Calculating RMR (Laubscher 1990)
Background
(Please read the core logging manual before reading this)
RMR is an empirical system for estimating the strength of rockmasses. A rockmass is described
by the intact blocks of rock separated by structures (such as joints, cemented joints veins and
faults).
RMR Components
Intact Rock Strength (IRS) 0 – 20 points
RQD Rating (RQDr) 0 – 15 points
Joint Spacing Rating (JS) 0 – 25 points
Fracture Frequency Rating (FF) 0 – 40 points
Joint Condition (JC) 0 – 40 points
RMR look at three defining parts of the rockmass. These relate to:
1. The strength, or UCS, of the intact rock blocks between the fractures (IRS)
2. The size and shape of the rock blocks between the fractures (RQDr, JS, FF)
3. The condition, or strength of the joints (roughness, infilling) (JC)
RMR always has a value between 0 and 100 points. 0 points indicates a very poor rockmass; 100
points indicates a very good rockmass. Typically here at Oyu Tolgoi we have RMR values
between 20 and 50 points.
RMR can be calculated in two ways. These ways vary on whether we use RQD + JS or FF.
1. RMRjs = IRS + RQD + JS + JC (maximum of 20 + 15 + 25 + 40 = 100 points)
2. RMRff = IRS + FF + JC (maximum of 20 + 40 + 40 = 100 points)
Normally we calculate both RMRjs and RMRff and then take the average of them both:
RMR = (RMRjs + RMRff)/2
Calculating the values for the components of RMR
Intact Rock Strength (IRS)
The intact rock strength describes the strength of the blocks of rock that are formed between the
fractures in the rock (such as joints, cemented joints veins and faults).
The intact rock strength is calculated based on the table shown below and the UCS of the rock
(estimated during the logging). This is then looked up against the table and the IRS value
selected. IRS is between 0 and 20 points.
UCS (MPa) Comment
From To IRS Rating
0 1 0 Weak Rock
1 5 1
5 12 2
12 25 3
25 35 4
35 45 5
45 65 6
65 85 8
85 105 10
105 125 12
125 145 14
145 165 16
165 185 18
>185 20 Very Strong Rock
The stronger the rock the higher the number of IRS points it gets, up to a maximum of 20.
Examples:
Rock Strength IRS Rating
0.5 MPa 0
20 MPa 3
75 MPa 8
150 MPa 16
200 MPa 20
300 MPa 20
RQD Rating (RQDr)
RQD (rock quality designation) is a crude, empirical measure of the size of the blocks of rock that
are formed between the fractures in the rock (such as joints, cemented joints veins and faults).
RQD is measured in core during the logging. It is the total length of all pieces of rock that are
greater than 10 cm divided by the length of the interval expressed as a percentage.
Example
Interval from 301.6 to 310.5
Interval length = 310.5 – 301.6 = 8.9
Length of pieces > 10 cm = 6.3
RQD = (6.3/8.9) *100 = 71%
RQD can only ever be between 0 and 100 percent. If it is greater than 100% it means there has
been a mistake with the drilling blocks or the measurement.
The RQD Rating is calculated from the table below in a similar way to the way we calculated
IRS.
RQD % RQD
From To Rating
0 4 0
4 17 2
17 31 4
31 44 6
44 56 8
56 71 10
71 84 12
84 97 14
97 100 15
The higher the RQD % the greater the RQD Rating value.
Examples
RQD % RQD Rating (RQDr)
10 % 2
50 % 8
80 % 12
Fracture Frequency Rating (FF)
Fracture frequency rating is an assessment of the size and rough shape of the blocks of rock that
are formed between the fractures in the rock (such as joints, cemented joints veins and faults).
Fracture frequency is the number of fractures per metre over the interval. In our logging we
count 3 ‘sets’ of fractures, the 1s, 2s and 3s. The total number of fractures is the sum of all of
these.
Example:
Interval from 201.2 to 208.4
Interval length = 208.4 – 201.2 = 7.2
Set 1 Count = 8
Set 2 Count = 12
Set 3 Count = 7
Total Fracture Count in the interval = 8 + 12 + 7 = 27
Then Total Fracture Count / Interval Length = Fracture Frequency (fractures per metres)
27 / 7.2 = 3.75 fractures per metre
The Fracture Frequency Rating is then calculated from the tables below. It has a range between 0
and 40 points. These tables take into account the number of sets up to a maximum of 3. This is
why we measure the 1s, 2s and 3s in the core.
Fracture Frequency Number of Sets
From To 1 Set 2 Sets 3 Sets
0 0.1 40 40 40
0.1 0.15 40 40 40
0.15 0.2 40 40 38
0.2 0.25 40 38 36
0.25 0.3 38 36 34
0.3 0.5 36 34 31
0.5 0.8 34 31 28
0.8 1 31 28 26
1 1.5 29 26 24
1.5 2 26 24 21
2 3 24 21 18
3 5 21 18 15
5 7 18 15 12
7 10 15 12 10
10 15 12 10 7
15 20 10 7 5
20 30 7 5 2
30 40 5 2 0
>40 0 0 0
If there were joints for sets 1, 2 and 3 then we use the 3 set column. If there were only joints for
sets 1 and 3, but there were 0 joints in set 2 then this means there are two joints sets. So we use
the 2 sets column. If we only counted joints for set 2 and there were 0 joints in sets 1 and 2, we
use the 1 set column.
Example 1
Interval from 301.6 – 305.7
Interval length = 305.7 – 301.6 = 4.1
Set 1 Count = 8
Set 2 Count = 12
Set 3 Count = 7
Total Fracture Count in the interval = 8 + 12 + 7 = 27
Then Total Fracture Count / Interval Length = Fracture Frequency (fractures per metres)
27 / 4.1 = 6.5 fractures per metre
We have joints in sets 1, 2 and 3 so we have a total of 3 joint sets. So we use the 3 sets column.
The FF Rating is 12.
Example 2
Interval from 301.6 – 305.7
Interval length = 305.7 – 301.6 = 4.1
Set 1 Count = 8
Set 2 Count = 0
Set 3 Count = 7
Total Fracture Count in the interval = 8 + 0 + 7 = 15
Then Total Fracture Count / Interval Length = Fracture Frequency (fractures per metres)
15 / 4.1 = 3.7 fractures per metre
We have joints in sets 1 and 3, but none present in set 2, so we have a total of 2 joint sets. So we
use the 2 sets column.
The FF Rating is 18.
Example 3
Interval from 301.6 – 305.7
Interval length = 305.7 – 301.6 = 4.1
Set 1 Count = 0
Set 2 Count = 5
Set 3 Count = 0
Total Fracture Count in the interval = 0 + 5 + 0 = 15
Then Total Fracture Count / Interval Length = Fracture Frequency (fractures per metres)
5 / 4.1 = 1.2 fractures per metre
We have joints in set 2, but none present in sets 1 and 3, so we have a total of 1 joint set. So we
use the 1 sets column.
The FF Rating is 29.
From the table and the examples, it can be seen that the fewer the fractures per metre, and the
fewer the number of sets we have then the higher the FF rating. This means that with less
fractures and less sets we get a better rockmass.
Joint Spacing (JS)
Joint spacing rating is an assessment of the size and rough shape of the blocks of rock that are
formed between the fractures in the rock (such as joints, cemented joints veins and faults).
Joint spacing is calculated from formulae and has a value of between 0 and 25 points.
Average apparent joint spacing for each of sets 1, 2 and 3 is calculated as the interval length /
count of the set. Because of the angle to the core, this is an apparent spacing only. To calculate
an estimated average true spacing we must multiply it by the sin of the mid point of the angle
range to the core.
For set 1 (0 – 30°) this is sin 15° = 0.26
For set 2 (30 - 60° this is sin 45° = 0.71
For set 3 (60 - 90° this is sin 75° = 0.97
Set Allocation:
Set 3
75° Set 2
45°
Set 1
15°
Mid point averages of each set are shown as dotted lines
Apparent Spacing:
Distance between two structures along the core.
Apparent Spacing
True Spacing:
Distance between two structures at right angles from them.
True Spacing
Set 1 Average True Spacing = (interval length/set 1 count) * sin 15°
Set 2 Average True Spacing = (interval length/set 2 count) * sin 45°
Set 3 Average True Spacing = (interval length/set 3 count) * sin 15°
The average true spacing of each joint set should be calculated. If there aren’t any joints counted,
then there is no need to calculate this for that set.
Like fracture frequency, the Joint Spacing rating is dependant on the number of sets we have.
Assess the number of sets that we have for the interval in the same way we did for FF Rating.
When you have you average true spacings and number of sets worked out formulae are used to
calculate the JS rating.
For one set there will only be one spacing (sp).
For two sets the average true spacings need to be ordered into the minimum (spmin) and maximum
(spmax) values.
For three sets the average true spacings need to be ordered into the minimum spacing (spmin),
intermediate (spint) and maximum (spmax) values.
JS Rating Formulae:
1 Set JS Rating = 25 * ((26.4 * log10(sp * 100))+45)/100
2 Set JS Rating = 25 * ((25.9 * log10(spmin * 100))+38)/100 * ((30 * log10(spmax * 100))+28)/100
3 Set JS Rating = 25 * ((25.9 * log10(spmin * 100))+30)/100 * ((29.6 * log10(spint * 100))+20)/100
* ((33.3 * log10(spmax * 100))+10)/100
These formulae are most easily calculated on a spreadsheet. One is available for you to use for
the questions at the end. It is located at Engring1\GEOTECHNICAL\Procedures & forms\JS
Rating [Link].
As the joint spacing decreases and the no of sets increases the JS Rating reduces. Change the set
1, 2 and 3 count numbers in the spreadsheet to confirm this.
If there are no joints at all present in the interval then the JS rating will get the full points
allocation of 25.
Examples:
1 Set Present
From 302.3
To 306.5
Interval Length 4.2
Count Apparent Spacing Average True Spacing
Set 1 8 0.52 0.14
Set 2 0 n/a n/a
Set 3 0 n/a n/a
No. of Sets 1
1 Set Present
SP 0.14
JS Rating 19
2 Sets Present
From 302.3
To 306.5
Interval Length 4.2
Count Apparent Spacing Average True Spacing
Set 1 5 0.84 0.22
Set 2 0 n/a n/a
Set 3 2 2.10 2.04
No. of Sets 2
2 Sets Present
SPmin 0.22
SPmax 2.04
JS Rating 18
3 Sets Present
From 302.3
To 306.5
Interval Length 4.2
Count Apparent Spacing Average True Spacing
Set 1 5 0.84 0.22
Set 2 1 4.20 2.98
Set 3 3 1.40 1.36
No. of Sets 3
3 Sets Present
SPmin 0.22
SPint 1.36
SPmax 2.98
JS Rating 12
Joint Condition Rating (JC)
Joint condition accounts for the strength of the joints and other fractures in the rockmass. Joint
condition assesses how easily (or free) the rock blocks are to move against one another during
mining.
Joint condition has a value between 0 and 40 points.
When we log core we measure four items used to calculate the joint condition:
1. Large scale roughness (macro)
2. The small scale roughness (micro)
3. The cleanness of the joint (infill)
4. The alteration to the wall of the rock block (JWS)
It stands to reason that rough joints will not slide as easily over one another as smooth ones.
Likewise blocks separated by clay filled joints will slide more easily over one another than those
that have clean joints with fresh rock only.
Water flowing through joints can lead to a weakening of the joint wall. This weaker joint wall
will also allow blocks to move more easily against one another as the material is weaker than the
rock inside the block.
We calculate the joint condition as follows:
JC = 40 * macro rating * micro rating * infill rating * JWS rating
The ratings are all expressed as percentages. Values for each of the 4 ratings are shown in the
tables below:
Macro ratings:
Macro Macro
Code Description Rating
1 Straight 80%
2 Slight Undulation 85%
3 Curved 90%
Unidirectional
4 Wavy 95%
Multidirectional
5 Wavy 100%
Micro Ratings:
Micro Micro
Code Description Rating
1 Polished 55%
2 Smooth Planar 60%
3 Rough Planar 65%
Slickensided
4 Undulating 70%
5 Smooth Undulating 75%
6 Rough Undulating 80%
7 Slickensided Stepped 85%
8 Smooth Stepped 90%
9 Rough Stepped 95%
Infill Ratings:
Infill Infill
Code Description Rating
ALB Albite 85%
ALU Alunite 80%
APA Apatite 85%
BIO Biotite 60%
BNK Not Required 100%
BOR Bornite 100%
CA Calcite 60%
CAR Carbonate 60%
CDM Corundum 85%
CHL Chlorite 50%
CLN Clean/No Infill 100%
CLY Clay 50%
COL Coal 50%
CPY Chalcopyrite 85%
DCK Dickite 50%
EPI Epidote 85%
FEO Iron Oxide 70%
FLM Film 90%
FLS Feldspars 90%
FLU Fluorite 70%
FSP Feldspar 80%
GGT Gouge greater than amplitude 30%
GLT Gouge less than amplitude 45%
GT Graphite 45%
GYP Gypsum 50%
HEM Haematite 70%
KAO Kaolinite 50%
LIM Limonite 60%
MAG Magnetite 90%
MNO Manganese Oxide 70%
MO Molybdenite 45%
MON Montmorillonite 50%
NEO Neotosite 60%
NL Not Logged 30%
PY Pyrite 85%
QTZ Quartz 90%
SA Clayey Sand 60%
SER Sericite 50%
SME Smectite 50%
SPC Specularite (flaky hematite) 45%
STN Staining 95%
T Talc 50%
TPZ Topaz 90%
ZEO Zeolite 40%
JWS Ratings:
JWS JWS
Code Description Rating
1 Wall=Rock 100%
2 Wall>Rock 100%
3 Wall<Rock 75%
For example, a rockmass with curved large scale roughness, smooth undulating small scale
roughness, fluorite infill and JWS of the joint wall = rock would have the following JC:
JC = 40 * ((90/100)*(75/100)*(70/100) *(100/100))
JC = 40 * 0.9 * 0.75 * 0.7 * 1
JC = 18.9
The smoother the roughnesses and the softer, or more ‘slippery’ the infill the lower the value of
JC will be.
To calculate the JC for our three joint sets requires us to weight each of the 4 parameters based on
the number of joints in each set.
For instance, suppose we have an interva1with 10 set 1 joints, 2 set 2 joints and 3 set 3 joints.
The set 1 joints are clean (100% infill rating), set 2 joints are clay filled (50% infill rating) and set
3 joints are fluorite filled (70% infill rating). The influence of each set should be ratioed by the
number of joints encountered. This is because the clean joints will have the most influence as
they occur the most as there are 10 of them out of a total of 16 joints (10 + 2 + 3)
The weighted average calculation is as follows:
((set 1 rating * set 1 count) + (set 2 rating * set 2 count) + (set 3 rating * set 3 count))
(set 1 count + set 2 count + set 3 count)
This has to be calculated for the macro, micro, infill and JWS ratings in the interval. If a set does
not have any of one particular set of joints, that set can be left out. Once these numbers have
been obtained they can be used to calculate JC for the interval:
JC = 40 * avg. macro rating * avg. micro rating * infill rating * JWS rating
In the event that there are no joints in an interval, the JC will get 40 points (the maximum
possible).
Example:
Macro Micro Infill JWS
Count Rating Rating Rating rating
Set 1 10 90% 70% 100% 100%
Set 2 2 80% 80% 50% 75%
Set 3 6 85% 60% 75% 100%
Set 1 Count * Rating 9 7 10 10
Set 2 Count * Rating 1.6 1.6 1 1.5
Set 3 Count * Rating 5.1 3.6 4.5 6
Sum of Set Count *
Ratings 15.7 12.2 15.5 17.5
Sum of Set Count Ratings
/ total count 87% 68% 86% 97%
JC = 40 * 87% * 68 % * 86% * 87%
JC = 18
Calculation of Final RMR value
For a given interval you will have points values for the 5 components of the two RMR
calculations
Example:
1. Intact Rock Strength (IRS) 8 points
2. RQD Rating (RQDr) 10 points
3. Joint Spacing Rating (JS) 20 points
4. Fracture Frequency Rating (FF) 25 points
5. Joint Condition (JC) 18 points
RMRjs = IRS + RQD + JS + JC
RMRjs = 8 + 10 + 20 +18
RMRjs = 56
RMRff = IRS + FF + JC
RMRff = 8 + 25 +18
RMRff = 51
RMR = (RMRjs + RMRff)/2
RMR = (56 + 51)/2
RMR = 107/2
RMR = 54
All these calculations are performed in the database for you. All the calculations are based on the
logging data. It is important that you understand the method by which these calculations are made
and the effect your logging can have on them!
The measurement of the cemented joints and veins is also important. These are not used for
calculating RMR, but are used for a new system call iRMR. The two systems are similar. A
paper is available explaining the iRMR system. If you wish to see it, please ask Nick for a copy.
RMR Examples
Please try and calculate the RMR values for the following intervals. Answers will be made
available:
Example 1:
Example 2:
Example 3:
