Panuco
Point Load Testing (PLT) Standard Operating Procedure
Table of Contents
1) Introduction
A. Definitions
B. Scope and Applicability
C. Summary of Method
D. Health and Safety Warnings and Cautions
E. Impediments to High-Quality Data Collection
F. Personnel Qualifications and Responsibilities
2) PLT Testing Procedure
A. Required Equipment
B. Preparing the Point Load Tester
C. Testing Procedure
3) Risk & Data Management
A. PLT Risk Assessment
B. Data Records and Management
C. Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)
4) Referenecs
5) PLT Cheat sheets (English & Spanish)
1.A) Definitions
• Logger – person undertaking the core logging and point load testing.
• Core Shack – permanent or semi-permanent building where core logging for the
program generally occurs. This is usually established, maintained, and managed by
site geologists.
• Logging Shack – temporary logging structure established at the drill rig for logging of
core as it comes out of the ground.
• Site Supervisor – person responsible for QA/QC of logged core and point load testing.
• PLT – point load test(ing). This can refer to the machine or the test.
• Hazard – anything with the potential to cause harm or equipment damage.
• Risk – the likelihood of a hazard occurring.
• SOP – Standard Operating Procedure.
1.B) Scope and Applicability
• Point load testing of the drill core may be conducted to obtain strength results suitable
for engineering analysis. These tests may be conducted at the drill rig in a temporary
logging facility or at the core shack.
• Point load testing procedures are based on International Society for Rock
Mechanics (ISRM) Suggested Method for Determining Point Load Strength
(Brown, 1981). The procedure with which these tests are conducted is generally in
accordance with the current ASTM International Standards (designation D5731-08),
however these standards have been modified from where they were intended on being
used, a laboratory testing environment, to a rock mass classification campaign.
• This SOP is applicable to all loggers and supervisors who are undertaking point load
testing. This SOP does not overrule any specific safety or procedures designated by
the client or drilling contractor and is designed to be followed as a minimum
requirement in the absence of other requirements.
1.C) Summary of Method
• The point load test is an index test for
determining rock strength. These index tests
can be correlated against the uniaxial
compressive strength (UCS) and tensile
strength of rock obtained from laboratory
testing.
• Point load testing is a fast and inexpensive test
that enables the collection of a large number of
high quantity data distributed throughout the
drillhole which is useful for engineering
analysis.
• The point load testing machine is comprised of
a hydraulic ram, loading frame, pump, platens,
and pressure or force gauge. Point load testing
utilizes the hydraulic ram with specifically
shaped platens to apply a force to a piece of
core and induce a failure. The magnitude of this
force and the size of the piece of core are used
to calculate the point load strength of the tested
specimen. SRK uses the RocTest PIL-7 point
load test machine to conduct point load testing RocTest PIL-7 PLT machine with components labelled.
(Figure 4 2).
1.D) Health and Safety Warnings and Cautions
• There are specific hazards that apply to point load testing. The test induces a
potentially violent failure of the sample. Hazards include:
– Flying rock fragments which can injure eyes and skin;
– Repetitive strain from using the machine;
– Strain from lifting the machine and carrying core to the test site;
– Hand injuries relating to the pinch points on the machine;
– Sudden release of pressurized hydraulic fluid; and
– Chemical injuries from hydraulic fluid.
1.E) Impediments to High-Quality Data Collection
• The quality of the data collected can be affected by the following:
– Improper execution of the testing procedure (incorrect sample size and not
accounting for foliation or bedding);
– Improperly serviced or calibrated PLT machine;
– Poor housekeeping; a dirty PLT machine with grit in cylinder or along cylinder arms;
– Insufficient or too much hydraulic fluid in the PLT machine; and
– Platens in poor condition (too flat resulting in too much surface area on the rock
sample).
1.F) Personnel Qualifications and Responsibilities
• The site supervisor or loggers conducting point load testing are expected to abide by
the safety requirements of the mine, exploration site, and/or drilling company.
Additionally, these personnel are expected to follow the procedures defined in this
SOP. The site supervisor and loggers will report to the person defined as being
responsible for the area they will be working in.
• The loggers will be experienced in point load testing or will be provided with the
necessary training to perform the task. If a logger requires training the trainer must
have adequate experience conducting point load tests and enough time for training to
take place must be allowed for.
2.A) Required Equipment
• Equipment required to conduct point load testing generally includes:
– PLT machine;
– Safety shield;
– PPE – safety glasses mandatory, gloves recommended, and other safety equipment
as prescribed by the site/client;
– Sturdy work surface to conduct test on; and
– Drill core.
2.B) Preparing the Point Load Tester
1) Using a two-person lift, remove the PLT machine from the box and lift it onto a working surface.
This surface should be approximately waist height for the person who will be completing the
point load testing.
2) Check the piston oil level. If more oil is needed, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to add oil.
Check the unit for oil leakage before continuing.
3) Make sure that the conical platens are tightly screwed in place and in good condition (the
spherical load tip should be rounded, not flat).
4) Use the piston level to close the valve (twist to the right) and raise the jack piston until the two
conical platens gently touch. Adjust the ruler on the side to 0 mm. To lower the plunger, open the
piston (twist to the left) and push down on the tray (evenly on both sides) with your hands.
5) Prior to removing the cap to connect the gauge, open the piston value to relieve any pressure
within the gauge support. Otherwise the oil will spill out when the cap is removed.
6) Adjust the gauge as follows:
a. Check that the unit is displaying MPa units. If this is not the case consult the user manual and
change the unit to display in MPa.
b. Enable the max or peak option, when enabled this will become visible on the left side of the
screen. This option will allow you to record the maximum pressure at failure. On the dial
gauge, the top value shows the current pressure and the bottom value shows the max
pressure that should be recorded.
2.C) PLT Testing Procedure (1/2)
Testing procedures may change to become site specific, especially if a dominant foliation or bedding
is present in the rock mass. This section details standard procedures for selecting, preparing,
completing and documenting a point load test.
1) Review the geotechnical interval (no larger than one drill run) to find a piece of intact core that is
representative of the intact rock. This sample should not include structures such as veins or
healed micro-defects (if possible).
2) Once a sample is selected an estimation of the length (diametral) or width (axial) of the sample
must be made to determine if they meet the ASTM specifications below detailed below.
a. Note: If you are completing axial samples mark the core for the core cutters where you would
it to be cut. The length of the sample will decrease during cutting. Therefore, leave enough
room for the sample to still fit these specifications after core cutting.
Diametral Sample Length Axial Sample Widths
Core Diameter
Length > Diameter 0.3*Diameter < Width< Diameter
NQ (47.6 mm) > 4.76 cm 1.43 to 4.76 cm
NQ3 (45.1 mm) > 4.51 cm 1.36 to 4.51 cm
HQ (63.5 mm) > 6.35 cm 1.91 to 6.35 cm
HQ3 (61.1 mm) > 6.11 cm 1.83 to 6.11 cm
2.C) PLT Testing Procedure (2/5)
3) Record the drillhole ID, the sample depth, and the associated sample ID (if applicable) into the
PLT spreadsheet.
4) Describe the sample including the lithology, veining and micro defecting, ISRM strength estimate,
as well as the type of test that will be performed (axial or diametral).
5) Describe the orientation of the test with respect to foliation, if applicable. See the image below.
6) Put on safety glasses.
7) Clean the device of dust/rock fragments that could obstruct the movement of the plunger or
damage the instrument.
8) Reset the gauge to zero.
9) Close the valve with the tip of the lever (twist to the right).
2.C) PLT Testing Procedure (3/5)
10) Place the sample centered and level between the two conical platens and raise the plunger with
the lever until the sample is held in place with a small amount of pressure.
11) Measure and record the length (diametral) or width (axial) for the sample;
a. The length of a diametral sample will be measured using a measuring tape.
b. The width of an axial sample will be measured using the ruler on the side of the PLT machine.
The width of the sample will be determined as accurately as possible. Verify the ruler
measures 0 mm when platens are touching.
12) Place the protective cage (Plexiglas or a large sample bag) over the device and the sample.
13) Pump the lever to raise the plunger in slow and constant strokes until the sample fails.
a. Note: Do not load the sample past a gauge reading of 20 MPa as this causes damage to the
machine and does not result in much more additional information.
14) Record the maximum pressure (in MPa) in the logging spreadsheet.
15) Record the failure type in the logging sheet from the options below.
a. Note that the failure types can be combinations of these failures. If that is the case,
approximate the area of the sample that failed with each type of failure mechanism. Record
the failure type for the largest area first followed by a slash (/) and then the other failure
modes. Keep detailed comments when a PLT test results in multiple failure types.
2.C) PLT Testing Procedure (4/5)
PLT Failure Modes PLT Failure Type Description Test Quality
T1 Failed across intact rock, not along pre-existing feature or no break Good
T2 Failed along fabric (foliation/bedding; >50% along plane) Fair
T3 Failed along existing weakness (microdefect, cemented joint) Poor
T4 Slipped during testing, chipped or failed across rock mass at less than 5MPa Poor
T5 Refusal (> 20 MPa on the PLT gauge) Fair
N/A No result provided, broke before testing etc. N/A
2.C) PLT Testing Procedure (5/5)
16) Record the angle of failure with respect to any planes of weakness (e.g. foliation/bedding
planes), if applicable.
17) Open the piston valve, releasing the pressure from the piston.
18) Remove the protective cage.
19) Clean the device from dust and rock fragments that could damage or obstruct the movement of
the plunger.
20) Lower the plunger by exerting uniform pressure on each side of the tray with your hands.
21) Reset the gauge to zero.
3.A) PLT Risk Assessment (1/2)
• This section specifies details regarding the preliminary and residual risks of completing
the standard testing procedure detailed in the section above. Hazardous tasks in the
standard testing procedure have been identified and assigned a preliminary risk using
a Risk Assessment Chart. Next, the controls that are used on site to reduce the
probability or consequence of the identified preliminary risk occurring are detailed.
Following this, a final risk is assigned that takes into consideration the controls that
have been put in place.
• The risks associated with the generalized testing procedure are presented in the table
on the next slide.
3.A) PLT Risk Assessment (2/2)
3.B) Data & Records Management
• Data will be directly inputted into the computer when possible. If data is recorded on
paper it should be entered into the computer as soon as possible and reviewed
thoroughly for errors. A master spreadsheet will be maintained with all point load
testing results and suitable backups made to mitigate data loss.
• Data processing will be conducted in the office, outside of that which is relevant for the
on-site QA/QC.
3.C) Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)
• QA/QC is implemented through classifying the failure type. These failure types can be
filtered and analyzed as part of the analysis in the office. Test results can be reviewed
through core photos. The advantage of point load testing relative to laboratory testing
is the quantity of tests that are performed, and data manipulation can be used to filter
anomalous results.
• The data undergoes further review in the office during preparation of strip logs and
finalizing data for use in the geomechanical study.
4) References
1) ASTM D5731-08, Standard Test Method for Determination of the Point Load
Strength Index of Rock and Application to Rock Strength Classifications, ASTM
International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2008, www.astm.org.
2) Brown, E.T.,1981. Rock Characterization Testing and Monitoring: ISRM Suggested
Methods, International Society for Rock Mechanics.
3) Franklin, J. A., April 1985, Suggested method for determining point load strength,
International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics
Abstracts, Vol 22, Issue 2, pp 51-60.
4) RocTest, Instruction Manual Point Load Tester Model PIL-7, retrieved from
https://roctest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Pil-7-Manual-with-Appendix.pdf,
February 14, 2018.
Disclaimer – SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. has prepared this document for internal use and training. Any use or decisions by
which a third party makes of this document are the responsibility of such third parties. In no circumstance does SRK accept any
consequential liability arising from commercial decisions or actions resulting from the use of this report by a third party.
The opinions expressed in this report have been based on the information available to SRK at the time of preparation. SRK has
exercised all due care in reviewing information supplied by others for use on this project. Whilst SRK has compared key supplied
data with expected values, the accuracy of the results and conclusions from the review are entirely reliant on the accuracy and
completeness of the supplied data. SRK does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the supplied information,
except to the extent that SRK was hired to verify the data.
Point Load Testing
Veining/Micro-
Type of Test PLT Failure Type PLT Failure Type Description Test Quality
defect Intensity
Failed across intact rock, not along pre-existing feature or no
Diametral None T1 Good
break
Axial Minor T2 Failed along fabric (foliation/bedding; >50% along plane) Fair
Moderate T3 Failed along existing weakness (microdefect, cemented joint) Poor
Intense T4 Slipped during testing, chipped or rockmass at less than 5 MPa Poor
T5 Refusal (>20 MPa) Fair
N/A N/A = no result provided, broke before testing etc N/A
Axial Perpendicular
Parallel
Diametral
Carga puntual
Intensidad de los Calidad de la
Tipo De Prueba Tipo de falla Descripción del tipo de falla
micro-defectos prueba
Fallo atravez de la roca intacta, no a traves de un defecto/fractura
Diametral Ninguno T1 Bueno
cementada preexistente
Axial Menor T2 Fallo a lo largo de la estructura (Foliacion/Stratigrafia) Mediano
Moderado T3 Fallo por una debilidad existente (microdefecto, junta cementada) Pobre
Intenso T4 Se desprendio o se abollo durante pruebas a menos de 5 Mpa Pobre
T5 Denegado (>20 Mpa) Mediano
N/A Sin resultados, se rompio antes de pruebas, etc N/A
Axial
Diametral
