The injection of grouting compounds
into the consolidated rock surrounding underground mine workings has long been
practiced for the purpose of sealing against water flows. In more recent times
however, grout injection has also found application for the purpose of rock mass
reinforcement. Mines in Europe,America,
Australia and elsewhere now make use
of significant quantities of chemical grouts in both preventative and remedial
strata control work.

Despite the increasing usage of
grouting for these purposes, there is limited knowledge about the effects of
grout injection on the rock mass, and acceptance of the method is by no means
universal. In some cases grouting has been applied with little understanding of
the factors that control its effectiveness, and disappointing results have been
obtained.

This paper reviews the basic concepts of how grout
injection may contribute to the control of rock surrounding underground mine
excavations, and highlights the factors which may serve to limit the efficacy of
the method and the uncertainties that complicate the appraisal of grouting as a
method of strata control.