Throughout 2024, Friction has continued to be a trusted resource for geotechnical professionals, providing global insights into the critical challenges and advancements within our industry.

Mine site safety depends on many factors, with a crucial component being a robust geotechnical program. Tim Cartledge, Principal Consultant at Cartledge Mining and Geotechnics, recently spoke to delegates about this topic at the Mongolia Mining 2024 International Mining Expo, held in the natural-resource rich developing country. In this article, he shares his expertise on why robust geotechnical plans are so vital, what’s at stake when there are shortfalls and how the industry can implement solid plans and embrace opportunities to drive towards a safer future.

Welcome to our second last edition of 2024. With this month’s focus on block cave mining, we look at why effective draw control is essential for optimising efficiency and safety while safeguarding ore reserves.

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.

Welcome to September. As we transition to the business end of the year, we turn our attention to a critical area of our industry: tailings dam rehabilitation. In this edition, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, Ahmad Zarei of Cartledge Mining & Geotechnics highlights the innovative methods emerging in the management and safety of tailings dams. He shares his perspective on the cutting-edge approaches being used in tailings dam management, which prioritise both environmental responsibility and long-term structural integrity.  

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.