Letters to the Editor Mines make use of rock mechanic engineers

It is unfair and incorrect to categorically “observe” that industry is not using the best available technology for rock mechanics and that “upper management has chosen to pay it only lip service.”

The fact that some “properties” have allegedly chosen not to purchase a certain computer software tool for stress modelling seems to be the main basis for your blanket condemnation of the mining industry. One can also infer from your article that at one of the properties visited a fairly outspoken manager with only a few years left to retirement was encountered. Assuming the reluctance of such a manager to invest in anything other than those with short-term economic returns as the reason for not allowing purchase of the software program is a dubious conclusion at best.

Even prior to the Stevenson commission report (published in 1986), the track record of the mining industry in the field of rock mechanics has been fairly impressive.

Appendix 1 of the Stevenson report outlines examples of research projects undertaken by 15 major mining companies in Ontario. The projects covered such items as pit slope stability, strength tests and stress monitoring of various materials, deformation experiments using extensometers, sub- audible noise studies, sonic velocity measurements, microseismic work and installatio ns, de-stressing experiments, photo-elastic gauging, extraction ratios, stope size and shape monitoring, computer modelling, and historical data collecting on failed and stable pillars to name some of the items. All these activities required great expenditures by mining companies and involved various research groups, committees and consulting firms — an effort that could hardly be referred to as “only lip service.” And all of that was before the Stevenson report.

Current surveys would show an increase in rock mechanics personnel and a higher degree of sophistication in rock mechanics programs, including better computer modelling and a predictive software.

In the summer of 1988, a ground control audit was conducted at our mine by the ministry of labour. A detailed report concludes in part that “the mine engineering staff is to be congratulated for its excellent engineering practice — with the present approach, concerns with respect to ground control and ground stability are addressed well before any mining takes place.”

Our company uses computer modelling, among other things, in a comprehensive rock mechanics program. We reviewed the recommendations of the Stevenson report while still in its draft form, and have implemented the recommendations pertaining to our operation.

Mattabi Mines Limited invites you to visit our property and observe first hand our existing rock mechanics program and discuss our short-range plans for future improvements.

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