When planar-type, wedge-type catchment and bench failures were found in a highwall at its Marinette Quarry, Specialty Granules LLC wanted to assess the highwall’s stability, identify potential hazards, and garner recommendations to achieve a stable slope and bench configuration for future mining operations at its Kremlin facility.
Barr conducted a comprehensive geotechnical assessment comprised of assessing highwall conditions; documenting joint conditions and orientation; using a high-definition laser scanner to collect topographic and rock-mass data; logging below the pit floor with an acoustic and optical televiewer; collecting rock specimens; and performing several analyses, including kinematic, general stability, plane and wedge failure, rockfall, berm offset, and bench configuration. Our in-depth assessment informed recommendations to the client for highwall and bench slope angles and configuration, best mining practices, and highwall monitoring.