A literature survey and a laboratory experiment have been carried out to study post-failure behaviour of mine rock under uniaxial compression. Laboratory experiments were carried out to determine post-failure characteristics of two mine rocks i.e. siltstone and pyritic ore from the Elura Mine, near Cobar, in New South Wales, using a Schenck Trebel servo-controlled testing machine. A total of 36 specimens of 30 mm diameter with L/D ratios ranging from 1/2 to 2 have been tested under uniaxial

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... ression. The experimental results showed that siltstone displays various post-failure modes of behaviour depending on the geometry of the specimen and the experiment conditions. Although no complete stress-strain curves for the pyritic ore specimens were obtained, this type of rock is obviously a Class II rock. To control failure of pyritic ore specimens, therefore, strain energy stored in the specimen at post peak strength region must be extracted from the specimen. An understanding of post-failure behaviour of rock may lead to the development of better procedures for controlling violent failure of rock structures such as underground pillars and therefore its contribution to stability analysis of underground excavation and the design of mining lay outs.