Slope stability evaluation and monitoring of Tonglushan ancient copper mine relics

Abstract

Due to natural environmental conditions and the effect of man, geological disasters (landslides, earthquakes, etc.) pose a serious threat to ancient relics distributed across China. In consideration of the current situation at the Tonglushan ancient copper mine relics, and on the basis of hydrology and geological engineering conditions of ancient relics, major factors affecting slope stability of ancient relics are analyzed. In light of major working condition types in the slopes of ancient relics, slope stability in relation to earthquakes and rainfall is analyzed using GeoStudio software with limit equilibrium methods. Results indicate that, with sustained rainfall, all slopes in the current reinforcement measure maintain a suitable stabilization status, but slope stability will sharply decline in response to an earthquake. Therefore, the influence of mining blasting activities on slope stability is analyzed. In view of the deformation characteristics of ancient copper mines, the sliding force remote monitoring and warning system based on the constant resistance and large deformation anchor bolt is adopted to continuously monitor the stability of the west slope of the relics. Monitoring results show that the application of “mechanical gun” instead of “explosive blasting” mining technique in the open-pit mine has effectively reduced the influence of mining disturbance on the stability of the western slope. As slope deformation of the relics can be effectively monitored and controlled, our findings provide a theoretical basis to analyze slope stability in other similar cultural relics.