Whole-mine subsidence over tabular deposits and related seismicity

The challenge of estimating mine-wide subsidence and linkages to seismicity over tabular deposits is addressed by a special finite element technique (dual node-dual mesh). Subsidence and mine-induced seismicity begins near the face when caving occurs and propagates to the surface as extraction reaches a critical extent. Thus, the challenge is to obtain details at the face at the meter scale and also at the surface over the whole mine at the kilometer scale. Interactions between old and new sections of a mine are automatically taken into account with this technique. The finite element method is well established technology based on fundamentals of physical laws, kinematics and material laws. With this technique, no empirical “scaling” or fitting computer output by input data “adjustment” to mine measurements is necessary. Capability is demonstrated for doing practical whole-mine subsidence analysis from first principles. Mine-induced seismicity is shown to correlate well with face advance and element failure.