EGU22-9278
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-9278
EGU General Assembly 2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Multiscale characterization of chaotic rock body for mining backfill remediation

Chiara Caselle1, Sabrina Maria Rita Bonetto1, Pietro Mosca2, Arianna Paschetto1, Davide Vianello1, Andrea Garello1, and Fabio Paletto1
Chiara Caselle et al.
  • 1Torino University, Via Valperga Caluso 35, Torino, Italy
  • 2Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, CNR, Torino, Italy

The sustainability of geomineral resourses’ exploitation may be assured only in presence of adequate plans for the re-use and reclamation of old or abandoned sites. Among the most commonly used techniques, mining backfill is largely employed for the stabilization of underground sites. This technique recreates the original stress state of the underground, assuring the definitive stabilization of the hypogea volumes, and reduces the risks due to the interference between underground tunnels and ground surface (e.g. possible collapses and surface subsidences). Despite these obvious advantages, careful evaluations are needed to assure the environmental sustainability, with particular attention to the interaction between the hydro-geological and permeability features of the rock body and the chemical properties of the backfill material.

The present research proposes an analysis of the advantages and the risks connected with this technique, examining a case study of mining backfill in an underground gypsum quarry at the end of the active exploitation. The considered quarry is located in Monferrato (NW Italy) and is exploited within chaotic Messinian deposits made of gypsum blocks (from centimeter-size to kilometer-size) included in a marly matrix. The study includes a campaign of field and laboratory tests (i.e. geological and geo-structural mapping and modeling, geophysical surveys, mechanical and permeability tests) that aim at characterize the permeability and mechanical behaviour of the rock mass.

How to cite: Caselle, C., Bonetto, S. M. R., Mosca, P., Paschetto, A., Vianello, D., Garello, A., and Paletto, F.: Multiscale characterization of chaotic rock body for mining backfill remediation, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-9278, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-9278, 2022.