Stability assessment of the stopes and crown pillar of the S'Argentera abandoned mines using empirical approach, focused on a possible tourist exploitation, Ibiza, Spain

Abstract:

The argentiferous lead mines of S'Argentera in Ibiza (Balearic Islands, Spain) are an abandoned underground complex of mines dating from the first decade of the 20th Century. The stability of the main stopes and the crown pillar of the mines, one part of which passes under the road between Santa Eulalia and San Carles de Peralta, has been evaluated. This study assesses the possibility of allowing public access to the surface of the mining area and beginning a project to open a show mine in the underground stopes and galleries. Stability is evaluated using an empirical approach through the O index, scaled span method and stability graph to measure the risks to be assumed and the actions to be taken regarding safety in order to allow public access or to close off an area with mining stopes underneath. The results of the analysis show that the stopes themselves have an appropriate Factor of Safety, however, regarding the crown pillar the probability of failure and public access it is required a geotechnical monitoring program. The scaled span and stability graph approaches consider in more realistic way the geometry of the excavations than the application of the Q index support chart (in two dimensions).

Año de publicación:

2016

Keywords:

Fuente:

scopus