Orion Lab.

Géotechnical Logging & Sampling Procedures:

(Orion)

Freddy BOKWALA
Fev. 2022

Geotech Eng. PhD. Location Html

 Geotech Logging & Rock testing
The goal : It is often necessary and prudent to determine (by Lab testing or Geotech

logging):
1. the inherent geotechnical condition of an area, before the start of a mining project or
before embarking on some rock engineering design.
2. Local mass quality and the effects of the implementation of a new design: e.g the
degree and conditions of jointing will affect the design layout and support of
excavations.

Fig. 4
Rock bolt or
dowel is used to
secure/anchor the
wire mesh to rock
surface &
Shotcrete to
prevent falling of
smaller rock
block.
 Geotech Logging & Rock testing

An estimation of rock mass behaviour may be dertermine by application of rock mass

classification technique = f1 ( rock strength, fractures) = f2 (instability).

1
A. Lab
Testing 2

Instability = 1/Number of discontinuities ≈

B. Geotech Logging
1/Engineering Dimensions ( cases 2 & 3)
 Geotech. Logging

Rock Geotech Domaining, Structure in put,

Classification Joint conditions.
 Introduction
The strength of a rock mass is determine by intact rock strength and, the disposition of
discontinuities within the rock mass.

Fig. 1. Fig.2.
Exposed joint Inclined bedding
surfaces. planes

The lower the intact rock strength and greater the density of disccontinuities: the
weaker the rock mass strength becomes. A low rock mass strength imples a greater
potentiel of instability. Orion -2018
Introduction: Diamond drill core is typically the only available source of geotechnical
information during the investigation phase of mining Projects.

Core oriented lines:

Orion -2018
In recent years downholrd surveys using Optical (OTV) and Acoustic (ATV) TeleViewer
tools have been increasingly as a complementary source of data for the Geotech
Logging & orientation of structures (Example).

Orion -2018
 Field Core Logging and Processing

The primary focus of Geotechnical core logging is to present : the structure and
discontinuity characteristics, which includes the following information:

 Depth of all natural fractures , which was recorded as meters length along borehole
from ground surface
 Bore ore orientation parameters (Azimuth and Plunge) along the lnegth of each
geotech borehole
 Measurement of apparent Dip angle (Alpha) and apparent Dip direction (beta) with
corresponding true Dip and true Dip direction and,
 Assessement of joint roughness and infilling /staining characteristics.

In the field the apparent Dip Angle, Alpha was measured as the angle between the core
axis and the maximum dip of the core discontinuity. The apparent Dip Direction angle,
Beta was the angle measured clockwise from the black core reference line.
Field Core Logging and Processing

The true dip and Dip Direction for a given fracture was determine by entering borehole
orientation data into the Rocscience Dips (Version 6) software package, which coverts
apparent measurement to true fractures orientation.

https://www.rocscience.com/rocscience/products/dips

Orion -2018
Measurement of fracture parameters from core boreholes .

Orion -2018
 Geotech Logging
Drill hole

2 2
Matrix
Weath Drill Rec Rec≥10
Hole ID From To Rock Type IRS (1-5) RQD(%) Struct
(1-5) (m) (cm) (cm)
Type

Micro Macro Infill JD1 Infill Infill Micro Macro Infill JD2 Infill Infill
Fract Fract
(1-9) (1-5) (1-9) Type Thick JWA (1-9) (1-5) (1-9) Type Thick JWA
0-30 30-60
0-30 0-30 0-30 0-30 30-60 30-60 30-60 30-60

Micro Macro Infill JD3 Infill Infill JD

Fract
(1-9) (1-5) (1-9) Type Thick JWA
60-90
60-90 60-90 60-90 60-90 JD1+JD2+JD3
Html Link
J1 : 0 to 30°

J2 : 31 to 60°

J3 : 61 to 90°
Orion -2018
Geotech Domianing : f (fracture, alteration, geology, mineralization etc.)

Steps:
1. Litho Units: 3 to 15m Good to very Good Rock
2. Core run: 0.5 to 3m Fair to Weak Rock Orion -2018
Fracture rougthness.

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 Geotech. Sampling

Rock Tests UCS, UTB, shear,Triax Sampling

Procedures.
 Rock tests types & Standards

 Samples preparation,

 UCS & UCM: Unaxial Compressive tests

 UTB: Uniaxial Tension Brazilian tests

 Triax_TCT : Triaxial Compressive tests

 Shear Box Tests: Rock Shear tests

 Atterberg Limits (Liquid Limit; Plasticitity Index…)

 Sources of errors in roclab testing

In assessing the scope and method of testing appropriate for particular mine
Project, it is importatnt that the likely errors be properly taken into account.
These come from two sources, namely:
1. Bias in sample selection
2. Errors resulting from in appropriate sample preparation, tests apparatus
of test procedure.
 Requirements: sample preparation
The time between extraction and preparation of the samples, and how they were stored
after extraction are not known.

Typically, samples are covered in plastic.

Example 1: The samples were marked and numbered appropriately, and their
tolerances followed those specified and recommended by the International
Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM).

10 36.5 41.5
Samples Packing: The transportation, the in-situ handling, sealing and storage methods will
have an effect on the measured results.

Box to be
covered&
Numbered

50cm

Box
Number 50c
m Packing Box
Sample Packing:

Placement des boures pour

amortir les chocs pendant le
transport des échantillons.

Required Tets

All samples are right circular cylindrical (PQ ,

HQ & NQ)
 Samples Ticket Number. E.g:
KOV 07937; KOV 07936…

The sample indicate, alteration, depth, lithology,

stratigraphy…the type of tests requested.
Device for protecting samples of altered rocks with PVC pipes during the transport process.
 Sampling QA/QC

1 Samples not to be
sampled because they
are cracked or
fractured.
2 2
2 Samples without
identities :
4

1 2
Sample of average 2
3 quality, sometimes 1
cracked but allowing 3
collection of a test
piece
1
Better quality samples,
with an identifier, a 2 4
number and a
4
reference from to.
Example _Backed box N°20: The samples were marked and numbered
appropriately, and their tolerances followed those specified and
recommended by the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM).

Ticket Number
 Samples details Samples particularity
Unilu Lab Ticket Weatherin Depth Depth
Hole ID Sample Name Lithology Stratigraphy
code Number g from To
Ech_UP_161 B1463 DDGT129 W3_ARG_SDI_01 W3 11.6 11.8 Argillite NG 1.1
Ech_UP_218 B1504 DDGT129 W3_ARG_SDI_02 W3 18.54 18.8 Argillite NG 1.1
Ech_UP_223 B1509 DDGT129 W4_ARG_SDI_03 W4 70.88 71.13 Argillite NG 1.1
Ech_UP_230 B1516 DDGT129 W3_ARG_SDI_04 W3 115 115.23 Argillite NG 1.1
Ech_UP_233 B1519 DDGT129 W3_ARG_SDI_05 W3 164 164.26 Argillite NG 1.1
Ech_UP_250 B1536 DDGT129 W3_ARG_SDI_06 W3 169.35 169.59 Argillite NG 1.1
Ech_UP_257 B1543 DDGT129 W3_ARG_SDI_07 W3 179.13 179.38 Argillite NG 1.1
Ech_UP_261 B1547 DDGT129 W3_ARG_SDI_09 W3 189.5 189.77 Argillite NG 1.1
Ech_UP_266 B1552 DDGT129 W3_ARG_SDI_08 W3 186.14 186.4 Argillite NG 1.1
Ech_UP_269 B1555 DDGT129 W3_ARG_SDI_09 W3 189.5 189.77 Argillite NG 1.1
Ech_UP_275 B1561 DDGT130 W3_ARG_SDI_10 W3 196.04 196.27 Argillite NG 1.1
Ech_UP_314 B1842 DDGT130 W3_R3_ARG_SDI_01 W3 64.1 64.34 Argillite 3
Ech_UP_318 B1846 DDGT130 W3_R3_ARG_SDI_02 W3 71 71.23 Argillite 3
Exemple of Ech_UP_322 B1850 DDGT130 W3_R3_ARG_SDI_03 W3 75.66 75.91 Argillite 3
Ech_UP_330 B1859 DDGT130 W3_R3_ARG_SDI_04 W3 92.75 92.98 Argillite 3
packing list of all Ech_UP_359 B1893 DDGT130 W3_R3_ARG_SDI_06 W3 209.5 209.75 Argillite 3
Ech_UP_360 B1894 DDGT130 W3_R3_ARG_SDI_07 W3 201.24 212.5 Argillite 3

boxes from Orion Ech_UP_367 B0462 DDGT130 W3_R3_ARG_SDI_08 W3 244.81 245.11 Argillite 3
Ech_UP_376 B2107 DDGT131 W3_ARG_SDI_01 W3 57.76 58.03 Argillite NG1.1

sent to the client Ech_UP_386

Ech_UP_397
B2117
B2128
DDGT131
DDGT131
W3_ARG_SDI_02
W3_ARG_SDI_03
W3
W3
77.85
118.3
78.08
118.52
Argillite
Argillite
NG1.1
NG1.1
Ech_UP_401 B2132 DDGT131 W3_ARG_SDI_04 W3 125.11 125.31 Argillite NG1.1
for QA/QC. Ech_UP_420 B2310 DDGT132 W3_R3_SDI_01 W3 23.03 23.4 Argillite 3
Ech_UP_424 B2314 DDGT132 W3_R3_SDI_02 W3 35.87 36.17 Argillite 3
Ech_UP_428 B2318 DDGT132 W3_R3_SDI_03 W3 40.4 40.78 Argillite 3
Ech_UP_435 B2325 DDGT132 W3_R3_SDI_04 W3 51.6 51.86 Argillite 3
Ech_UP_441 B2331 DDGT132 W3_R3_ARG_SDI_05 W3 57.65 57.91 Argillite 3
Ech_UP_449 B2339 DDGT132 W2_R3_BRECCIA_SDI_06 W2 63.47 63.76 Breccia 3
Ech_UP_452 B2342 DDGT132 W2_R3_BRECCIA_SDI_07 W2 85.51 85.8 Breccia 3
Ech_UP_459 B2349 DDGT132 W3_R3_BRECCIA_SDI_09 W3 142.58 142.81 Breccia 3
Ech_UP_464 B2354 DDGT132 W3_R3_BRECCIA_SDI_10 W3 155.1 155.32 Breccia 3
1. Rock tests
before
samples
preparation.

2. Rock tests
after
samples
preparation.
Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS)
Sample Geometry
Diameter

With most rocks the measured uniaxial strength decreases with increasing sample diamater. The

core sizes which are most commonly avaiable from site investigation are iether triple tube barrels

and are usually einther N or H sizes (the range is 45 to 65mm diameter).

The sampling criteria :

 Take at least one sample for each geotechnical field: a portion of the borehole or rock
present, the same lithology, the same facies, the same staining, the same grain size
and the same fracturing.
 Therefore, all drilling should be subdivided into geotechnical as clarified above and
targeted to healthy samples in each area: that is, samples exempted from structural
defects such as cracking, fracturing and alteration.
  For each sample, specify its diameters, respectively, PQ,HQ and NQ and give the
accuracy of the sample location on the drill using its from to.
 The length of the test piece must be at least 3 times the diameter of the sample:
25 to 30 cm for PQ and 20 to 25 cm for HQ.

85cm

25 to 30cm

65cm
20 to 25cm

cm
10 to 15cm
 1.In the figure beside, no sample
meets the criterion. In other words,
c
the degree of fracturing and
c alteration of the rocks does not
allow collection of the test pieces
for lab testing.
.

2. Samples A are best suited for

A A laboratory use. Samples B are
B A moderately required for lab
B testing. Samples C do not meet

A B this condition.

A
 A
A

A
A A
A A
 A
A

A
Thank you!