Geotechnical Characterization of a Glacio-Lacustrine Clay Deposit of the Abitibi Region – Case Study

Michaël Demers Bonin, Marielle Limoges Shaigetz, Nicolas Pépin, Dennis E. Becker, Mourad Karray

In the proceedings of: GeoSt. John's 2019: 72nd Canadian Geotechnical Conference

Session: Geotechnical Characterization

ABSTRACT: This paper presents the summary of laboratory tests results obtained during a geotechnical characterization program conducted at the site of a gold mine located in the Abitibi region (name and exact location to remain undisclosed), where a part of the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) is built over a glacio-lacustrine clay deposit. The laboratory testing program was oriented to comprehend the stress-strain behaviour of the clay and to determine if the clay is subjected to strain weakening for different undrained shear modes and overconsolidation ratios (OCR). The laboratory testing program included Consolidated Isotropically and Anisotropically Undrained Shear tests, triaxial compression (CIUc and CAUc) and triaxial extension (CAUe), Direct Simple Shear tests (DSS), Cyclic Direct Simple Shear (CDSS) and Incremental Loading (IL) one-dimensional compression tests. Due to the importance of the sample™s quality to conduct this series of tests, special care was taken to collect 8-inches high quality clay samples using the Laval sampler in addition to regular (2.875-inches) thin wall (Shelby) tubes, in an area where the clay has not been loaded by the TSF and is still in an overconsolidated state.

RÉSUMÉ: Cet article présente un sommaire des résultats obtenus lors d™une caractérisation géotechnique réalisée sur une argile varvée d™origine glacio-lacustre présente par endroits sous le parc à résidus miniers d™une mine d™or, localisée en Abitibi. Le nom et la localisation exacte doivent demeurer confidentiels. Le programme de laboratoire a été orienté de façon à étudier le comportement contrainte-déformation de cette argile et plus particulièrement à évaluer sa susceptibilité à l™anti-écrouissage selon différents modes de cisaillement non drainés et différents rapports de surconsolidation. Les essais en laboratoire comprennent des essais triaxiaux consolidés isotropiquement et anisotropiquement et cisaillés en condition non drainée en compression (CIUc et CAUc) et en extension (CAUe), des essais de cisaillement simple monotones (DSS) et cycliques (CDSS) et des essais de consolidation par chargements incrémentaux (IL). En raison de l™importance de la qualité des échantillons, l™échantillonneur Laval (8 pouces) a été utilisé en plus des tubes Shelby standards (2,875 pouces), et ce, majoritairement dans un secteur où le dépôt glacio-lacustre est demeuré surconsolidé.

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Cite this article:
Michaël Demers Bonin; Marielle Limoges Shaigetz; Nicolas Pépin; Dennis E. Becker; Mourad Karray (2019) Geotechnical Characterization of a Glacio-Lacustrine Clay Deposit of the Abitibi Region – Case Study in GEO2019. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{Geo2019Paper357,author = Michaël Demers Bonin; Marielle Limoges Shaigetz; Nicolas Pépin; Dennis E. Becker; Mourad Karray,title = Geotechnical Characterization of a Glacio-Lacustrine Clay Deposit of the Abitibi Region – Case Study,year = 2019}