Book excerpt: This text is concerned with the interaction of groundwater as a complex solution, with rock as a multi-phase system, taking into account the phenomena occurring in rock strata as a result of various engineering activities. Readers can find a wealth of information to enable them to assess rock properties, plan mining activities and forecast rock strata behaviour in the construction and operation of mines, as well as understand the application of technology to facilitate safer, more efficient, more economic and environmentally sensitive geological engineering.