Rock Mechanics
Sina Alizadeh; Mohammad Reza Ghassemi; Mehran Arian; Ali Solgi; Zahra Maleki; Reza Mikaeil
Abstract
One of the most significant risks for investors in the dimension stone industry is the presence of natural discontinuities in the rock mass, which affect the quality of the extracted stone blocks. These discontinuities not only reduce extraction efficiency but also hinder the optimal utilization of the ...
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One of the most significant risks for investors in the dimension stone industry is the presence of natural discontinuities in the rock mass, which affect the quality of the extracted stone blocks. These discontinuities not only reduce extraction efficiency but also hinder the optimal utilization of the quarry. Therefore, it is essential to identify and analyze discontinuities in the rock before initiating any extraction activities and to assess the optimization of the extraction direction in dimension stone quarries. This study examines the key characteristics of discontinuities and joint sets, including their coordinates, strike, dip, spacing and aperture, in the Melika marble dimension stone quarry in Kerman. The collected data are then analyzed using 3DEC software to construct a quarry block model. Additionally, the azimuth rotation of different joint sets is investigated in four categories. The results obtained from the modeling indicate that, to achieve maximum blocking, the current extraction direction should be shifted 70° westward. This adjustment increases the number of blocks to 14,550, the average block volume to 5.5 m³, and the total volume of extracted stone to 79,918.9 m³. These changes are projected to generate approximately $3,180,000 in revenue for the quarry. The study highlights a practical optimization strategy that can significantly enhance the efficiency and profitability of dimension stone quarries by improving extraction direction based on discontinuity analysis.
Zahra Rezaee Shahzadehaliakbari; Mehran Arian; Mohsen Pourkermani; Ali Solgi; Anahita Keynezhad
Abstract
The Gazkhizan Copper deposit is located in the Troud-Reshm zone, Central Iran. It is situated in a shear zone bounded by the Anjilo and Troud sinistral strike-slip faults from the north and south, respectively. Mineralization is done by siliceous-shear veins along with copper mineralization. About 41 ...
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The Gazkhizan Copper deposit is located in the Troud-Reshm zone, Central Iran. It is situated in a shear zone bounded by the Anjilo and Troud sinistral strike-slip faults from the north and south, respectively. Mineralization is done by siliceous-shear veins along with copper mineralization. About 41 mapping points carried out around the fault outcrops, along with the interpretation of the Win Tensor software data and geometrical analysis of structural features paved our way to study the Riddle pattern in the region. The structural features include sinistral and dextral strike-slip faults, normal faults, reverse faults (rarely), and mineralized veins, as well as different types of shear zone fractures with different grades of copper ore. The mineralized veins in the area are frequent in four types including the R´, R, T, and X fractures, respectively. The highest number of the veins have been formed within the Riddle fractures. Because of the hybrid nature of the fractures, the veins are formed within the tensile fractures, and then they are aligned along the R fractures’ strike by the clockwise rotations. The importance and necessity of this research work is as what follows. The definitive reserve of this mineralized area is 434,500 tons of copper ore with an average grade of 1.61% of copper. For this reason, it is necessary to determine and classify the fractures that host this reserve.
