Database analysis of slope stability for surface coal mine highwall planning

A study was conducted to develop a means of using exploration drill logs and strength property data to predict the relative slope stability of large areas of a surface coal mine. The site selected for this study was Area No. 3 of the Prairie Hill Mine in northern Missouri. Using the drill log information provided by the mine, slope stability analyses were conducted on 474 drill hole locations using frus17c. Frus17c is a computer program that uses Bishop\u27s Simplified Method of Slices to find factors of safety for slopes. The highwall slopes analyzed were those that would exist at each drill hole location. The results of these analyses for Area No. 3, for instance, showed that the interface between the unconsolidated surface material and the consolidated material was the location of least stability in all but eight cases. It was concluded that the procedures used would be adaptable for analysis at any surface coal mine in determining the safest and most productive mine plan. Recommendations were made for further development and automation of this system --Abstract, page iii