1696 INJECTION AND CONSOLIDATION SOLUTIONS FOR UNDERGROUND MINES: ADDRESSING GEOTECHNICAL CHALLENGES WITH INTEGRATED APPROACHES Miguel Cueto1, Valentina Rivas2 1, 2Sika Mining Department ABSTRACT Underground mining operations often face complex geotechnical challenges such as water inflows, fractured ground, and unstable rock masses. Inadequate control of these issues can lead to unsafe conditions, reduced productivity, and loss of ore. Chemical injection techniques have emerged as a versatile solution for ground consolidation, stabilization, and water control in mines. This paper presents a condensed overview of typical underground deposit types and their associated geotechnical challenges and discusses how tailored injection and consolidation strategies can mitigate these problems. Results from case studies and field applications demonstrate that pre- and post-excavation injection (e.g., using microcement grouts, polyurethanes, acrylates and urea-silicate resins) significantly improves ground stability and reduces water ingress. In one case, strategic resin injection enabled safe extraction of a high-risk ore block without incident, while in another, grout injection of loose fill allowed recovery of previously inaccessible ore. These examples highlight the effectiveness of injection methods in enhancing safety and ore recovery. The integration of injection programs with conventional support (e.g., shotcrete and rock bolting) is crucial for a holistic ground control strategy. The authors’ experience and the wide range of injection technologies available on the market, make possible the design of site-specific solutions, from sealing water-bearing faults to consolidating weak zones, adapted to each mine’s geology. Injection and consolidation techniques, when applied in a targeted manner, address critical challenges across various underground mining contexts. By improving ground conditions and controlling water, these methods increase operational safety and efficiency, demonstrating the value of partnering with specialized providers for integrated support solutions. KEYWORDS Injection, grouting, resins, sealing water, ground consolidation, filling cavities, 1. INTRODUCTION Underground mining environments often involve challenging geological conditions that demand advanced ground control strategies. Many ore deposits are encased in complex geology with faults, shear zones, or weak rock units that can compromise excavation stability. Water is another pervasive threat: inflows along fractures or aquifers can flood workings, destabilize rock, and halt production. Traditional support methods like rock bolts and shotcrete are essential but may be insufficient in extremely fractured or waterlogged ground (Hildreth et al., 2020). In such scenarios, injection and consolidation techniques have proven to be critical tools for ground improvement. These methods involve pumping specialized grout or resin materials into rock mass discontinuities, voids, or broken ground to fill cracks, bond loose fragments, and seal water pathways. By doing so, the rock mass is effectively strengthened and waterproofed, enabling safer and more predictable mining. Injection technologies have been used in tunneling and mining for decades. High-pressure grouting with microcement began as a technique to control water and stabilize ground in European mines in the mid20th century (Barton & Quadros, 2019). Similarly, polyurethane resin injection was introduced in German coal mines in the 1960s to consolidate weak roof strata and has since become a standard practice for
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0Mzk2