PROJECT OVERVIEW
At Mount Gibson Iron's Koolan Island mine, which produces premium iron ore at 63% iron content, a rockfall event in October 2020 affected the main pit footwall. The incident involved approximately 5500 tonnes of sandstone, with dimensions of 40m x 50m x 1.5m, failing along an undercutting joint slip.
Following this event, MGI took immediate action, engaging geotechnical design firm Coffey to conduct a comprehensive review and define remedial requirements. Geovert was subsequently brought in to develop and implement a robust stabilization strategy to ensure continued safe access to this valuable ore body.
PROJECT SOLUTION
Geovert implemented a stabilization approach beginning with controlled top-down scaling following established safety protocols. A remote-controlled excavator drill was deployed for initial support of the upper face regions, followed by custom-designed wagon drills for the remaining zones.
The technical approach was developed through collaboration between Geovert's geotechnical team, MGI's site team, and Coffey Engineers, resulting in an solution using Self Drilling Anchors. Our specialized equipment fleet, including the High Reach Drill (HRD) and SuperBoom, enabled efficient installation while maintaining safety standards.
Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the project demonstrated effective delivery of complex geotechnical solutions in challenging mining environments.
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Koolan Island Mine, Australia
Ground Support
GROUND SUPPORT, HIGHWALL STABILIZATION, GROUND ANCHORS, DESIGN & CONSTRUCT, ROCK BOLTS, ROPE ACCESS, SCALING