Sample selection for an AE stress measurement program at the Western Australian School of Mines

Reliable estimation of in situ stress is a major step during geological regime definition within a rock mass characterization process. A technique that allows the estimation of stresses using oriented core that can be drilled at depth, and from remote locations, has been studied over the last eight years at the Western Australian School of Mines (WASM). The technique is based on acoustic emission (Kaiser effect) and has been used to estimate the in situ stresses from more than sixty mine sites around the world. Over 150 individual stress measurements have been carried out to date. After introducing the method and typical results, a methodology for the requirements of sample selection based upon oriented core is presented.