Environmental Aspects of Potash Mining: A Case Study of the Verkhnekamskoe Potash Deposit

Ushakova, Evgeniya; Perevoshchikova, Anna; Menshikova, Elena; Khayrulina, Elena; Perevoshchikov, Roman; Belkin, Pavel

doi:10.3390/mining3020011

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…Another important aspect related to the environmental impact of construction and closure of potash mines is given in review [13]. The authors concluded that the most effective measure to reduce the adverse environmental impact of potash mining at the VPMSD is hydraulic backfilling of workedout area.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling and Mitigating Gas Hazards during Potash Mine Closure

Kolesov,

Semin,

Starikov

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The planned closure of potash mines, achieved through the injection of highly mineralized brines into the worked-out area, is a complex and not fully studied process. A critical concern arises when brines obstruct the aerodynamic connections between the flooded mine's airspace and the atmosphere, potentially leading to the formation of closed cavities where explosive gases can accumulate. To address this hazard, it is imperative to develop systems capable of extracting the gas-air mixture from the unflooded domed portions of the worked-out area. This is the focus of this study, in which we analyze gas-dynamic processes within the potassium mine worked-out area during planned flooding. Two distinct scenarios are examined: the first involves controlled flooding with saturated brines, while the second contemplates flooding resulting from a hypothetical breakthrough of supra-salt strata, leading to the ingress of groundwater into the worked-out area. A novel mathematical model is introduced to predict the evolution of gas-air mixture parameters in the unflooded dome segment of the worked-out area. Utilizing this model, we assess the effectiveness of proposed measures designed to eliminate explosive gases from the worked-out area. Specifically, a pipeline system is proposed for the removal of gases, followed by their dilution below the maximum permissible concentrations in the effluent jet. The findings from this study contribute valuable insights into ensuring the safe and efficient closure of potash mines, shedding light on potential risks and effective mitigation strategies for gas-related hazards during planned flooding.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling and Mitigating Gas Hazards during Potash Mine Closure

Kolesov,

Semin,

Starikov

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…The growth of the world population predetermines the development of cities, as well as increases the demand for food products and fertilisers [1,2]. Potash is a raw material to produce inorganic fertilisers, so the extraction of this type of mineral increases every year [3,4]. At present, there is a depletion of potash reserves with relatively favourable positions (shallow depth, sufficient thickness, sufficient thickness of watertight strata, etc.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Principles of Sustainable Development of Georesources as a Way to Reduce Urban Vulnerability

Kongar-Syuryun,

Klyuev,

Golik

et al. 2024

Urban Science

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Humanity development is associated with higher spiritual and social behaviour and financial shape, which is an undeniable factor of urbanisation. Previously, in areas of georesource concentration, cities and settlements were formed with people exploiting these georesources. However, imperfect technologies lead to rapid depletion of reserves and industrial and environmental disasters, which affect the vulnerability of cities and the people living in them. The analysis of applied technologies has demonstrated that potash extraction is accompanied by a low recovery ratio, high mine accidents, and environmental problems. The principles of sustainable development of geo-resources for the creation of mining technologies that ensure industrial safety, environmental sustainability, and extending the life of the mining enterprise to save working places will reduce the vulnerability of cities. This article proposes the use of the room-and-pillar mining method with the replacement of natural supports with artificial ones. Three-stage stoping with backfill is considered. Numerical modelling has shown stabilisation of mining and geomechanical processes, which confirms the prospectivity of the method with backfill. For these purposes, this research presents a new backfill composition based on local industrial waste. Schemes of backfill preparation and feeding into the mined-out space are proposed. The proposed technology, based on the principles of sustainable development of georesources, is the foundation for an economically profitable, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible mining enterprise. The implementation of the principles of sustainable development of georesources will allow for the preservation of cities and reduce their vulnerability.

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“…The considered methods of dust suppression using water are characterized by a high efficacy degree, but they are not suitable for potash mines. This is primarily due to the hygroscopicity of the rocks that forms the productive formation under development [13]. The second reason is the adverse impact of this method of dust suppression on the operation of mining machinery and equipment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of the Combined Ventilation System for Dust Reduction in Blind Headings of Potash Mines

Sukhanov,

Maltsev,

Semin

et al. 2024

MMEP

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Ensuring safe and comfortable working conditions for miners in potash mines is an urgent and unresolved problem, primarily due to the high intensity of dust emissions. This is especially true for poorly studied situations when the main dust source is the area of ore transfer from the borer miner to the shuttle car. In this paper, we explore the possibilities of reducing dustiness in the atmosphere of a blind heading with an operating borer miner through the implementation of a combined ventilation system. This system integrates both exhaust and forcing ventilation ducts extending to the mouth of the blind heading. A significant innovation of this system is the prioritization of the exhaust fan over the blower fan. The efficacy of the proposed system has been evaluated both theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical analysis involved conducting 3D numerical simulations of dust-air distribution in a blind heading. The stationary turbulent flow of the air-dust mixture in the mine was calculated, taking into account the operating borer miner. The model's validity was confirmed against data from a full-scale experiment. A noticeable reduction in dust concentration was observed in the work areas of the borer miner and shuttle car when using the combined ventilation system compared to forcing ventilation. Based on these model findings, pilot tests of the effectiveness of the combined ventilation system were carried out in a real heading of a potash mine. They showed a reduction in dust concentration by 40-52% compared to the original version of the forcing ventilation system.

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Environmental Aspects of Potash Mining: A Case Study of the Verkhnekamskoe Potash Deposit

Cited by 10 publications

References 90 publications

Modeling and Mitigating Gas Hazards during Potash Mine Closure

Modeling and Mitigating Gas Hazards during Potash Mine Closure

Principles of Sustainable Development of Georesources as a Way to Reduce Urban Vulnerability

Optimization of the Combined Ventilation System for Dust Reduction in Blind Headings of Potash Mines

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