Mechanical properties of Goldfields rocks

Summary

A 4.5 MN Instron stiff servo-controlled testing machine was used to conduct compression tests on samples in a range of sizes and an Instron 1342 servo-controlled universal testing machine was used for fracture toughness tests.

A range of rock types from the Long Shaft Mine (at Kambalda) and the Mt Charlotte Mine (at Kalgoorlie) was tested and the rock types categorised.

The project had a particular emphasis on an examination of the influence of sample size on laboratory strength measurements.

Keywords: rock, strength, mechanical, size effects, measurement