Geomechanical characterization of a heterogenous rock mass using geological and laboratory test results: a case study of the Niobec Mine, Quebec (Canada)

ABSTRACT: To conduct a successful geomechanical characterization of rock masses, an appropriate interpretation of lithological heterogeneity should be attained by considering both the geological and geomechanical data. In order to clarify the reliability and applicability of geological surveys for rock mechanics purposes, a geomechanical characterization study is conducted on the heterogeneous rock mass of Niobec Mine (Quebec, Canada), by considering the characteristics of its various identified lithological units. The results of previous field and laboratory test campaigns were used to quantify the variability associated to intact rock geomechanical parameters for the different present lithological units. The interpretation of geomechanical similarities between the lithological units resulted in determination of three main rock units (carbonatite, syenite, and carbonatite-syenite units). Geomechanical parameters of these rock units and their associated variabilities are utilized for stochastic estimation of geomechanical parameters of the heterogeneous rock mass using the Monte Carlo Simulation method. A comparison is also made between the results of probabilistic and deterministic analyses to highlight the presence of intrinsic variability associated with the heterogeneous rock mass properties. The results indicated that, for the case of Niobec Mine, the carbonatite-syenite rock unit could be considered as a valid representative of the entire rock mass geology since it offers an appropriate geomechanical approximation of all the present lithological units at the mine site, in terms of both the magnitude and dispersion of the strength and deformability parameters. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: Evaluating the reliability and applicability of geological survey outcomes for rock mechanics purposes. A geomechanical characterization study is conducted on the heterogeneous rock mass by considering the various identified rock lithotypes. The geomechanical parameters of intact units and their associated variabilities are used to stochastically estimate the geomechanical parameters of the heterogeneous rock mass by employing the Monte Carlo Simulation. A comparison is also made between the results of probabilistic and deterministic geomechanical analyses. The results indicate that, in the case of Niobec Mine, the combined syenite-carbonatite rock unit could be considered as a valid representative of the entire rock mass. .