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_75_ <br />• <br />SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS <br />General Discussion <br />The principal purpose of this investigation was to determine <br />• <br />if the proposed configuration of the open pit mine would be stable. <br />The relative stability of the proposed slopes ~~~as evaluated using <br />several different analytical techniques. The mathematical analyses <br />generally compare the stresses existing within the slope with the <br />available shear strengths of the materials at various depths, The <br />ratio of the total available shear strength divided by the imposed <br />shearing stresses is defined as the factor of safety. Factors of <br />safety of less than 1 imply that the slope has failed, At a factor <br />of safety of 1, the available shear strength approximately equals <br />the shear stresses imposed and incipient failure is inferred. Com- <br />paring the results of various methods of analysis and the computed <br />factor of safety, the critical zones and the most Tikely modes of <br />failure can be determined. Prior to making a mathematical analysis <br />of the slope, a considerable amount of data must be developed in order <br />to construct a mathematical model <br />The following data is necessary <br />in any method of stability analysis. <br />1. The sequence and nature of occurrence of any soils, water <br />and bedrock within the proposed slope must be defined. <br />2. Geologic discontinuities such as bedding planes, fractures <br />and joint spacing must be considered in estimating the most <br />likely failure mode. <br />• <br />