Experimental and technological research on grouting and curing of surface moraine collapse pits in block caving mining

• The mechanism of slurry diffusion in the complex stratigraphy of moraines is revealed. • For moraine strata proposed a “layered grouting, to circle curing” grouting process. • Proposed suitable grouting process and stopping measures for different stratigraphic distribution structures. • Validated the effectiveness of in-situ grout curing on the management of geologic disasters in active collapse zones. Collapse pits are highly susceptible to secondary hazards such as underground debris flows and slope instability under mining disturbances. These hazards significantly damage the ecological environment of the mining area. To reduce the geological hazards of collapse pits, grouting is used for management. The diffusion pattern and curing mode of slurry under different grouting pressures were investigated through indoor grouting simulation tests, and industrial tests were carried out to assess grouting effects. The results indicate that the slurry is dominated by penetration diffusion and supplemented by splitting diffusion in the moraine. The penetration distance and diffusion radius of the slurry increase linearly with grouting pressure, while the splitting uplift distance and cured volume increase exponentially with grouting pressure. Splitting diffusion consists of three stages: bulging compaction, splitting flow, and passive uplift. Horizontal splitting has a vertical uplift effect on the formation. The slurry primarily consolidates individual moraine particles into a cohesive mass by filling fractures, binding soil particles, and reinforcing interfaces with the rock mass. For different moraine layer structures, full-hole, segmented, and point-based grouting methods were applied. A composite grouting technique, “layered grouting with ring solidification,” was also introduced, achieving excellent grouting results. This study provides technical support for managing geological hazards in collapse pits caused by block caving mining disturbances and for green mining practices.