Ile, Divine-ItoMalan, D.F. (Daniel Francois)2024-08-152024-08-152023-05Ile, D. and Malan, D.F. 2023 A study of backfill confinement to reinforce pillars in bord-and-pillar layouts. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, vol. 123, no. 5. pp. 223–234 http://dx.DOI.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2452/2023.2225-6253 (print)2411-9717 (online)10.17159/2411- 9717/2452/2023http://hdl.handle.net/2263/97667This work forms part of the MEng study "An investigation into the use of backfill to reinforce pillars in hard rock bord and pillar layouts" of Divine Ile at the University of Pretoria. (URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2263/92133)This study explores the use of backfill in hard rock bord-and-pillar mines to increase the pillar strength and extraction ratio at depth. The use of backfill will also minimize the requirement for tailings storage on surface and the risk of environmental damage. A literature survey indicated that backfill is extensively used in coal mines, but rarely in hard rock bord-and-pillar mines. To simulate the effect of backfill confinement on pillar strength, an extension of the limit equilibrium model is proposed. Numerical modelling of an actual platinum mine layout is used to illustrate the beneficial effect of backfill on pillar stability at greater depths. The magnitude of confinement exerted by the backfill on the pillar sidewalls is unknown, however, and this needs to be quantified using experimental backfill mining sections equipped with suitable instrumentation.en© The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2023.BackfilBord-and-pillarPillar strengthLimit equilibrium modelSDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureArticle