Dear Mathew,

According to the Glossary of Geology (Bates & Jackson, Editors, 1980) is (quotation): "Structural Geology => The branch of geology that deals with the form, arrangement, and internal structure of the rocks, and especially with the description, representation, and analysis of structures chiefly on a moderate to small scale. The subject is similar to tectonics, but the latter is generally used for the broader regional or historical phases." (end of quotation).

The following factors are decisive for the planning and design of a rock quarry (rock mining): Economic, technical, and geologic (structural geology) factors, supervision of the extraction, and subsequent refinement of the raw material, as well as environmental compatibility.

Best regards,

Guenter Grundmann

Structural Geology plays a significant role in Rock Mining. Some of the important factors that may be considered include:

1) Various structural geological features (say fault/fractures/folds etc.) and their significance from the point of view of rock mining;

2) Role of various structural planes, discontinuities from the point of view of slope failures/ landslides/ rock block fall etc.

3) Rock Mass Characterisation i.e. interpretation pertaining to various characters of rock mass concerned including interpretation for various discontinuities.

4) Suitability of rock mass in general for drilling etc.

5) Presence and number of joints from Drilling activities point of view.

6) Role of various planes especially for rock slope designing, benching etc.

The list encompasses more.

Hope that the outline of various significant points would be of help.

Regards

A. Kohli

Structural geology in hard rock mining is crucial. If you dont understand your rock mass then you will have unending practical and economic problems like excessive oversize produced in blasting, open pit walls failing, roof collapses in underground operations, floor heave etc. It is critical to OH&S and to the economic optimisation or survival of every mine.

Dear Mr. Jayeola:

Please be more specific. Are you interested in the impact of structural geology on the quarrying of construction raw materials such as aggregates and dimension stones, on the underground mining of slates or marble, or did you use this term rock in a wider sense ? Even ore is a rock type.

Some general remarks you may find here with the methods applicable to different types of deposits including non-metallic deposits.

DILL, H.G. (2016) The CMS classification scheme (Chemical composition-Mineral assemblage-Structural geology) - linking geology to mineralogy of pegmatitic and aplitic rocks.-Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie Abhandlungen 193: 231-263.

DILL, H.G. (2018) Geology and chemistry of Variscan-type pegmatite systems (SE Germany) - With special reference to structural and chemical pattern

recognition of felsic mobile components in the crust.- Ore Geology Reviews 92: 205-239.

DILL, H.G. and BERNER, Z.A. (2014) Sedimentological and structural processes operative along a metalliferous catena from sandstone-hosted to unconformity-related Pb-Cu-Zn deposit in an epicontinental basin, SE Germany.- Ore Geology Reviews 63: 91-114.

DILL, H.G. and KOLB, S.G. (1986): The Großschloppen-Hebanz uranium occurrences. A prototype of mineralized structure zones characterized by desilification and silification. - In: Vein-Type Uranium Deposits (Ed. H.D. Fuchs), International Atomic Energy Agency, 261-274.

DILL, H. G., FÜRST, M. und KIWITT, R. (1987) Untersuchung der Photolineationen und des bruchtektonischen Inventars im Raum Erbendorf (N-Bayern, Deutschland) mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Gang-Vererzungen. - Geologische Rundschau/ International Journal of Earth Sciences, 76: 419-431. (English Summary fault tectonic, remote sensing, structural analysis)

Digital copies are available on the RG server on request.

With kind regards

H.G.Dill

Structural geology role: For quarrying limestone or marble, natural fracture system analysis is helpful how to start work. it defines the size of rock-blocks.

For ore deposits or coal mining: To know the trend of bedding and defining the existing geological structure, ore-body or coal seam van be accessed.

Regards

Ijaz