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Mr. Jim Mattern <br />March 19, 2007 <br />Page 27 <br />parameter to observed fracturing. Displacements are used for this. Figure 18 shows a <br />comparison of model surface displacements for G-Strike pit failure to mapped surface cracking <br />from September 2005 failure. It appears that surface cracking occurred somewhere between <br />0.12-0.14 ft surface displacement. This is not unreasonable given the data collected from <br />surface benchmark movements. Where this prediction breaks down is when displacements <br />become large and the entire hill begins to move, which can be seen in Figure 19. Nonetheless, <br />the model can be used to predict failure by using this limiting 0.12-0.14 ft surface displacement <br />as failure criteria. <br />To summarize the calibration analysis, high pore pressures and very low bedding plane <br />strengths were required on the weak mudstone seam in the model in order to match the observed <br />failure in the Gs-6 strike highwall face. These would not have been expected to be present given <br />available information on water levels in observation wells and laboratory testing. <br />G-DIP PIT PRE-MINING CONDITION <br />From the calibrated model we are now interested in what it can tell us about the condition <br />of the slope prior to excavation of the G-Dip Pit box cut. By examining the failed zones on only <br />the weak mudstone seam, shown in Figure 20, it can be seen that there is failure disturbance <br />predicted nearly 3,000 ft updip of the Gs-6 highwall. Yet the I2-K sandstone interbed layer <br />above the weak mudstone seam (~60 ft deep) remains in an essentially unfailed elastic condition, <br />as indicated in Figure 21. Note that in this figure, the tensile failed zones (green and orange <br />colors) are where the historic landslides have been identified from aerial photographs. These <br />areas are predicted by the model to the southeast and southwest from this figure. <br />As a result of the weak mudstone seam being disturbed a long distance updip, measurable <br />displacements occur updip as well. Figure 22 indicates that displacements greater than about <br />0.15 ft were isolated to the immediate Gs-6 highwall face area (same state as Figure 13). <br />However, small displacements extend 3,000 ft updip. Even at OS-GI-CCR core hole location <br />where the TDR was installed 1,220 ft updip of the Gs-6 highwall failure, the predicted <br />displacement is 0.84 inches (0.07 ft) prior to dip mining. <br />To summarize the pre- dip pit mining conditions, by assuming high pore pressures and <br />low strengths on the weak mudstone seam in the model, the predicted disturbance on the weak <br />mudstone seam extends a significant distance updip of the Gs-6 highwall. However, even under <br />these extreme conditions the model predicted the overall slope to be stable before the Gd-2 dip <br />box cut was made. <br />G-DIP BOX CUT PIT CONDITIONS <br />The model was then extended to simulate dip mining to the east of the G-Pit area. <br />Assuming high pore pressures, low strengths on the weak mudstone seam, and partial mining in <br />the box cut (to I2-Seam in north and K-Seam in south) predicted displacements significantly <br />Agapito Associates, Inc. <br />