Open pit design for improved gold recovery at Ula-Ulo placer deposit in Guji, southern Ethiopia
Abstract This study examines slope stability at the Ula Ulo Placer gold mine in the Adola Belt, Guji, southern Ethiopia, where open-pit mining enables flexible mineral extraction but presents significant stability concerns. Frequent slope failures have disrupted operations and delayed production. Th...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13512-3 |
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| author | Habtamu Belay Endalu Tadele Chala Nagessa Zerihun Jilo Gidey Gebrehiwot Mirza Iftikhar Ahmad |
| author_facet | Habtamu Belay Endalu Tadele Chala Nagessa Zerihun Jilo Gidey Gebrehiwot Mirza Iftikhar Ahmad |
| author_sort | Habtamu Belay |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study examines slope stability at the Ula Ulo Placer gold mine in the Adola Belt, Guji, southern Ethiopia, where open-pit mining enables flexible mineral extraction but presents significant stability concerns. Frequent slope failures have disrupted operations and delayed production. This research aims to evaluate and improve the stability of the open-pit excavation through an integrated approach combining field investigations, laboratory testing, and numerical modeling. Fieldwork included detailed slope geometry and orientation measurements, in situ testing, and soil and rock sampling for laboratory analysis. Stability assessment was performed using both the Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) and the Finite Element Method (FEM) via Slide 2D (v6.0) and Phase2 (v8.0) software. The variables analyzed included bench angle, width, overall slope angle, and geotechnical properties under drained and undrained conditions. The analysis indicated that a 40° slope was unstable and unsuitable, while a 30° slope provided high stability but involved excessive excavation. A 35° slope was found to be the most practical solution, offering an effective balance between structural safety and excavation requirements. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a45d4e7288be4dacb324104a131bac76 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-a45d4e7288be4dacb324104a131bac762025-08-20T03:04:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-13512-3Open pit design for improved gold recovery at Ula-Ulo placer deposit in Guji, southern EthiopiaHabtamu Belay0Endalu Tadele Chala1Nagessa Zerihun Jilo2Gidey Gebrehiwot3Mirza Iftikhar Ahmad4Department of Mining Engineering, College of Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology UniversityOromia Mining Share CompanyDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology UniversityDepartment of Mining Engineering, College of Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology UniversitySchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Wuhan University of TechnologyAbstract This study examines slope stability at the Ula Ulo Placer gold mine in the Adola Belt, Guji, southern Ethiopia, where open-pit mining enables flexible mineral extraction but presents significant stability concerns. Frequent slope failures have disrupted operations and delayed production. This research aims to evaluate and improve the stability of the open-pit excavation through an integrated approach combining field investigations, laboratory testing, and numerical modeling. Fieldwork included detailed slope geometry and orientation measurements, in situ testing, and soil and rock sampling for laboratory analysis. Stability assessment was performed using both the Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) and the Finite Element Method (FEM) via Slide 2D (v6.0) and Phase2 (v8.0) software. The variables analyzed included bench angle, width, overall slope angle, and geotechnical properties under drained and undrained conditions. The analysis indicated that a 40° slope was unstable and unsuitable, while a 30° slope provided high stability but involved excessive excavation. A 35° slope was found to be the most practical solution, offering an effective balance between structural safety and excavation requirements.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13512-3Open pitSlope stabilityPlacer goldFactor of safety |
| spellingShingle | Habtamu Belay Endalu Tadele Chala Nagessa Zerihun Jilo Gidey Gebrehiwot Mirza Iftikhar Ahmad Open pit design for improved gold recovery at Ula-Ulo placer deposit in Guji, southern Ethiopia Scientific Reports Open pit Slope stability Placer gold Factor of safety |
| title | Open pit design for improved gold recovery at Ula-Ulo placer deposit in Guji, southern Ethiopia |
| title_full | Open pit design for improved gold recovery at Ula-Ulo placer deposit in Guji, southern Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Open pit design for improved gold recovery at Ula-Ulo placer deposit in Guji, southern Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Open pit design for improved gold recovery at Ula-Ulo placer deposit in Guji, southern Ethiopia |
| title_short | Open pit design for improved gold recovery at Ula-Ulo placer deposit in Guji, southern Ethiopia |
| title_sort | open pit design for improved gold recovery at ula ulo placer deposit in guji southern ethiopia |
| topic | Open pit Slope stability Placer gold Factor of safety |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13512-3 |
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