Step Shaft Caverns
UK

Historical mining of the Silurian age limestones in the Wren’s Nest Hill area of Dudley has left a legacy of underground mines.  The Step Shaft mine complex comprised large span openings in the form of steeply inclined room and pillar works, which required assessment and stabilisation to ensure public safety, following large collapses of adjacent openings.

Geo-Design were commissioned by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council to assess the existing stability state of the underground mine openings and develop long term stabilisation schemes:

• Geological modelling
  Geological and hydrogeological evaluation of rock mass conditions.
• Stability assessment
  Existing stability state assessment of the underground mine workings with 2D advanced numerical stability analyses and design of long-term stabilisation options.