Avaliação geomecânica em jazida de rocha ornamental

Abstract

Brazil is one of the main centers of production and export of ornamentalrocks on a globalscale, due to a vast and unique lithological occurrence. However, the state of Rio Grande do Sul has limited production in this sector. The current study, based on the potentialfor regional development, aims to perform a geotechnical analysis in an ornamental rock deposit located in the city of Lavras do Sul, RS. The research includes mapping the geomechanical behavior of the area by investigating the degree of fracturing and analyzing the discontinuities present in the rock mass through the description of core samples obtained from drillholes. In this context, the study will provide insights for optimizing the project, particularly in determining block sizes and assessing their quality, this information can aid in identifying areas with greater exploratory potential and guiding the mining front, as the analysis can be applied in pre-extraction, during extraction, and post-extraction stages, with a relatively low cost for its implementation. The characterization of the study area will be achieved through the Rock Quality Designation (RQD), Rock Mass Rating (RMR), and the Q System, which are among the main methods for classifying rock masses. These methods will be complemented by integrating data related to the structural framework of the rocks. The results obtained by each method were compared in order to minimize potential data inconsistencies, allowing for greater accuracy in the interpretation of the geomechanical pattern of the rock mass. It was possible to determine areas of greater potential through the application of the proposed methods, as well as to observe that as depth increases, the rock appears less fractured, and consequently, blocks with larger dimensions are present. Among the analyzed drillholes, drillhole 03 stands out, demonstrating that in its location, there is greater potential for ornamental use due to the size of the considered blocks.