Draw control is a critical aspect of block cave mining operations. In this article, Kim Nesbitt, Associate Geotechnical Engineer at Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics, explores how draw control plays a pivotal role in ensuring the efficiency, safety and viability of the large-scale underground mining process and the importance of accurate data in planning, monitoring and execution.

Tailings dam rehabilitation is a complex task requiring both technical expertise and innovative solutions. These large structures, holding millions of cubic metres of mining waste, present significant environmental and societal risks if not managed properly. Here, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, Ahmad Zarei delves into the evolving methods used to safely rehabilitate tailings dams, exploring cutting-edge approaches that balance environmental responsibility with long-term structural stability.

When it comes to training and developing geotechnical engineers, the global playing field is anything but level. Natural-resource-rich developing countries face compounding challenges, extending from resources, facilitation of formal programs and funding, to talent attraction and retention, often with complex cultural systems also at play.

Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics Principal Consultant Tim Cartledge explores this globally significant issue, with insights from Senior Lecturer Jannie Maritz from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Raiseboring – creating a vertical shaft into underground mine pits without explosives – is conceptually straightforward. In practice, however, it can be a complex story, with many factors including location ground condition and structure, projected service lifespan and other engineering considerations at play.

In this article, Phillip Quinn, Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics Senior Geotechnical Engineer, explores the process and how thorough geotechnical investigation, in collaboration with all stakeholders, can greatly improve a raiseboring project’s safe completion.

From the planning and design phases to closure and rehabilitation, corporate governance has significant impacts throughout the entirety of a mine’s life cycle. So, it is important that we, as geotechnical engineers, understand the structures behind corporate governance to best achieve compliance.

In this piece, Wouter Hartman explores how governments and regulators are striding towards a more sustainable and safe future for the mining industry, through the improved regulatory, compliance and risk management processes that underpin how a corporation conducts its business. Wouter also shares his knowledge on common corporate governance structures.

Design optimisation is frequently front of mind when designing a mining project. However, in an industry with a high potential of risk, it is of the utmost importance that we, as geotechnical engineers, place higher value on incorporating safety measures in the design process to ensure the safety of workers on a mine site.

Scott Lines, Senior Geotechnical Engineer at Red Earth Engineering, discusses how safety must be prioritised in every phase of operations, including from the conceptual to the detailed design phase, and provides key tips on how to incorporate the essential safety measures in design to best prepare for the common pitfalls.

For geotechnical engineers, it’s easy to go straight for the detail, the data, and pour energy into what’s perceived, and known, to work best. In this article, Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics Director Tim Cartledge explores the simple yet often overlooked process of stepping away from the desk, getting out on site and just looking at the rocks – adding another dimension to the benefits of numerical modelling – to gain the fullest picture of what’s really going on.

When it comes to geotechnical investigation and design, laboratory testing plays a fundamental role in ensuring the success of any project. However, like any industry, when you take a look under the microscope there are usually more than one challenge that need to be addressed.

In this article, Zhongwei Chen, Associate Professor for the School of Mechanical & Mining Engineering, at The University of Queensland, investigates the challenges such as sample availability and preparation, which hinder laboratory testing and how addressing such challenges can provide long term benefit for Australia’s mineral and resources sector well into the future.

At its core, geotechnical engineering is nothing without accurate and complete Data Acquisition and Data Management.

In this article, Jed Watts, Client Relationship Manager at Datanest - software that enables the geotechnical industry to improve efficiency and accuracy – looks at the pivotal role data plays in ensuring not only the technical success of a project but also the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the entire process.

As industry adopted data sharing standards become more complex, the need to understand quality control around geo data collection is as crucial as ever.

In his article, Declan Vanderhor from TabLogs looks at the changing landscape of data and how organisations can leverage their own internal databases to scale for efficiency and effective outcomes.

If there was ever a corporate buzz word, ESG would have to be it in recent times. ESG is impacting nearly every organisation in the world. If you haven’t felt that impact yet, you will. There is a tsunami of new ESG disclosure requirements on the way, and that means visibility, questions and information requests under many more rocks of businesses.

Sustainability is the word on everyone’s lips today and for good reason: The effects of climate change have accelerated faster than even the experts had predicted, faster than evolution can keep up with.

Ensuring current guidelines for tailings dams are implemented and conformed to by clients is an important undertaking. In this article we hear from principal geotechnical engineer Keith Mandisodza at Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics on why developing new frameworks is essential to achieving better governance and management

How the mining industry monitors tailings dams has evolved over the years with advancements in technology, AI and research and development. In this article, GroundProbe’s Paul Davies discusses the approach to preventing tailings dam disasters with expert, Leo Probst. Here, they reflect on the past catastrophic tailings dams events and how new advancements in technology can ensure optimal safety and reduced risk for both miners and communities.

The next generation of geotechnical engineers globally is facing a raft of challenges – with training, competency requirements and regulations across regions, as well as emerging technologies, all at the top of that list.

While drones are already readily in use on mine sites for surveying, inspecting inaccessible areas of a mine and photogrammetry, the use of automated and piloted technology will only continue to expand in the future. Friction sat down with Mat Allan to hear his predictions for the immediate future for the geotechnical industry and how technology is changing the face of mining.

With renewable energy and technology driving increased demand for ore and minerals at a time when extensive orebodies have become harder to access – block caving is more frequently hyped as the future of mining. But is this technique as efficient, safe, or as well understood as it should be?