Eksplorium : Buletin Pusat Pengembangan Bahan Galian Nuklir
Vol. 46 No. 2 (2025): NOVEMBER 2025

Analysis of Rock Mass Quality and Support Requirements Using Q-System – Case Study: Kalan Uranium Exploration Tunnel, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Cakrabuana, Wira (Unknown)
Dinata, Indra Andra (Unknown)
Faizah, Yuni (Unknown)
Kamajati, Dhatu (Unknown)
Rahmawati, Putri (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Nov 2025

Abstract

The Kalan uranium exploration tunnel was one of the nuclear minerals research facilities in Indonesia. This 618 m long tunnel, located in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, was built on Eko Remaja Hill and operated from 1980-2021. In this tunnel, uranium mineralization occurs as irregular veins (stockworks) in metasiltstone and metapelite. The high density of these veins causes the formation of several weak zones in the tunnel. These weak zones cause rock and soil failures at several locations in the tunnel. The study aims to evaluate the quality of the rock mass surrounding the tunnel and determine the support requirements necessary to prevent further structural failures. Scanline surveys were carried out in several zones that have not experienced failures to obtain Q-system parameters. Based on the results of the analysis, the rock mass that makes up the Kalan tunnel has a Q value of 0.61–48.22, so that it belongs to the class of very poor-very good rocks. By plotting the Q value with its equivalent dimension (ED) on the rock support chart, it is estimated that the support required by the tunnel is average bolt spacing without fiber-reinforced sprayed concrete. The ultimate pressures of the roof and wall support can bear are 0.04–0.24 MPa and 0.03–0.17 MPa, respectively.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

eksplorium

Publisher

Subject

Chemical Engineering, Chemistry & Bioengineering Earth & Planetary Sciences Energy Engineering Materials Science & Nanotechnology

Description

EKSPLORIUM is published to deliver the results of studies, research and development in the field of nuclear geology. The manuscripts are the result of study, research and development of nuclear geology with scope: geology, exploration, mining, nuclear minerals processing, safety and environment, and ...