Geo-Technical Investigations and Rock Mass Characterization of Quartz Biotite Chlorite Schist of Singhbhum Thrust Belt

Abstract

Introduction of new technology and mechanization in underground mine working, driven by increasing need of sustainable usage of mineral resources, yields a chance to exploit untouched resources at greater depth. The design of drives, pillars and other underground structures in hard rockmass such as quartz-biotite-chlorite-schist presents a major challenge to geologists and engineers. The complex structure and the composition of these materials, resulting from the deposition and tectonic history, make it quite difficult to be classified as by the widely used rockmass classification system. The rockmass property of quartzbiotite-chlorite schist of Singhbhum thrust belt has been determined in laboratory of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. The dynamic and static properties of the rockmass such as uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), modulus of elasticity (E), Poisson’s ratio (v) and RMR for this geological formation are determined and presented in this paper. The outcome of the study may be of useful for the design of underground excavation in the mineral rich zone, particularly, in Jaduguda area, East Singhbhum, India. The result of this study may be implemented for excavation design using numerical method (FEM), empirical method and analytical techniques.