Caverns and underground mines

Cavern mines, also known as underground mines, are a type of mining operation that involves the extraction of minerals or resources from underground caverns or cavities.

The stability of the caverns can be impacted by several factors, such as changes in water pressure, changes in the rock mass properties, and the presence of geological faults. Therefore, geotechnical monitoring is extremely important in cavern mining operations to ensure the safety and stability of the underground cavities and the surrounding area.

Geotechnical monitoring involves the use of various instruments to continuously monitor the stability and behaviour of the underground cavities and surrounding rock mass. These instruments can measure parameters such as rock deformation, stress, and strain, as well as water pressure and flow. The instruments that can be utilized are vibrating wire strain gauges, piezometers, pressure cells, anchor load cells, crackmeters, tilt meters and DEX-S digital extenso-inclinometers.

Overall, geotechnical monitoring is critical in cavern mining operations to ensure the safety and stability of the underground cavities, and to optimize the mining process.