Ground Control in mining refers to the comprehensive set of practices, engineering measures, monitoring systems, and management procedures used to maintain the stability of excavated rock masses, slopes, underground openings, and surface infrastructure against failure due to gravity, in-situ stresses, water pressure, seismic activity, and mining-induced disturbances. It is a fundamental safety and operational discipline in all forms of mining — surface and underground — including bauxite, gold, iron ore, and diamond operations.
In open-pit mining, ground control encompasses the design and monitoring of pit wall slopes, berms, and haul road cuts to prevent slope failures including planar slides, wedge failures, and large-scale rotational failures that can endanger personnel and equipment and cause significant production disruptions. Pit slope angles must be carefully designed based on the strength and structure of the rock mass, groundwater conditions, and blasting practices.
In underground mining — particularly in hard rock gold and diamond mines — ground control involves the design and installation of support systems such as rock bolts, cable bolts, shotcrete, steel mesh, and timber to stabilise tunnel walls, roofs, and pillars against rockfalls and collapses. Continuous monitoring of ground movement using prisms, extensometers, InSAR satellite data, and ground-penetrating radar enables early detection of instability.
Ground control plans are regulatory requirements in most mining jurisdictions and must be reviewed and updated regularly as the mine geometry changes.