The main goal when designing the infrastructure for a caving project is to make sure that it will remain stable and serviceable under the entire lifespan of its caving activity.

In this regard, critical factors usually accounted for in ITASCA´s analysis include:

• Characteristic parameters that define rock mass behavior

• Structural geology components such as major faults and rock mass fabric

• Footprint shape

• Production draw schedule

• Mine site stress field characterization.

Through the adequate use of numerical models, ITASCA addresses the relevant aspects that control the behavior of caving infrastructure, such as:

• Optimization of undercut, drawbell, and extraction-level layouts, including pillar designs and spacing.

• Assessment of sequencing options (undercut advance, draw strategy) on stability, convergence, and serviceability of drifts and related excavations.

• Ground support design and numerical verification for undercut and extraction levels, shafts, and critical excavations.

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