Laserfiche WebLink
Martin Marietta Materials <br />Spec -Agg 2015 Annual Report <br />intersecting sets that may result in wedge failure include foliation F -1 and joint P -3. Planar failure is not <br />indicated in the stereonet plot for Northeast Wall 2. As described above, the development and size of <br />wedge failures will be controlled by the variability and limited lateral extent of the discontinuities. As <br />excavation proceeds in the Northeastern walls, additional measurements are needed to refine the <br />representative discontinuity orientations of these joint and foliation sets in this area to evaluate their <br />potential contribute to large -scale slope failure modes. <br />The stereonet plot for Northeast Wall 3 indicates a potential planar failure mode along foliation F -1 for this <br />slope orientation (Figure 9). This is the same foliation orientation that was believed to contribute to the <br />1998 slope instability in the Northwest Wall. The stereonet plot for Northeast Wall 3 shows two <br />discontinuity intersections that fall within the failure envelope, suggesting that wedge failure is <br />kinematically possible for this slope orientation (Figure 9 and Photo 5). The intersecting sets that may <br />result in wedge failure include foliation F -1 and joint P -3, and joint sets P -2 and P -7. Based on the current <br />as well as previous year data set, joint P -7 has weak signatures represented by relatively few measured <br />orientations representing these features (Figure 6). The Northeast Wall 3 was not accessible for direct <br />measurements or observations during our site visits. Additional measurements and observations are <br />needed to assess the potential for large scale planar sliding along foliation F -1 as excavation continues to <br />extend below the Northeast Wall 3. <br />The stereonet plot for Northwest Wall shows one discontinuity intersection that falls within the failure <br />envelope, suggesting that wedge failure is kinematically possible for this slope orientation (Figure 10). <br />The intersecting sets that may result in wedge failure include foliation F -1 and joint P -2. Planar failure is <br />not indicated in the stereonet plot for Northwest Wall (Figure 10). However, there is a potential for planar <br />sliding along foliation F -1 to develop due to variation of orientation as excavation continues to extend <br />below the Northwest Wall. <br />For the 2004 analysis (L &A, 2004), the long -term impact of foliation F -1 on the stability of both the <br />northeast and northwest walls was further investigated using discontinuity data that included elevation <br />information for the foliation orientation. This data were plotted on a chart showing dip angle in degrees <br />versus elevation in feet (for chart see L &A, 2004). The data resulted in an increase in the number of <br />daylighting foliation planes that start at an elevation of 6,325 ft and continue with increased frequency to <br />below the planned final pit elevation. Due to the possibility of a lower friction angle along the foliation <br />plane (as low as 5 °, average 280) as determined from the 2003 Geotechnical Study (L &A, 2003), the <br />potential exists for future instabilities to occur on the northern walls as the pit is excavated to its final <br />depth. These shallow dipping discontinuities along the foliation can have a significant impact on the <br />stability of the north wall and should be monitored closely as excavation progresses. As discussed in the <br />previous section, an east -west striking unnamed fault zone was previously exposed in the northwest <br />corner of the Main Pit. In addition, a north -south trending fault has been newly mapped based on our <br />observations from the recent site visits. Due the presence of faults and potentially adverse discontinuity <br />orientations on the north walls, the slopes should be closely monitored as mining continues. <br />Our analysis indicates that potential planar and wedge failures may form in individual benches along the <br />northern walls with near vertical faces during the temporary conditions prior to reclamation. <br />February 25, 2015 Page 13 Lachel & Associates, Inc. <br />Project 14364006 00 ©2015 All Rights Reserved <br />