{"id":{"repo_id":"unr","oai_identifier":"oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/409"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/unr/oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/409","repository":{"repo_id":"unr","name":"University of Nevada - Reno","base_url":"https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Triggering Mechanisms and Stabilization of a Massive Pit Slope Failure","abstract":"The 2013 Bingham Canyon slope failure was probably the largest non-volcanic landslide in NorthAmerican history. Because it took place in an active mine with substantial monitoring systemsalready in place, its geological setting and progress to failure are better understood than mostlandslides. The simple mechanics of the landslide make it relatively easy to analyze usingsoftware.This paper presents the results of two-dimensional slope stability analysis on the BinghamCanyon landslide. Even with a highly simplified model, the results generally agreed with eventsat the mine. The instabilities were predicted accurately, down to the two separate slope failures.After analyzing the failure as it occurred, the model was used to estimate properties of the slideand assess stabilization techniques. Back-calculated material properties agreed fairly well withmeasured material properties, although only one sample had been available to test.Stabilization techniques tested included dewatering, reinforcement, and adjusting the slopegeometry. Dewatering was effective, but not sufficient to stabilize the slope, and for a landslideof this size reinforcement was impractical. Removing material from the top of the landslide wasjudged viable for short-term stabilization, and while expensive regrading the slope angle was theonly method likely to be effective in the long term. Of the potential triggers studied, a change inpore water pressure was the most probable, although since the landslide was preceded by along period of slow motion it did not necessarily have a single trigger.","abstract_html":"The 2013 Bingham Canyon slope failure was probably the largest non-volcanic landslide in NorthAmerican history. Because it took place in an active mine with substantial monitoring systemsalready in place, its geological setting and progress to failure are better understood than mostlandslides. The simple mechanics of the landslide make it relatively easy to analyze usingsoftware.This paper presents the results of two-dimensional slope stability analysis on the BinghamCanyon landslide. Even with a highly simplified model, the results generally agreed with eventsat the mine. The instabilities were predicted accurately, down to the two separate slope failures.After analyzing the failure as it occurred, the model was used to estimate properties of the slideand assess stabilization techniques. Back-calculated material properties agreed fairly well withmeasured material properties, although only one sample had been available to test.Stabilization techniques tested included dewatering, reinforcement, and adjusting the slopegeometry. Dewatering was effective, but not sufficient to stabilize the slope, and for a landslideof this size reinforcement was impractical. Removing material from the top of the landslide wasjudged viable for short-term stabilization, and while expensive regrading the slope angle was theonly method likely to be effective in the long term. Of the potential triggers studied, a change inpore water pressure was the most probable, although since the landslide was preceded by along period of slow motion it did not necessarily have a single trigger.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Niday, William B."],"institution":"University of Nevada, Reno","degree_name":"Geological Engineering","degree_level":"Honors Thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Watters, Robert J."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015","date_published":"2015","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:46:41Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en_US"],"rights":["In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/11714/409","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Watters, Robert J."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Niday, William B."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2017-01-24T23:08:54Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2017-01-24T23:08:54Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2015"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Honors Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Geological Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Nevada, Reno"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_US"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/11714/409"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["The University of Nevada, Reno Libraries will promptly respond to removal requests related to content that violates intellectual property laws, data protections, or has been uploaded without creator consent. Takedown notices should be directed to our ScholarWolf team (scholarwolf@library.unr.edu) with information about the object, including its full URL and the nature of your complaint."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The 2013 Bingham Canyon slope failure was probably the largest non-volcanic landslide in NorthAmerican history. Because it took place in an active mine with substantial monitoring systemsalready in place, its geological setting and progress to failure are better understood than mostlandslides. The simple mechanics of the landslide make it relatively easy to analyze usingsoftware.This paper presents the results of two-dimensional slope stability analysis on the BinghamCanyon landslide. Even with a highly simplified model, the results generally agreed with eventsat the mine. The instabilities were predicted accurately, down to the two separate slope failures.After analyzing the failure as it occurred, the model was used to estimate properties of the slideand assess stabilization techniques. Back-calculated material properties agreed fairly well withmeasured material properties, although only one sample had been available to test.Stabilization techniques tested included dewatering, reinforcement, and adjusting the slopegeometry. Dewatering was effective, but not sufficient to stabilize the slope, and for a landslideof this size reinforcement was impractical. Removing material from the top of the landslide wasjudged viable for short-term stabilization, and while expensive regrading the slope angle was theonly method likely to be effective in the long term. Of the potential triggers studied, a change inpore water pressure was the most probable, although since the landslide was preceded by along period of slow motion it did not necessarily have a single trigger."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["PDF"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Triggering Mechanisms and Stabilization of a Massive Pit Slope Failure"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Watters, Robert J."],"dc:creator":["Niday, William B."],"dc:date.accessioned":["2017-01-24T23:08:54Z"],"dc:date.available":["2017-01-24T23:08:54Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2015"],"dc:description":["The University of Nevada, Reno Libraries will promptly respond to removal requests related to content that violates intellectual property laws, data protections, or has been uploaded without creator consent. Takedown notices should be directed to our ScholarWolf team (scholarwolf@library.unr.edu) with information about the object, including its full URL and the nature of your complaint."],"dc:description.abstract":["The 2013 Bingham Canyon slope failure was probably the largest non-volcanic landslide in NorthAmerican history. Because it took place in an active mine with substantial monitoring systemsalready in place, its geological setting and progress to failure are better understood than mostlandslides. The simple mechanics of the landslide make it relatively easy to analyze usingsoftware.This paper presents the results of two-dimensional slope stability analysis on the BinghamCanyon landslide. Even with a highly simplified model, the results generally agreed with eventsat the mine. The instabilities were predicted accurately, down to the two separate slope failures.After analyzing the failure as it occurred, the model was used to estimate properties of the slideand assess stabilization techniques. Back-calculated material properties agreed fairly well withmeasured material properties, although only one sample had been available to test.Stabilization techniques tested included dewatering, reinforcement, and adjusting the slopegeometry. Dewatering was effective, but not sufficient to stabilize the slope, and for a landslideof this size reinforcement was impractical. Removing material from the top of the landslide wasjudged viable for short-term stabilization, and while expensive regrading the slope angle was theonly method likely to be effective in the long term. Of the potential triggers studied, a change inpore water pressure was the most probable, although since the landslide was preceded by along period of slow motion it did not necessarily have a single trigger."],"dc:format":["PDF"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/11714/409"],"dc:language.iso":["en_US"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)"],"dc:title":["Triggering Mechanisms and Stabilization of a Massive Pit Slope Failure"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_level":["Honors Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Geological Engineering"],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Nevada, Reno"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:46:41Z"}