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The Launch of LOP III
The Launch of LOP III (2020, 2021 and 2022) For the past 15 years, the Large Open Pit project has provided a forum for senior geotechnical staff from the sponsor mining companies to meet, discuss and fund research into the geotechnical aspects of open-pit mining. The original basis for the LOP in 2005 was a recognition that there had been little or no research into open-pit slopes geotechnics since the publication of Rock Slope Engineering (Hoek and Bray 1981) and the Pit Slope Manual (CANMET, Canada 1977). The LOP I was, therefore, initiated in 2005 with the involvement of between 10 and 14 sponsoring mining companies and followed two main [Read more]
Guidelines for Slope Performance Monitoring
The latest Large Open Pit Guidelines on Slope Performance Monitoring, the fifth in the series written by industry experts and international researchers, is now available online (currently pre-order only) through the links below: https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/7862 https://www.lopproject.com/guidelines/ After the official launch in July 2020, interested readers will also be able to access it from book retail websites or by placing an order with their local bookshop. It will also be available in an eBook format around mid-July 2020. The 10 chapters present the process of establishing and operating a slope monitoring system, the fundamentals of pit slope monitoring methods and instrumentation, monitoring system operation, data acquisition, management and analysis, and utilisation and [Read more]
LOP III Meeting #1
In view of the COVID-19 situation, a scaled-down LOP III Meeting #1 was held online, focusing on Research Proposals for LOP III – Open Pit of the Future. The meeting was held over a two-day period on May 11 from 7 – 10 am and May 12 from 12 – 3 am (Brisbane time) to accommodate time zone differences between the LOP Sponsors. LOP III – Open Pit of the Future will run for 3 years from 2020 to 2022, sponsored by at least 10 global mining companies, expected to include Anglo American, Anglo Gold Ashanti, Barrick, BHP, Debswana, Fortescue, Glencore, Newcrest, Rio Tinto and Vale. Other international mining companies also attended the meeting and are [Read more]
LOP Online Lecture by Prof. Evert Hoek
In this LOP Presentation, Professor Evert Hoek is providing insights into the use of rock masses as engineering materials with an emphasis on large open-pit mine slopes. The presentation is based on Prof Hoek’s recent public talk at a symposium in Brisbane in December 2018 for the celebration of the 80th birthday and the retirement of Professor Ted brown. The paper presented in 2018 was entitled “The Hoek-Brown Criterion and GSI 2018 Edition”, and is published in the journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. It is noted that the Brisbane presentation was for a general audience, and Prof Hoek has made several significant changes in this LOP presentation in [Read more]
LOP II Elko Meeting (23-26 October 2019, USA)
The Large Open Pit (LOP II) Sponsors Management Committee (SMC) Meeting #9 was held in Elko (Nevada, US) from 23 to 26 October 2019. The focus of the meeting was reporting progress towards the completion of LOP II Projects and planning for LOP III – Mine of the Future funding. The meeting was held in the Nevada Gold Mines Elko Business Office, and attendees visited Barrick's Goldstrike and Gold Quarry mines on Saturday 26 October. The next LOP Meeting will be held in Perth in May 2019 proceeding the 2020 Slope Stability Conference.
LOP Online Lectures
The Large Open Pit Project invites international experts in the field of Slope Stability Design a few times a year and the video recordings will become available online for public access. The quality of the recordings does vary, and you may have to modify your volume levels when watching or look closely to see some slides. A list of available online lectures can be found here.