Evaluation of slope stability in Avnik (Bingol) apatite ironopen pit by different methods

The mining operation method, which is the found economically suitable mine deposits to be operated directly excavated and production of deep mineral deposits produced after the stripping, is called the open mining method. With the increasing raw material need of the industry, mineral deposits near the surface are decreasing. However, thanks to the developing technology, deep mineral deposits can be operated economically. In this study, first of all, general information about the concept of slope stability and instability that may occur in rock slopes is given, and then slope stability analysis is mentioned. The apatite iron open pit located in Bingöl (Avnik), which is the study area, has been operated by Dimin Madencilik A.Ş since 2008 and is among the most important iron open pit enterprises of our country. Information was given about the geology and seismicity of the open pit mine. In order for the slope stability analyzes to be made to reflect the current situation, discontinuity line studies were made on the existing slopes and the direction and slopes of the discontinuities forming the rock mass were determined. The shear strength parameters of the discontinuities, whose direction and slopes were determined, were determined and kinematic analyzes were carried out to determine the type of instability that may occur in the open pit operation. Representative block samples were taken from the rock mass forming the slopes in the open pit mine in order to determine the rock material in the laboratory. By using the physical and mechanical properties of the rock material, two-dimensional and three-dimensional limit equilibrium analyzes on the existing slopes in the open pit operation and stability analyzes with the finite element method were performed, and the safety coefficients of the slopes were revealed under seismic and static conditions. Considering the slope instability observed in the open pit pit, back analyzes were made and shear strength parameters of the rock mass were determined as a result of the analyses.