Reduction of the Ore Losses Emerging within the Deep Mining of Bauxite Deposits at the Mines of OJSC «Sevuralboksitruda»

Abstract

This article considers the issues associated with the deep mining of bauxite ores. A need for effective development of Russian aluminum mineral resource base requires companies to reduce the ore losses emerging while moving to the deeper mining, which is characterized by sophisticated geological, technical and geodynamic mining conditions. In this article we have revealed the changing patterns of the inter-chamber pillars’ stress state and stability taking into account the influence of various mining and geological factors. Based on the mine data and the results of numerical experiments performed with the use of PRESS 3D URAL software, this research has revealed that at the depth of more than 700-800 m inter-chamber pillars enter the supercritical mode of deformation and have minimal bearing capacity. Failure to take into account the supercritical mode of deformation leads to the significant losses of ore in pillars reaching 30-50%. At the same time, the ore losses can be reduced to 15-25% by considering the residual strength and supercritical deformation of the pillars while designing their parameters. The economic result would be achieved by improving the design process of mining operations, providing increased safety of mining operations along with losses reduction leading to to increase in production volumes.

Evolution of secondary stress field during underground mining of thick ore bodies

“…The models were constructed for specific geological conditions determined and calibrated for geomechanical modeling of conventional geotechnical systems; namely, Sol-Iletsk Mine (room an d pillar); Tashtagol Mine (a site with bulk caving); Internatsionalny Mine (a site with cut-and-fill mining) [7][8][9][10]. The models were calibrated using the quantitative evaluation of rock mass in terms of tensile micro-strains determined on a full scale (Figs.…”

Justification of functional organization and contents of modeling cluster concept for geomechanical research of convergent mining technologies

“…Based on the studies into stress-strain patterns in rock mass under mining using conventional [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] and new, environmentally sound convergent geotechnologies [14][15][16], recommendations on their design and adapting to certain geological conditions are developed.…”

Features of secondary stress field formation under anthropogenic change in subsoil during underground mineral mining

“…In underground mineral mining with different methods, e.g. open stoping, room-and-pillar, backfilling, shrinkage stoping, caving of ore and enclosing rock mass [1][2][3][4], under conditions of variable physical and mechanical properties of rocks, stress-strain behavior, strata movement, faulting and in the presence of fluid-containing strata, formation of the secondary stress field is a dynamically unstable process [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. For this reason, the prime studies use the method of virtual experiments with numerical models of geological and geotechnical systems, and with further verification of the results by physical simulation of the systems or by comparison with qualitative data of the in situ observations and tests.…”