LOURENCE GEOTECHNICAL PTY LTD

ACN 093 981 358 / ABN 14 093 981 358

Specialists in underground and surface mining rock mechanics

P O Box 2053 E-mail: lourence@emerge.net.au Tel/Fax: (08) 9022 3388

Boulder, WA 6449 Mobile: 0409 107 752

3 June 2004
Steve Webber
Geotechnical Engineer
Mincor Operations Pty Ltd
PO Box 56
Kambalda, WA 6444

RE: 568704924.doc

Steve,

As per our discussion today, this note outlines general recommendations for the design and
placement technique for cemented aggregate fill (CAF) for Miitel strike drives and
subsequent crown pillar recovery.

1. Mix Design

Mix Cement Mullock UCS UTS

(dry tonnes) (dry tonnes) (MPa) (kPa)
A 4.8 30 4-11 500-1400
B 4.8 35 4-10 450-1250
C 4.8 40 3-9 400-1100
D 4.8 45 3-8 350-950
E 4.8 50 3-7 300-900

2. Horizontal Drive Width vs Mix and Thickness

Width Vertical Mix Design UCS

Thickness design
(m) (MPa)
4 1 C 6.0
5 1 A 8.3
6 2 E 2.1
7 2 E 2.6
8 2 D 5.4

Note: Design UCS includes a factor-of-safety of 2.0

568704924.doc 3-June-2004 Lourence Geotechnical Pty Ltd

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568704924.doc 3-June-2004 Lourence Geotechnical Pty Ltd

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Stope Prep and Placement Technique

 Strike drive height must be high enough to allow an R1300 bogger to drive on
top of the backfill (with vent bag in the backs). As a general rule, allow 3m for
an R1300 bogger.
 Either stripping the backs or taking a flatback lift above the strike drive prior to
placement of CAF can create extra height.
 Prior to placing CAF, stope prep must be placed on the floor of the stope.
First, place a 300mm marker layer of gypsum, sand or crushed aggregate.
This is needed to prevent drillers from boring into the CAF during crown pillar
extraction. Also, the marker bed creates a soft cushion to prevent blast
damage to the CAF.
 Next, place sheets of mesh on top of the marker bed. Shackle the sheets
together, but do not bolt them to the walls. Simply place the sheets flat on top
of the marker bed. The main purpose of the sheets is to visually identify the
extent of blast damage to the CAF pillar during crown pillar LH stoping. If the
mesh sheets are bolted to the wall, it can create an area of weakness in the
CAF by preventing proper compaction in the lower footwall or hanging wall
corner of the drive.
 Mix cement and crushed aggregate together on surface. Add sufficient water
to make a “soupy” looking batch of CAF. It is better to add too much water
than to have the mix be too dry.
 Truck the CAF underground to the nearest stockpile to the strike drive to be
backfilled.
 Mix the CAF in the stockpile using the bogger and make any final adjustments
to the water content.
 Bog the CAF to the stope/access intersection and build up to the full design
height (marked on the sidewall with a survey paint line).
 Continue driving forward, dumping CAF, and building up to full design height
before moving forward. This ensures proper compaction without creating any
planes or weakness in the CAF. This is a very important point for bogger
operators and supervisors to be aware of.

Regards,
Peter Lourence

568704924.doc 3-June-2004 Lourence Geotechnical Pty Ltd