Potential of Timber Support to Mitigate Rock Collapse in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining

ABSTRACT: Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) provides a significant contribution to the supply of raw minerals that are salient for the technological advancements in the world. ASM has a potential for sustainable development because of its manageable footprint. However, numerous rock collapses and fatal incidents have caused ASM to be considered as an unsustainable way of mining due to loss of lives, communities being exposed to major hazards, and frequent lack of access to mineral resources that were previously mined. Timber has been suggested to be an alternative rock support material for underground projects due to its cost effectiveness and ease of access. However, there is limited understanding of the timber support integrity for ASM. This study investigated the potential of timber support for mitigating rock collapse in ASM. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted on fractured rock samples with and without timber embedment in its fractures to assess the mechanical responses. The analyzed results suggest that embedding timber within rock fractures of the specimens can have a beneficial impact on the mechanical properties. This work provides insight into the potential of timber support system in ASM operations from the lens of rock mechanics.