Geotechnical Engineering
Investigation, analysis and design support for open pits, underground excavations and mining infrastructure across the African extractive industry.
Practical geotechnical solutions supported by technical rigour.
MLB Consulting provides geotechnical engineering services for mining projects and operations at different stages of investigation, design, development and implementation.
Our work combines geological information, field observations, drilling results, laboratory testing and appropriate analytical methods to develop a clear understanding of ground conditions and geotechnical risk.
The resulting recommendations are focused on safe, practical and cost-effective implementation.
Geotechnical Capabilities
Our geotechnical services can be delivered independently or integrated with mine planning, rock engineering and numerical modelling.
Field mapping, drilling, sampling, testing and site characterisation.
Open-pit slope design, stability assessment and risk mitigation.
Excavation stability, stress analysis and ground-support design.
Technical input for mine infrastructure, foundations and earth structures.
Geotechnical support across four specialist areas.
Our services support site characterisation, mine design, operational risk management and informed engineering decisions.
Geotechnical Investigation
Structured investigation to establish geological, structural, material and groundwater conditions relevant to engineering design.
Slope Stability Analysis
Stability assessment and design support for open-pit slopes, highwalls and associated earth structures.
Underground Geotechnics
Geotechnical assessment and design support for underground excavations, mine development and ground-control systems.
Infrastructure Geotechnics
Investigation and engineering input for mine infrastructure, foundations, containment structures and earthworks.
From ground investigation to practical design recommendations.
Geotechnical decisions should be supported by an appropriate understanding of the ground conditions, project geometry, loading conditions and expected performance.
MLB Consulting applies a structured process that connects investigation results with analysis, design and implementation.
Investigate
Collect geological, structural, material, groundwater and site-condition information.
Characterise
Develop geotechnical domains, material properties and an engineering understanding of the site.
Analyse
Evaluate stability, stress, deformation, sensitivity and potential failure mechanisms.
Recommend
Develop practical design, support, monitoring and risk-management recommendations.
Appropriate methods for the engineering decision.
The analytical method is selected according to the available information, ground conditions, project stage and required level of confidence.
Kinematic Analysis
Evaluation of structurally controlled failure mechanisms and potentially adverse discontinuity orientations.
Limit Equilibrium
Assessment of slope stability, factors of safety and sensitivity to key design assumptions.
Numerical Modelling
Simulation of ground response, stress redistribution, deformation and support interaction.
Risk Analysis
Probabilistic and sensitivity assessment to identify uncertainty and risk-informed design requirements.
Confirming how the ground and design perform.
Geotechnical monitoring provides information about actual ground behaviour and helps test whether the design assumptions remain appropriate.
MLB Consulting can assist with monitoring strategies, instrument selection, data review, trend interpretation and the development of practical response actions.
Discuss Monitoring SupportSelection of suitable monitoring methods, locations and reporting requirements.
Review of measured displacement, deformation, groundwater and support behaviour.
Identification of developing trends, changes and areas requiring closer attention.
Development of practical actions linked to defined monitoring conditions.
Clear geotechnical information and design recommendations.
Deliverables are tailored to the project stage, available information and level of engineering assessment required.
Investigation Reports
Factual and interpretive reporting of fieldwork, drilling, logging, sampling and testing.
Ground Models
Geological and geotechnical domains, material properties and design parameters.
Design Recommendations
Practical slope, excavation, support, foundation and infrastructure recommendations.
Risk Controls
Identified geotechnical risks, monitoring requirements and recommended mitigation measures.
Integrated support for ground engineering decisions.
Geotechnical engineering can be integrated with MLB Consulting’s rock engineering, numerical modelling and mine-development services.
Rock Engineering
Stability assessments, ground-support design, technical review and risk management.
Explore ServiceNumerical Modelling
Simulation of slope stability, excavation response and ground-support interaction.
Explore ServiceMining & Mine Development
Mine design, scheduling, infrastructure planning, ventilation and optimisation.
Explore ServiceNeed experienced input on a ground-engineering challenge?
Contact MLB Consulting to discuss your site conditions, available information, project stage and geotechnical design requirements.
“Understanding ground conditions is the foundation of safer and more practical engineering.”
MLB Consulting