Modelling methodology: Structural geology and rock mass behaviour at Kiirunavaara Mine

Mining induced seismicity and rockbursting significantly increased in the LKAB Kiirunavaara Mine when mining production progressed beyond 700 m depth. Since 2008, significant work has been done at LKAB to better understand their induced seismicity. It has been identified that the majority of seismic events in the mine are likely caused by the interaction of mining excavations and structural geology. Two complimentary PhD projects (funded by LKAB) are underway at Lulea University of Technology to address the cause of the seismicity experienced at the mine, with one concentrating on mine seismology and one on rock mechanics. The rock mechanics project, the focus of this paper, concentrates on quantifying relationships between mining sequences, geomechanical and geological conditions, stress changes and induced seismicity at the mine. A series of numerical models will be developed based on an extensive data acquisition campaign to examine the interaction between the mining and geological systems. The role of structural geology in mine behaviour and its application to mine planning is of particular focus within these models. This paper presents the methodology of the rock mechanics project, including: data acquisition, data analysis, and numerical stress analysis models and modelling techniques.