduction in the number of severe injuries due to rockfall. Read more

This project sought to minimise the financial and safety risks associated with potentially catastrophic slope failures by detecting and analysing the early microseismic warning emitted by the failing rock. Read more

The ‘Squeezing Ground Task Force’ was formed by the Australian Centre for Geomechanics as a research initiative to facilitate a better understanding of squeezing ground conditions and how different mines manage these issues. Read more

The report has contributed to a better understanding of the problems associated with slope stability monitoring, and has produced outputs beneficial to the Western Australian open pit mining industry in both short and long-term. Read more

This development of Sirovision: 3D imaging as a mining tool was initially funded by a consortium of Australian mining companies and coordinated through the ACG. Read more

This project was derived from an initiative from the Maanshan Institute of Mining Research, China, for research into the rehabilitation of iron ore tailings storages near Maanshan and into the suppression of dust forms on the surfaces of tailings facilities. Read more

The report provides an extensive database of information that is an important resource for industry. The findings from the consolidation modelling and from the evaporation studies in particular are extremely important and advance the state-of-the-art in these areas significantly. Read more

Project aim: to thoroughly investigate one of the most promising new stress management techniques that allow the determination of in situ and induced stresses using oriented cored rock samples. Read more