This course aims to provide students with the ability to apply soil and rock mechanics to the design of underground and surface mine excavations and associated infrastructure. This course covers the principles of geomechanics and the application of geotechnical engineering the solution of both underground and surface mining problems.

At the end of this course the student will:

Be equipped with the ability to recognise the major geotechnical applications and their significance within the mainstream mining systems and conditions - soil and rock, both underground and surface.
Understand the principles of geotechnical design.
Have a sound working knowledge of fundamental geotechnical mechanisms and principles, and ability to idealise the geotechnical aspects of mine field problems.
Be capable of recognising the role and importance of these principles, both from a technical perspective, and from the risk and operational management perspective.

And in regard to slopes

Understand the slope engineering process.
Have ability to identify basic slope failure mechanisms.
Have the ability to calculate the factor of safety of basic slope failure mechanisms.