Current Tectonic Stress State in an Iron Mine District, North China, Based on Overcoring, Hydraulic Fracturing, and Acoustic Emission Stress Measurements

Abstract

Abstract Full knowledge of the current tectonic stress state is crucial for assessing open-pit mine slope stability and regional tectonic evolution and geodynamic processes. Overcoring, hydraulic fracturing, and acoustic emission in situ stress measurement techniques were adopted to determine the 3D stress tensor in an iron mine district, North China, and 25 sets of stress data ranging from 56 to 490 m were measured. Accordingly, the current tectonic stress state and its relationship to regional geological tectonics were investigated. The results indicated that the stress condition seemed to favor thrust and strike-slip faulting, and the stress field was particularly controlled by the horizontal tectonic stress. A high horizontal tectonic stress considerably influenced the stability of high and steep slopes in this mine district, which requires great attention. The stress directions derived from different methods were almost similar, indicating a dominant NEE–SWW stress field direction or near-E–W direction, comparable to the direction revealed by focal mechanism solutions and other stress indicators around the mine district. According to geological structure analysis, the present-day stress field in this district generally inherited the third-stage tectonic stress field while partially retaining the characteristics of the second-stage tectonic stress field, which is the result of dynamic action and tectonic movement during different geological periods, and the maximum principal stress direction of the tectonic stress field that affects the modern tectonic activity in this area is the NEE–EW direction.