Correlations Between Various Rock Mass Classification Systems
By SRK ConsultingEmpirical rock mass classification systems are widely used in the practice of mining engineering, especially in the early stages of engineering design of mining infrastructure. This stage involves preliminary assessment of ground support needs for drifts and shafts, stability analysis of pillars and slopes, stability analysis of slopes in open-pit mines, and others.
The aim of this paper is to address the problem of correlating rock mass classification information and to propose new relationships for correlation of ratings, in particular, equations that allow correlating the Laubscher and the Bieniawski systems, and the Barton and the Hoek Marinos systems.