Develop guidelines for the design of pillar systems for shallow and intermediate depth, tabular, hard rock mines and provide a methodology for assessing hangingwall stability and support requirements for the panels between pillars

Abstract

The design of hard rock pillars, in shallow to intermediate depth hard rock mines, has been redefined as the determination of the pillar system load bearing capacity. This entails the ability to design each of the components of the pillar system: the panel span, the pillar and the foundation. Design charts have been produced that allow assessment of stability for a particular set of geotechnical and geometric inputs, for each component. Design flowcharts have been produced to show the simple and practical use of the charts within an overall design process for each of the components of the pillar system