Cave Propagation, Subsidence and Mine–Surface Interaction

Along with the analysis of caving occurrence, it is also important to estimate the cave propagation rates and to define the extent of cave limits. Mining-induced subsidence is an inevitable artifact of underground ore extraction, to the point that proper planning of a cave mining project must assess the impact of ground movements on surface buildings and facilities and determine the necessary stand-off distances for the siting of mine shafts and other infrastructure.

In the case of transition from open pit to cave mining, the subsidence effect can have a destabilizing effect on the existing slopes, which must be taken into account to plan mining method migration or coexistence.

Some of the usual activities involved in this subject are:

Modeling of cave back evolution, cave propagation, and breakthrough to overlying levels or surface.

Subsidence prediction and impact assessment for pits, infrastructure, and environmental stakeholders.

Interaction studies between caves and major underground excavations (shafts, access drives, major pillars).

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