Course Overview
This foundational five-day course provides mining professionals with the skills to collect, analyse, and apply high-quality rock mass data in underground mining. Participants will learn how to transform raw geological and geotechnical information into reliable models that underpin safe, economic mine design.

Delivered on-site at the Oyu Tolgoi Mine, Mongolia, the course blends classroom learning with hands-on practical training, giving attendees the opportunity to apply techniques in a real mining environment.

Who Should Attend

• Geotechnical, geological, and mining engineers
• Mine planning and design professionals
• Technical support teams involved in data collection, analysis, and geotechnical modelling
• Professionals working with geo-data and geotechnical models for mine design

What You Will Learn
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Collect and log geotechnical, geological, and structural data from drill core and field mapping.
• Evaluate data quality, sufficiency, and reliability for geotechnical datasets.
• Define and apply geotechnical domaining for design and stability analysis.
• Understand mechanical properties of intact rock and testing methods such as point load testing.
• Estimate rock mass strength and apply empirical methods.
• Use rock mass classification systems (RMR, Q, GSI) appropriately, recognising their limitations.
• Build a representative geotechnical block model that integrates geology, geotechnics, and hydrogeology.
• Communicate findings across disciplines to support mine design and operations.

Course Modules

1. Introduction to Rock Mass Characterisation
2. Data Quality & Sufficiency
3. Geotechnical Domaining
4. Geological Data Collation (Lithology & Alteration)
5. Structural Data Collection
6. Geotechnical Logging
7. Geotechnical Mapping
8. Mechanical Properties of Intact Rock
9. Point Load Testing
10. Rock Mass Strength
11. Rock Mass Classifications
12. Geotechnical Block & Structural Modelling

Delivery Format

• Duration: 5 days
• Location: Oyu Tolgoi Mine, Mongolia
• Format: Expert-led instruction (50% theory, 50% practical fieldwork)
• Language: English
• Resources: Downloadable PDFs, AI-generated audio summaries, quizzes, and reflective learning prompts

Instructor
Professor Andre van As, University of Queensland, internationally recognised expert in geotechnical engineering, cave mining, and rock mass characterisation