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Definitions
Primary fragmentation the fragmentation
defined by the blocks in the vicinity of the
cave back as they separate from the cave back
when the undercut is mined and caving is
initiated.
Secondary fragmentation the fragmentation
produced in caved ore or rock during residence
in the ore column and draw.
Graphical Representation
Cumulative
Wt % Passing
Tools
Block Cave Fragmentation (BCF)
Developed for prediction of both primary and secondary
fragmentation at Premier Mine.
Based primarily on rules established through experience
and engineering judgment (Esterhuizen, 1998).
Mechanistic Models
Primary Fragmentation
Discrete Fracture Networks (DFN)
Synthetic Rock Mass (SRM)
Secondary Fragmentation
Hardin model
Bridgwater model
PFC
Primary Fragmentation
Mechanistic Models
(Primary Fragmentation)
Synthetic Rock Mass
The in situ rock mass can be simulated by
developing a Discrete Fracture Network (a 3D
representation of the joints in the rock) and
embedding this in a PFC3D model of rock
(represented by spheres bonded at their contacts)
When compressed, the SRM material breaks up
into primary fragments that can be sized and
counted
Intact Rock
+
(Bonded spheres in PFC)
Joints
(DFN)
Rock Mass
Sigma 1
Sigma 1
Sigma 3 decreasing
Secondary Fragmentation
corner rounding
removal of small fragments (or fines) from the surface
of the block
Cave properties
Stress and distance travelled
Material Properties
Intact Strength
Rounding and splitting both decrease with
increasing strength
Larger blocks are weaker than smaller ones
Consistent with experimental studies
Material Properties
Block shape
Splitting increases with aspect ratio
Rounding increases with angularity
Some experimental studies suggest shape not as
important (e.g. Bridgwater et al, 2003)
Increasing Angularity
Increasing
Aspect Ratio
Material Properties
Block size distribution
Larger blocks are cushioned by smaller ones,
reducing likelihood of splitting.
Lab studies suggest that this effect results in
rotation of size distribution about the largest
fragment:
Fukumoto, 1992
Cave Factors
Stress
In BCF, splitting increases with average stress.
BCF considers that arching within the cave will
reduce average stress levels:
Yielded Zone
Cave Factors
Stress
It may be more appropriate to consider local
stresses within the cave.
Stresses are low in moving zones (IMZs) and high in
surrounding stagnant zones.
High stress in
stagnant zones
outside IMZ
Low stress
inside IMZ
Laubscher
PFC3D
Cave Factors
Distance travelled/shear strain
In BCF, both splitting and rounding increase with
distance travelled, which is a function of draw.
It may be more appropriate to consider shear
strain rather than distance travelled:
Shear strains are high at the periphery of moving zones
(IMZs) and low in the center of IMZs and in stagnant
zones (see next slide).
Flow Simulation
PFC3D simulation of isolated
draw from a 100-m high column
Left-hand side is an axis of
symmetry
Yellow vectors indicate velocity
Click on plot to
start movie
Mechanistic Models
(Secondary Fragmentation)
Compression models
Most relevant to secondary fragmentation in stagnant zones
High stress, low shear strain conditions
Breakage by splitting
Shearing models
Most relevant to secondary fragmentation in movement
zones (IMZs)
Low stress, high shear strain conditions
Breakage by rounding at low stress (producing fines) and
by both rounding and splitting at higher stress (producing
more complete fragmentation)
Initial curve
N
W K N
scs