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A long anchor bolt used for stabilizing rock excavations in tunnels or slopes by transferring load from the unstable exterior, to the more stable interior regions of the rock mass. Significance: Rock bolting is a fundamental support technique in underground mining.

The maximum shear stress that a material can withstand without failure. Significance: It is essential in designing underground structures and in slope stability analysis.

The construction elements and techniques used to reinforce rock cavities to maintain stability. Significance: Ground support prevents collapses in tunnels and mines, crucial for safety and operational efficiency.

A large excavation machine used in surface mining and civil engineering that uses a large bucket to 'drag' material to a different location. Significance: Draglines are effective for removing overburden or transporting large amounts of material.

The ability of a material to return to its original shape after the stress causing the deformation is removed. Significance: It determines the rock's ability to support load without permanent deformation.

A method of mining that involves excavating a series of horizontal slices or 'stope' from the ore body. Significance: One of the main methods for underground mining, stoping techniques are chosen based on geological conditions and rock stability.

The gradual sinking of the ground's surface due to underground material movement, often because of mining activities. Significance: Subsidence can cause damage to structures on the surface and must be anticipated in mining operations.

A method to break rock by drilling deep holes into the material and then detonating explosives. Significance: This traditional rock excavation technique is widely used in mining and construction due to its cost-effectiveness.

A mining system where rooms are cut into the coal bed, leaving a series of pillars or columns of coal to help support the mine roof. Significance: This method is used in flat or moderately inclined ore bodies and is one of the oldest mining methods.

Pressure applied to a rock or soil that is equal in all directions, also known as hydrostatic pressure. Significance: Confining pressure can significantly affect the physical properties and behavior of rocks underground.

The ratio of the transverse strain to the longitudinal strain in the direction of stretching force. Significance: It provides insights into the volumetric changes in rocks when deformed.

The layer of soil and rock overlaying a mineral deposit. Significance: The removal of overburden is the first step in surface mining operations, and its management is essential for environmental rehabilitation.

A two-dimensional graphical representation of the state of stress at a point. Significance: It is used to determine the magnitude of principal stresses and the orientation of the stress plane.

Breaks in rock masses along which there has been significant displacement. Significance: Faults determine the mechanical properties of rock masses and are critical to assessing earthquake risk.

A method of categorizing rock masses based on their discontinuities, strengths, and other properties. Significance: It helps in determining the proper engineering designs and support systems for tunneling and mining.

A system for classifying the quality of rock masses based on several parameters. Significance: The RMR is crucial for determining excavation methods and support requirements in rock engineering.

A condition of stress where the material is subjected to stresses from all three orthogonal axes. Significance: This test helps determine the mechanical properties of rocks under realistic loading conditions.

A measure of a material’s tendency to fail without significant plastic deformation. Significance: Brittleness is key in understanding rock breakage and fragmentation during excavations and drillings.

The amount of work required to cut, drill, or break rock per unit volume of material removed. Significance: Specific energy is a measure of efficiency for rock cutting and drilling operations in mining and civil engineering.

A measure of the stiffness of an elastic material and is a quantity used to characterize materials. Significance: It describes the material's response to stress and is used in predicting the deformation in rock mechanics.

The repetitive layering in metamorphic rocks due to the reorientation of minerals under high pressure and temperature. Significance: Foliation indicates the direction of maximum stress and influences rock strength and stability.

A method of short-hole mining that involves removing ore in horizontal slices, followed by filling in the cavity with waste rock or tailings. Significance: This method allows for recovery of the ore in steeply dipping deposits and minimizes surface impact.

Mining techniques that induce the ore body to collapse under its own weight. Significance: Caving methods, such as block caving and sublevel caving, offer low-cost mineral production methods for deep ore bodies.

A small explosive device used to trigger larger explosives in demolition and mining operations. Significance: Blasting caps are an essential component in the controlled and safe detonation of blasting operations.

The stress present within rock or soil before any external stress from human activities is applied. Significance: Knowing in-situ stress is crucial for understanding the stability of rock formations and designing underground excavations.

The zone around underground excavations where rock properties have been changed, mostly by the stress redistribution. Significance: EDZs must be managed to maintain stability and integrity of underground constructions.

The outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines. Significance: Acid mine drainage can lead to significant environmental impacts, contaminating rivers and groundwater with hazardous elements.

The process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks to open fissures and extract oil or gas. Significance: Hydraulic fracturing ('fracking') revolutionized the oil and gas industry by unlocking hard-to-reach resources.

The deformation or displacement of material that results from an applied stress. Significance: Strain measurements help in understanding the elasticity and breaking point of rocks.

The maximum axial compressive stress a rock specimen can withstand before failure. Significance: UCS is a key parameter to understand rock durability, and it aids in the design of structural foundations.

The volume increase that occurs in rocks when they are deformed under undrained conditions. Significance: Dilatancy affects the fluid flow in rocks and is important in the study of earthquakes and rock stability.

The force applied per unit area within rocks or other earth materials. Significance: Stress influences fracture formation, rock stability, and is fundamental to understanding rock behavior under load.

The ratio of the volume of excavated material to its original in-situ volume before excavation. Significance: This factor is crucial in calculating the volume changes due to excavation and rock breakage.

A machine which is used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross-section through a variety of rock and soil strata. Significance: TBMs allow for the efficient and safe construction of tunnels, causing minimal disruption to the surrounding rock.

The resistance of inclined soil or rock surfaces to failure by sliding or collapsing. Significance: Slope stability analysis is crucial in the safe design of open pit mines, road cuts, and any structure requiring slope embankments.

Natural fractures or separations in rock masses that occur without displacement of the sides. Significance: Joints influence the mechanical behavior of rock masses and affect their stability and permeability.

The use of seismic waves to map and analyze conditions below the Earth's surface. Significance: Seismic surveys are essential in the exploration of mineral and oil deposits and in the investigation of geological structures.