COURSE UNIT TITLE

: BACKFILLING METHODS IN UNDERGROUND MINING

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
MDN 3339 BACKFILLING METHODS IN UNDERGROUND MINING ELECTIVE 2 0 0 3

Offered By

Mining Engineering

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MEHMET VOLKAN ÖZDOĞAN

Offered to

Mining Engineering
Mining Engineering (Evening)

Course Objective

Depending on the type of underground mining method, large voids occur after extraction of ore that may cause stability problems in rock. Therefore these voids are filled with suitable materials. Backfill materials are also used to reduce subsidence effects and to improve underground support structure. Sources of backfill materials can be waste rock, mill tailings from mineral processing, natural sand, gravel and binder. The objective of this elective course is to learn of backfilling methods, determination of suitable backfill material properties, backfill transportation, placement and monitoring systems, case studies about backfilling and cost analysis.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   Able to classify backfilling methods used in underground mining.
2   Able to select appropriate backfill material and its properties.
3   Able to understand preparation, transportation, placement and monitoring of backfill material.
4   Able to calculate numerical requirements and to design backfilling system.
5   Able to perform cost analysis for different backfilling methods.

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Aim of backfilling and backfill methods
2 Calculation of amount of Backfill material
3 Backfill materials and their properties
4 Cemented Rockfill and its properties
5 Hydraulic Backfill and its properties
6 Paste Backfill and its properties
7 Preparation and transportation of backfill material
8 Placement and monitoring of backfill material
9 Rockfill practices around the world
10 Hydraulic Backfill practices around the world
11 Paste Backfill practices around the world
12 Backfill practices in underground mining from Türkiye
13 A case study on Hydraulic Backfill design and its economical evaluation
14 A case study on Paste Backfill design and its economical evaluation

Recomended or Required Reading

Baldwin, G., Grice A.G. (2000). Engineering the New Olympic Dam Backfill System, in Proceedings Massmin 2000, pp 705-711.
Belem, T., Benzaazoua, M. (2004). An overview on the use of paste backfill technology as a ground support method in cut-and-fill mines, Ground Support in Mining and Underground Construction Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Ground Support, Perth, Australia.
Belem, T., Benzaazoua, M. (2008). Design and Application of Underground Mine Paste Backfill Technology, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 147-174.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Presentation, Homework, Practice

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MTE MIDTERM EXAM
2 ASG ASSIGNMENT
3 FIN FINAL EXAM
4 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MTE * 0.30 + ASG * 0.20 + FIN * 0.50
5 RST RESIT
6 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MTE * 0.30 + ASG * 0.20 + RST * 0.50


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

Mid-term : LO1, LO2, LO3
Homework : LO4, LO5
Final Exam : LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Course Policies and Rules

To be announced.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

Asisst. Prof. Dr. Alper Gönen
Dokuz Eylül UNiversity, Faculty of Engineering,
Department of Mining Engineering
Tınaztepe Campus, Buca/Izmir
Tel: 232 301 75 32
Email : alper.gonen@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

Hours will be determined later

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 14 2 28
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 14 1 14
Preparation for midterm exam 1 8 8
Preparation for final exam 1 12 12
Preparing assignments 1 8 8
Preparing presentations 1 4 4
Final 1 2 2
Midterm 1 2 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 78

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13PO.14PO.15
LO.1212211122111
LO.211233111133311
LO.33233421222411
LO.443334113233322
LO.5334241113133321