Geotech New Zealand neutralizes a massive 60 tonne block of sandstone nicknamed 'Scary Lucy' which cost the project over $70,000

1. Ridgeline Mining Project Scary Lucy

2. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries View of the block named ‘Scary Lucy’ prior to restarting the deconstruction of A14-E2 at the end of Oct. A crack has developed and is being monitored more closely. Beddings and defects on the southern side bring uncertainty as to how to which way to approach.

3. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries The progress of the moat in momentarily interrupted to allow for a better stabilisation of the block

4. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries Geomos prims are being dis-intalled and re-installed before each rock breaking session. It becomes hard between these interruptions and the bad weather to acquire enough data on the block movement. More site-based monitoring is required, which implies multiple daily observations of the cracks and signs of movement

5. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries The geotech PC300-mounted man-cage

6. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries It is decided to rock-break and excavate the block as quickly as possible before further creeping of the base is observed.

7. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries Continuing movement is however observed once the top 3m are removed. We are left with an approx 60t block, detached from the escarpment along a crack that is becoming more and more visible with the slightest deconstruction-induced disturbance. The moat is not deemed capable of hosting the hole rock mass at once. Further stabilisation is required.

8. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries 4 holes are drilled to allow the installation of 32mm fully grouted reidbars, themselves anchored to shorter ones mounted into competent rock, to the East. Once these in place, intense rockbreaking is undertaken, but progressing further south becomes impossible with the too short, too narrow and shallow existing moat profile.

9. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries To progress the moat again, the rock needs to be further stabilised as two of the 4 dowels have been dislodged during rock-breaking activities and an approx 45t block with a rear crack more prominent than ever still remains. It is decided to recycle RXI200 rockfall barrier net and ropes to wrap the boulder and tie it back

10. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries Two excavators (using boom and track base dissociatively) and one drill are timely orchestrated to perform the tensioning of the 4 cables onto added roof bolts

11. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries Ant Black inspecting the positioning and tensioning of the cable. Highlighted in pink dazzle are the first signs of the birth of Lucy’s monster baby, indicating further undermining of the block)

12. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries With the block stabilised, the moat can progress by another 15m and gain in depth and width. We are now in position to eliminate our worries.

13. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries After a small amount of rock breaking the block blatantly detaches itself and the stabilisation work takes over the load.. And yes, surprisingly enough, it sustains it!

14. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries only just… for the early dowel located too close to the edge of the crack

15. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries The block after the blast

16. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries Viewed from the North

17. RMP A14 Mining Block Ch5485 to5500m L27. Scary Lucy and associated worries And the final crack at it. Less proud she stands…let’s remember the block slowed down productivity in that area for nearly two month and cost the project more than $70K. An expensive piece of sandstone.