# Mining: which planes could slide (kinematic analysis)

> Check every plane against the slope face and the friction angle: planar sliding, wedges and toppling, after Hoek and Bray, Markland and Goodman.

Page: https://finitor.cl/learn/desktop-mining-kinematics

Video: https://finitor.cl/learn/desktop-mining-kinematics-en.mp4 — Rock slope IV-4, captured by drone photogrammetry for "Automatic Planar Discontinuity Identification with Comprehensive Error Quantification" (Han et al., Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 2025). Data: Zenodo 16934958, CC BY 4.0.

## The face

1. Measure the slope face itself with the compass and a wide radius (a metre and a half here): one click gives its dip and dip direction.
2. Then find every plane of the rock with Find planes.

## The check

1. Choose the face's plane in the list, set the joints' friction angle from your own tests, and click Face from plane.
2. In the view, red planes could slide on their own, orange ones form a wedge with another plane, purple ones could topple. On the stereonet the critical poles are ringed, beside the face and the friction circle.

This supports the geotechnical engineer's judgement. It is not a stability study and computes no factor of safety.

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