An Early Warning System for Landslide Risks in Ion-Adsorption Rare Earth Mines: Based on Real-Time Monitoring of Water Level Changes in Slopes

• Published in: Minerals (Basel) Vol. 13; no. 2; p. 265
• Main Authors: Han, Min, Rao, Yunzhang, Nie, Wen, Wang, Dan, Wu, Fuyu, Shi, Liang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.02.2023
• Subjects: Adsorption; Algorithms; China; Data analysis; Data processing; Deformation; Disasters; Early warning systems; Emergency communications systems; Environmental risk; Friction; In situ leaching; Ion adsorption; landslide early warning; Landslides; Landslides & mudslides; Leaching; Mechanical analysis; Mineral industry; Mining industry; Monitoring; Optimization; Rare earth elements; Real time; real-time monitoring; Shear strength; Slope; Slope stability; Slopes; slopes of rare earth mine; Soil mechanics; Soil water; Warning systems; water level; Water level fluctuations; Water levels; China
• ISSN: 2075-163X; 2075-163X
• DOI: 10.3390/min13020265

During the in situ leaching process of ion-adsorption rare earths, leaching solution needs to be constantly injected to the mine slopes. As a consequence, landslides are highly likely to occur due to the increasing water level of soil mass. To solve this problem, we conducted a mechanical analysis on the rising water level after solution injection, which shed light on the mechanical principle of slope instability brought about by rising water level. With water level variation as the major factor, we established an early warning system for landslide risks on the basis of the real-time monitoring of water level. Within the system, a self-designed landslide early warning model is embedded. In addition to monitoring the water level variation in slopes, this system can be employed for real-time data processing. With the integration of early warning model algorithm, the real-time graded early warning of slope landslide risks is achieved within the mining process of ion-adsorption rare earths. By discussing the real-time monitoring method, framework of landslide early warning system, FIFC landslide early warning model, optimization method of water level, and selection of landslide-inducing factors, this research provides an effective solution to the landslide early warning within the mining process of ion-adsorption rare earth minerals. Thus, it can be employed as a favorable reference for other types of early warning systems.