The development of a ground support system the Pasminco Broken Hill Mine

The Pasminco Broken Hill Mine has a history dating back some 90 years. In that time ground support has played a major role in the variety of mining methods utilised at the operation. Over the years Broken Hill has played a major role of ground support and reinforcement development, and is still one of the largest consumers of rockbolts, cable dowels and shotcrete in the Australian mining industry. In 1997, management considered it appropriate to review the ground support and reinforcement systems, procedures and quality of ail previously installed ground support and reinforcement within the mine. Consequently, a ground support audit was carried out over the 90 kilometres of accessible openings within the mine. The audit was one of the largest undertakings of its type carried out and considered aspects such as: 1. Ground condition 2. Water presence 3. Installed ground support and reinforcement condition, coverage and age 4. Remedial ground support and reinforcement quantities and priorities. The information was then used as a basis for establishing a ground support system utilising mine design, geotechnical and operational considerations to systematically allocate rockbolt, cable dowel and shotcrete resources.