Correlation Between Seismic Wave Velocities and Rock Quality in the Foundation of a Radionuclide Storage Dam

Abstract

Mining operations are essential for various industrial sectors, requiring a comprehensive approach to exploration, extraction, processing, and waste management. In uranium mining, waste management is particularly critical due to the presence of radioactive materials in tailings, posing environmental and public health risks. Geotechnical characterization of rock masses supporting tailings dams is fundamental to ensuring structural integrity and safety. This study aimed to correlate compressional wave velocities with geomechanical rock quality parameters in the foundation of a radionuclide storage dam. While the initial analysis suggested a reasonable correlation, the application of this relationship to new seismic tests during the mine’s decommissioning phase did not yield a significant predictive capability. Despite this limitation, the consistency between rock quality designation values obtained via photogrammetry and geophysical methods underscores the potential of integrated approaches for rock mass assessment. These findings contribute to geotechnical, mining, civil engineering, and geophysical applications, reinforcing the need for multi-method validation in subsurface investigations.