The Importance of Joint Set Measurements for Slope Stability and Design Case Study: Ikpobia BUA Quarry, Okpella, Edo State, Nigeria

The kinematic analysis technique is largely used to assess the ability of rock slopes. Its objective is to identify the possible modes of slope failure by determining discontinuities’ properties. Kinematic analyses of planar discontinuity sets in three zones of a marble quarry in Okpella, Edo State, Nigeria, were carried out to illustrate the importance of kinematic analysis in assessing slope stability. Joint sets were measured, and their kinematic analysis was carried out using DIPS software. The results of the investigation showed the possibility of potential slope failures in the three zones. It was observed from the results that the most stable zone is zone 3, and the other two zones potentially are unstable and face the risk of failure. In zone 1, the most dominant failure mode is wedge sliding (50%). In zone 3, there is a small probability of occurring of flexural and direct toppling (16%). While in zone 5, the direct toppling mode of failure is critically possible (75%) in the left, middle, and right benches, with the possibility of wedge sliding in the left bench. These results show the importance of measuring discontinuity orientation for increasing stability in mines with slopes and by better design.