The effect of weathering on particle shape of questa mine material

S. Nunoo, V. T. McLemore, A. Fakhimi, G. Ayakwah

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The shape of particles has a significant effect on the shear strength and deformational characteristics of granular materials. Weathering can change the grain shapes. For example, more weathered sands tend to be rounder regardless of particle size. Particle shape analysis was performed on samples collected from the Questa mine rock piles, a debris flow and the pit alteration scar. In order to increase the validity of the particle shape analysis, 4 persons including 2 geologists and 2 mining engineers were involved in describing the particle shapes. The results of this analysis indicate that rock fragments in the collected samples are mainly subangular, subdiscoidal and subprismoidal. The sphericity and angularity of the rock fragments of the older analogs are similar to those of the rock piles. This suggests that short-term weathering (>100 years) has not noticeably changed the particle shapes at the test locations. Rock piles made of more angular particles are more stable compared to rock piles with rounded particles.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSME Annual Meeting and Exhibit and CMA's 111th National Western Mining Conference 2009
Pages106-120
Number of pages15
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes
EventSME Annual Meeting and Exhibit and CMA's 111th National Western Mining Conference 2009 - Denver, CO
Duration: 22 Feb 200925 Feb 2009

Publication series

NameSME Annual Meeting and Exhibit and CMA's 111th National Western Mining Conference 2009
Volume1

Conference

ConferenceSME Annual Meeting and Exhibit and CMA's 111th National Western Mining Conference 2009
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDenver, CO
Period22/02/0925/02/09

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