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Design and Application of Underground Mine Paste Backfill Technology

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An Erratum to this article was published on 20 December 2007

Abstract

This paper reviews the design and application of paste backfill in underground hard rock mines used as ground support for pillars and walls, to help prevent caving and roof falls, and to enhance pillar recovery for improved productivity. Arching after stope filling reduces vertical stress and increases horizontal stress distribution within the fill mass. It is therefore important to determine horizontal stress on stope sidewalls using various predictive models in the design of paste backfill. Required uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) for paste backfill depends on the intended function, such as vertical roof support, development opening within the backfill, pillar recovery, ground or pillar support, and working platform. UCS design models for these functions are given. Laboratory and backfill plant scale designs for paste backfill mix design and optimization are presented, with emphasis on initial tailings density control to prevent under-proportioning of binder content. Once prepared, paste backfill is transported (or pumped) and placed underground by pipeline reticulation. The governing elements of paste backfill transport are rheological factors such as shear yield stress, viscosity, and slump height (consistency). Different models (analytical, semi-empirical, and empirical) are given to predict the rheological factors of paste backfill (shear yield stress and viscosity). Following backfill placement underground, self-weight consolidation settlement, internal pressure build-up, the arching effect, shrinkage, stope volume, and wall convergence against backfill affect mechanical integrity.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by IRSST (Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail/Robert-Sauvé research institute for occupational safety and health, Quebec), with parts funded by NSERC (Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada) and NATEQ (les Fonds de recherche sur la nature et les technologies/Natural science and technologies research fund, Quebec). The authors gratefully acknowledge their support.

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  1. Department of Applied Sciences, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), 445, boul. de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada, J9X 5E4

    Tikov Belem & Mostafa Benzaazoua

  2. Department of Applied Sciences, CRC on Integrated Management of Sulphidic Mine Tailings by Backfilling, UQAT, Rouyn-Noranda, Canada

    Mostafa Benzaazoua

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  1. Tikov Belem
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Correspondence to Tikov Belem.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10706-007-9167-y

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Belem, T., Benzaazoua, M. Design and Application of Underground Mine Paste Backfill Technology. Geotech Geol Eng 26, 147–174 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-007-9154-3

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