Research on the flow characteristics of fragmented ore and rock in the non-pillar sublevel caving method

DONG Qiuping; LI Cui; ZHANG Liangbing; YANG Chengye; MA Zhiwei; XU Jiye; LI Jielin

doi:10.7513/j.issn.1004-7638.2025.05.021

Volume 46 Issue 5

Oct. 2025

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > IRON STEEL VANADIUM TITANIUM > 2025 > 46(5): 190-197

DONG Qiuping, LI Cui, ZHANG Liangbing, YANG Chengye, MA Zhiwei, XU Jiye, LI Jielin. Research on the flow characteristics of fragmented ore and rock in the non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. IRON STEEL VANADIUM TITANIUM, 2025, 46(5): 190-197. doi: 10.7513/j.issn.1004-7638.2025.05.021

Citation:

DONG Qiuping, LI Cui, ZHANG Liangbing, YANG Chengye, MA Zhiwei, XU Jiye, LI Jielin. Research on the flow characteristics of fragmented ore and rock in the non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. IRON STEEL VANADIUM TITANIUM, 2025, 46(5): 190-197. doi: 10.7513/j.issn.1004-7638.2025.05.021

Citation:

DONG Qiuping, LI Cui, ZHANG Liangbing, YANG Chengye, MA Zhiwei, XU Jiye, LI Jielin. Research on the flow characteristics of fragmented ore and rock in the non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. IRON STEEL VANADIUM TITANIUM, 2025, 46(5): 190-197. doi: 10.7513/j.issn.1004-7638.2025.05.021

PDF( 2699 KB)

Research on the flow characteristics of fragmented ore and rock in the non-pillar sublevel caving method

doi: 10.7513/j.issn.1004-7638.2025.05.021

1.
Pangang Group Mining Co., Ltd., Panzhihua 617000, Sichuan, China
2.
School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan, China

More Information

Received Date: 2025-01-21
Accepted Date: 2025-02-28
Rev Recd Date: 2025-02-22
Publish Date: 2025-10-30

Abstract

Abstract

The flow behavior of rock and ore debris is one of the critical factors affecting the ore loss rate and dilution rate in the sublevel caving method. Based on the mining characteristics of an underground mine in the Panxi region, the shape of drawn-out body of rock and ore debris was determined using the hole volume measurement method, and numerical simulations were conducted with the "Particle flow code in 2 dimension (PFC2D) " software. The flow characteristics of the debris and their impact on the dilution and loss rates were analyzed. Results indicate that the drawn-out body of ore obtained from both numerical simulation and laboratory testing are largely consistent, exhibiting well-defined ellipsoidal development features. The primary cause of high dilution and loss rates is the incorporation of waste rock at the top, front, and sides of the drawn-out body of ore. Based on these findings, recommendations for optimizing the layout of the ore drawing openings were proposed, providing a theoretical foundation to enhance recovery rates at the mine.
- caving method,
- ore drawing law,
- discrete element method,
- similarity test,
- dilution rate

FullText(HTML)

References(24)

References

[1]	SONG D L, WANG C W, LI S P, et al. Physical simulation experiment research on ore residual bodies in non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Metal Mine, 2024(4): 1-6. (宋德林, 王春旺, 李少普, 等. 无底柱分段崩落法矿石残留体物理模拟实验研究[J]. 金属矿山, 2024(4): 1-6. SONG D L, WANG C W, LI S P, et al. Physical simulation experiment research on ore residual bodies in non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Metal Mine, 2024（4）: 1-6.
[2]	TAN B H, LONG W H, GONG Z, et al. Research on the combined ore drawing scheme and experiment of non-pillar sublevel caving method in restricted space[J]. Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, 2023, 43(2): 10-15. (谭宝会, 龙卫国, 龚臻, 等. 限制性空间内无底柱分段崩落法组合式放矿方案及实验研究[J]. 矿冶工程, 2023, 43(2): 10-15. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-6099.2023.02.003 TAN B H, LONG W H, GONG Z, et al. Research on the combined ore drawing scheme and experiment of non-pillar sublevel caving method in restricted space[J]. Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, 2023, 43（2）: 10-15. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-6099.2023.02.003
[3]	ZHANG J, YE Y C, YAO N, et al. Study on the stope structure parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving method for steeply inclined medium-thick ore bodies[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2023, 43(3): 13-21. (张杰, 叶义成, 姚囝, 等. 急倾斜中厚矿体无底柱分段崩落法采场结构参数研究[J]. 矿业研究与开发, 2023, 43(3): 13-21. ZHANG J, YE Y C, YAO N, et al. Study on the stope structure parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving method for steeply inclined medium-thick ore bodies[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2023, 43（3）: 13-21.
[4]	LIU X L, ZHANG Z Q, LIN H Y, et al. Influence of compaction degree on the ore drawing effect of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2023, 43(2): 19-23. (刘秀良, 张治强, 林洪叶, 等. 压实度对无底柱分段崩落法放矿效果的影响[J]. 矿业研究与开发, 2023, 43(2): 19-23. LIU X L, ZHANG Z Q, LIN H Y, et al. Influence of compaction degree on the ore drawing effect of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2023, 43（2）: 19-23.
[5]	YANG Y, ZHANG Z Q, SHI Y B, et al. Influence of different mining sequences on the ore drawing effect in non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2023, 43(1): 1-7. (杨彧, 张治强, 石勇宾, 等. 无底柱分段崩落法不同回采顺序对放矿效果的影响[J]. 矿业研究与开发, 2023, 43(1): 1-7. YANG Y, ZHANG Z Q, SHI Y B, et al. Influence of different mining sequences on the ore drawing effect in non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2023, 43（1）: 1-7.
[6]	XU L F. Numerical simulation analysis of the ore drawing scheme of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Mining Technology, 2022, 22(2): 29-32. (许力峰. 无底柱分段崩落法放矿方案数值模拟分析[J]. 采矿技术, 2022, 22(2): 29-32. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-2900.2022.02.009 XU L F. Numerical simulation analysis of the ore drawing scheme of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Mining Technology, 2022, 22（2）: 29-32. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-2900.2022.02.009
[7]	REN F Y, MING XU, LI H Y, et al. Optimization research on the mining scheme for inclined medium-thick ore bodies in Hainan iron mine[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2021, 41(11): 1-4. (任凤玉, 明旭, 李海英, 等. 海南铁矿倾斜中厚矿体开采方案优化研究[J]. 矿业研究与开发, 2021, 41(11): 1-4. REN F Y, MING XU, LI H Y, et al. Optimization research on the mining scheme for inclined medium-thick ore bodies in Hainan iron mine[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2021, 41（11）: 1-4.
[8]	GAO Z. Optimization of the mining technology of non-pillar sublevel caving method in Heishan iron mine[J]. Hebei Metallurgy, 2021(10): 46-49. (高展. 黑山铁矿无底柱分段崩落法开采工艺优化[J]. 河北冶金, 2021(10): 46-49. GAO Z. Optimization of the mining technology of non-pillar sublevel caving method in Heishan iron mine[J]. Hebei Metallurgy, 2021（10）: 46-49.
[9]	LUO C Y, WANG Z. Numerical analysis of the formation of uncovered rock layer and low dilution ore drawing scheme in non-pillar sublevel caving method for a gold mine[J]. Modern Mining, 2021, 37(10): 69-73. (罗才严, 汪朝. 某金矿无底柱分段崩落法无岩覆盖层形成及低贫化放矿方案数值分析[J]. 现代矿业, 2021, 37(10): 69-73. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6082.2021.10.017 LUO C Y, WANG Z. Numerical analysis of the formation of uncovered rock layer and low dilution ore drawing scheme in non-pillar sublevel caving method for a gold mine[J]. Modern Mining, 2021, 37（10）: 69-73. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6082.2021.10.017
[10]	CHEN L, CHEN X G, YUAN Q K, et al. Ore drawing tests with different structure parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving method for a mine[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2019, 39(8): 1-5. (陈烈, 陈星明, 袁侨坤, 等. 某矿无底柱分段崩落法的不同结构参数放矿试验[J]. 矿业研究与开发, 2019, 39(8): 1-5. CHEN L, CHEN X G, YUAN Q K, et al. Ore drawing tests with different structure parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving method for a mine[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2019, 39（8）: 1-5.
[11]	ZHAO Y L, CHEN Y M, LI C, et al. Optimization research on the structure parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Chemical Minerals & Processing, 2019, 48(7): 16-21. (赵颖龙, 陈玉明, 李超, 等. 无底柱分段崩落法结构参数优化研究[J]. 化工矿物与加工, 2019, 48(7): 16-21. ZHAO Y L, CHEN Y M, LI C, et al. Optimization research on the structure parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Chemical Minerals & Processing, 2019, 48（7）: 16-21.
[12]	LI N, CHANG S, CHANG G F, et al. Optimization of mining parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2019, 39(5): 1-5. (李楠, 常帅, 常贯峰, 等. 无底柱分段崩落法回采参数优化[J]. 矿业研究与开发, 2019, 39(5): 1-5. LI N, CHANG S, CHANG G F, et al. Optimization of mining parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Mining Research and Development, 2019, 39（5）: 1-5.
[13]	PETERS D C. Physical modeling of the draw behavior of broken rock in caving[J]. Colorado School of Mines Quarterly, 1984, 79(1): 1-71.
[14]	POWER G R. Modelling granular flow in caving mines: Large scale physical modelling and full scale experiments[D]. Brisbane: University of Queensland, 2004: 45-73.
[15]	CASTRO R, GÓMEZ R, PIERCE M, et al. Experimental quantification of vertical stresses during gravity flow in block caving[J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 2020, 127: 104237. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104237
[16]	SUN H, JIN A B, GAO Y T, et al. Study on the shape of the discharged body under different end wall inclination angles and determination of the optimal blasting step distance[J]. Chinese Journal of Engineering, 2016, 38(2): 159-166. (孙浩, 金爱兵, 高永涛, 等. 不同端壁倾角条件下放出体形态研究及最优崩矿步距的确定[J]. 工程科学学报, 2016, 38(2): 159-166. SUN H, JIN A B, GAO Y T, et al. Study on the shape of the discharged body under different end wall inclination angles and determination of the optimal blasting step distance[J]. Chinese Journal of Engineering, 2016, 38（2）: 159-166.
[17]	WANG H J, YIN S H, WU A X, et al. Experimental study on the flow characteristics and influencing factors of caved ore and rock[J]. Journal of China University of Mining & Technology, 2010, 39(5): 693-698,715. (王洪江, 尹升华, 吴爱祥, 等. 崩落矿岩流动特性及影响因素实验研究[J]. 中国矿业大学学报, 2010, 39(5): 693-698,715. WANG H J, YIN S H, WU A X, et al. Experimental study on the flow characteristics and influencing factors of caved ore and rock[J]. Journal of China University of Mining & Technology, 2010, 39（5）: 693-698,715.
[18]	CHEN Q F, WANG S P, QIN S K, et al. Discrete element simulation on the evolution characteristics of force chains of fragmented ore and rock in multiple funnels under flexible isolation layers[J]. Chinese Journal of Engineering, 2020, 42(9): 1119-1129. (陈庆发, 王少平, 秦世康, 等. 柔性隔离层下多漏斗散体矿岩力链演化特征的离散元模拟[J]. 工程科学学报, 2020, 42(9): 1119-1129. CHEN Q F, WANG S P, QIN S K, et al. Discrete element simulation on the evolution characteristics of force chains of fragmented ore and rock in multiple funnels under flexible isolation layers[J]. Chinese Journal of Engineering, 2020, 42（9）: 1119-1129.
[19]	WU A X, WU L C, LIU X H et al. Study on the structural parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Journal of Central South University (Science and Technology), 2012, 43(5): 1845-1850. (吴爱祥, 武力聪, 刘晓辉, 等. 无底柱分段崩落法结构参数研究[J]. 中南大学学报(自然科学版), 2012, 43(5): 1845-1850. WU A X, WU L C, LIU X H et al. Study on the structural parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Journal of Central South University (Science and Technology), 2012, 43（5）: 1845-1850.
[20]	SUN H, ZHU D F, JIN A B, et al. Flow characteristics of caved ore and rock based on uneven block size distribution[J]. The Chinese Journal of Nonferrous Metals, 2022, 8(32): 2435-2444. (孙浩, 朱东风, 金爱兵, 等. 基于不均匀块度分布的崩落矿岩流动特性[J]. 中国有色金属学报, 2022, 8(32): 2435-2444. SUN H, ZHU D F, JIN A B, et al. Flow characteristics of caved ore and rock based on uneven block size distribution[J]. The Chinese Journal of Nonferrous Metals, 2022, 8（32）: 2435-2444.
[21]	WANG Y X, ZHOU Z H, YANG A G, et al. Study on the stope structure parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving mining method[J]. Gold, 2015, 36(6): 29-32. (王友新, 周宗红, 杨安国, 等. 无底柱分段崩落采矿法采场结构参数研究[J]. 黄金, 2015, 36(6): 29-32. doi: 10.11792/hj20150607 WANG Y X, ZHOU Z H, YANG A G, et al. Study on the stope structure parameters of non-pillar sublevel caving mining method[J]. Gold, 2015, 36（6）: 29-32. doi: 10.11792/hj20150607
[22]	HAN Z Y. Research on the mining technology of sublevel caving method for broken inclined medium-thick ore bodies[D]. Shenyang: Northeastern University, 2013. (韩智勇. 破碎倾斜中厚矿体分段崩落法开采技术研究[D]. 沈阳: 东北大学, 2013. HAN Z Y. Research on the mining technology of sublevel caving method for broken inclined medium-thick ore bodies[D]. Shenyang: Northeastern University, 2013.
[23]	YANG G Y, CHEN Y M. Theoretical research and exploration on non-dilution ore drawing of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Nonferrous Mining and Metallurgy, 2015, 31(5): 15-17. (杨宫印, 陈玉明. 无底柱分段崩落法无贫化放矿理论研究与探索[J]. 有色矿冶, 2015, 31(5): 15-17. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1007-967X.2015.05.005 YANG G Y, CHEN Y M. Theoretical research and exploration on non-dilution ore drawing of non-pillar sublevel caving method[J]. Nonferrous Mining and Metallurgy, 2015, 31（5）: 15-17. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1007-967X.2015.05.005
[24]	TAO G Q YANG S J, REN F Y. Experimental study on the flow performance of fragmented caved ore and rock[J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2009, 10(30): 2950-2954. (陶干强, 杨仕教, 任凤玉. 崩落矿岩散粒体流动性能试验研究[J]. 岩土力学, 2009, 10(30): 2950-2954. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-7598.2009.10.010 TAO G Q YANG S J, REN F Y. Experimental study on the flow performance of fragmented caved ore and rock[J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2009, 10（30）: 2950-2954. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-7598.2009.10.010