Geotechnical practice combines
the site engineering geological model with engineering design and operations to
control risk. The responsibility of the geotechnical professional is to present
relevant engineering geological information to an engineer to effectively impact
an outcome. Return is enhanced by understanding expected operating and capital
cost due to ground conditions.

Risk is effectively
communicated by a successful geotechnical practitioner. In a mining environment
the need is to assess ground conditions accurately and quickly, and to
effectively communicate expected ground response due to mining. A good
engineering geological model includes a description of geotechnical engineering
parameters to design assuming reasonable expected soil, rock and water
conditions. Pit slopes are steepened, stope spans widened and waste foundations
and land forms are constructed all under geotechnical
control.

The responsibility of the
geotechnical professional is to collect, assess and disseminate relative
engineering geological information. The geotechnical professional is a person
advising on ground related engineering, and generally operates within geology
and engineering end members.

Return is better assessed on an
understanding of ground cost. In operations the goal is to meet production at
lower cost. In evaluation, regional and exploration geology, mine design and
expected operational factors influence expected cost and project return. Return
allows companies to meet shareholder expectations, attract equity to develop and
add value to the community.

This paper presents a
discussion with some examples to present an approach and design philosophy for
geotechnical practice in the mining industry.