Detection of a Weak Structural Stratum and Stability Analysis of the Slope in an Intensely Weathered Open-pit Mine

Within the mining boundary of an open-pit mine located in southern China, due to the intense weathering of the slope rock stratum, the quaternary loose soil layer and soft rock stratum, karst cavity and water-bearing weathered-fracture zone and other weak structural strata have posed a great threat to the side slope stability of open-pit mining. Using the Flashres64 Multichannel Ultra-High-Density Electrometer to conduct on-site detection of the slope, based on the spatial distribution of the low-resistance layer and the drilling geological data, this study interpreted the stratum lithology of the slope and conducted effective identification of the weak structural stratum. Furthermore, according to the Hoek–Brown Failure Criterion, the Flashres64 reduced the strength of the mechanical parameters of the rock-soil and weak structural stratum of the slope, and imported the relevant data into the SLIDE software for slope stability analysis. The results showed that this method could make advanced macro–predictions of the weak structural stratum occurring in intensely weathered slopes. The slope stability analysis results considering the adverse effects of the weak structural stratum were also highly consistent with the actual engineering situation, for which the application is worth promoting in related fields.