VIOGEM, Belgorod, Russia:

E. B. Yanitsky, Deputy CEO for Research and Development, Candidate of Geographical Sciences, yanez@geomix.ru

Institute of Earth Sciences, Belgorod State University, Belgorod, Russia:
I. M. Ignatenko, Director, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

The features of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly deposits are intense faulting, numerous fracture zones and nonuniform physical and mechanical properties of rocks. These factors have an adverse effect on pitwall stability, invoke rock falls in underground mines and necessitate special engineering protection of surface and underground mines from flooding. For fruitful mineral mining in the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly, the VIOGEM Institute was established in 1959. The major research interests of the Institute are brand-new technologies and equipment for drainage of deep and heavily watercut strata in KMA, surface and underground geomechanics and custom-made software. The Institute proposed and implemented unique drainage systems at the Yakovlevsky, Stoilensky and Lebedinsky deposits, with routine geomechanical supervision of mining. Furthermore, the Institute introduced the unique technology of modeling rock piles after blasting at Stoilensky Mining and Processing Plant. In recent years, in close cooperation with the Belgorod State University, the Institute is engaged in development of unique high technologies for optimized drilling and blasting, and for improved engineering-geological exploration. This day all mining companies in the region have entered upon implementation of the production ramp-up. The local difficult geological and geotechnical conditions necessitate deeper level mining, introduction of nonroutine and innovative approaches to planning, design and optimization of surface and underground mines, enhancement and effectivization of information control over geological and mining data, as well as geomechanical risk management. Success in meeting the current challenges in mining is only possible by means of creation of a proper information environment. Nearly for 200 years this mission is undertaken by the journal Gornyi Zhurnal. This periodical introduces advanced experience and know-how, raises new problems and discuses optimization scenarios.

1. Kozlovskiy E. A. (Ed.). Mining encyclopaedia. Moscow : Sovetskaya entsiklopediya, 1987. Vol. 3. Kengan – Ort. 592 p.
2. Mikhailov O. Yu., Gorbatenko V. D., Grigoriev V. I., Seryi S. S. Prospects for using ferruginous quartzite reserves of Lebedinsk oe and Stoilo-Lebedinskoe deposits. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2017. No. 5. pp. 90–95. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2017.05.21
3. Pomelnikov I. I. The state-of-the art and prospects of the iron ore industry development in conditions of «bear market». Gornaya pro myshlennost. 2015. No. 4(122). pp. 28–34.
4. M erkushova M. Yu., Nikulin I. I. Comparative analysis of rich iron ores of Belgorod and Stary Oskol district, Kursk Magnetic Anomaly. Vestnik Voronezh skogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Ser.: Geologiya. 2015. No. 4. pp. 107–113.
5. González R. M., Olías M., Macías F., Cánovas C. R., De Villarán R. F. Hydrological characterization and predi ction of flood levels of acidic pit lakes in the Tharsis mines, Iberian Pyrite Belt. Journal of Hydrology. 2018. Vol. 566. pp. 807–817.
6. Zhigang Tao, Yu Shu, Xiaojie Yang, Ya nyan Peng, Qihang Chen, Haijiang Zhang. Physical model test study on shear strength characteristics of slope sliding surface in Nanfen open-pit mine. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. 2020. Vol. 30, Iss. 3. pp. 421–429.
7. Xia-Ting Fe ng, Jianpo Liu, Bingrui Chen, Yaxun Xiao, Guangliang Feng, Fengpeng Zhang. Monitoring, Warning, and Control o f Rockburst in Deep Metal Mines. Engineering. 2017. Vol. 3, Iss. 4. pp. 538–545.
8. Li C. C. Principles of rockbolting design. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 2017. Vol. 9, Iss. 3. pp. 396–414.
9. Seryi S. S., Yanitsky E. B. Mining problem solution center. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2019. No. 10. pp. 5–7.
10. Tomaev V. K. KMA first-born—KMAruda Mining and Processing—is 55. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2008. No. 4. pp. 7–11.
11. Tarasenko Ya. V. St oilensky Mining and Concentrating Combine – Russia’s Advanced Iron Ore Company. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2014. No. 8. pp. 9–13.
12. Tomaev V. K. The 60-th anniversary of «Kombinat KMAruda» JSC: results and development prospects. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2013. No. 4. pp. 41–45.
13. Mikhailov O. Yu., Tarasenko Ya. V. The Go lden Jubilee of Iron-Ore Giant of Russia. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2017. No. 5. pp. 15–18.
14. Ponomarenko Yu. V., Popov L. N., Streltsov V. I. New techn ology of guaranteeing of industrial security at watery deposits of mineral resources. GIAB. 2016. No. 1. pp. 139–148.
15. Volkov Yu. I. Input of VIOGEM institute in bildin g and operation of Lebedinsky quarry. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2007. No. 7. pp. 50–53.
16. Izotov A. A., Ponomarenko Yu. V., Streltsov V. I., Machekhina I. Yu., Moskovchenko G. Yu. Improvement of methods of drainage of deep-seated deposits of mineral resources. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2013. No. 12. pp. 49–53.
17. Volkov Yu. I., Izotov A. A., Ryazhskikh M. V. The theory and practice of numerical models development of iron ore deposits drainage systems. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2012. No. 9. pp. 32–37.
18. B elyakov S. I., Kalyagin I. A., Timoshkov I. A., Peshkov A. I., Dubrovskiy V. Ya. Mining and boring technologies in context of quarries protection from underground water. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2011. No. 6. pp. 29–32.
19. Volkov Yu. I., Izotov A. A. Technologies and designing of drying systems at developed deposits of mineral resources. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2010. No. 7. pp. 25–28.
20. Volkov Yu. I., Izotov A. A., P onomarenko Yu. V. VIOGEM and technological advance in mine protection from flooding. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2004. No. 10. pp. 10–14.
21. Titov V. I., Zabusov N. I., Rya zhskikh M. V., Lukyanenko N. A. Examination of hydrogological situation for making design decis ions on water content reduction in pit walls. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2019. No. 10. pp. 15–18.
22. Voronin A. A., Volkov Yu. I., Zhdanova T. V., Vershinina O. O. Development and validation of modern techniques to protect mines from ground water. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2019. No. 10. pp. 18–21.
23. Kazikaev D. M., Kondratenko P. D., Makhrin G. V., Timonov N. T., Fomin B. A. Geomechanical monitoring at the mi ne named by Gubkin. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2008. No. 4. pp. 21–24.
24. Sergeev S. V., Surzhin G. G. Experience of shafting in the Yakovlevsky mine. Gornyi Zhurnal. 1996. No. 1-2. pp. 82–84.
25. Kryuchkov A. V., Shaforostov A. P., Suslov Yu. V. The systems of automate d control of technology at benefication plant of Stoilenskiy mining and conc entrating plant. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2011. No. 6. pp. 83–86.
26. Rybakov V. P., Esaulkov A. V., Seryi S. S., Gerasimov A. V., Khramtsov B. A. Informatization of geologica l and surveying works at “Stoilenskiy Mining and Concentrating Plant” joint stock company. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2011. No. 6. pp. 75–79.
27. Volkov Yu. I., Seriy S. S., Dunaev V. A., Gerasimov A. V. GIS GEOMIX for mining industry in Russia and Kazakhstan. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2015. No. 5. pp. 8–13. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2015.05.02
28. Sery S. S., Dunaev V. A., Gera simov A. V., Kabelko S. G. Geoinformation support of iron ore mining in Stary Oskol region of Kursk Magnetic Anomaly. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2015. No. 9. pp. 76–81. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2015.09.17
29. Seryi S. S., Dunaev V. A., Gerasimov A. V. Up-to-date technologies of geological mine-surveying provision of mining production. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2010. No. 7. pp. 29–32.
30. Seryi S. S., Gerasimov A. V., Shaytan O. B., Kuznetsov S. L. Computerized information support of mining practices. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2007. No. 9. pp. 81–85.
31. Vinogradov A. I., Yastremskiy V. N., Ivanov A. S., Korzhankov R. B., Gerasimov A. V. Innovation technologies of the survey operations. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2012. No. 10. pp. 54–60.
32. Sokolov A. K., Monakov V. N., Eremin S. V., Drobysheva V. N. Application of new technologies for s urveying support of mining. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2017. No. 5. pp. 82–84. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2017.05.19
33. Goleusov P. V., Lisetsky F. N. Restoration of soil and vegetation cov er in post-mining geo-systems and their renaturation prospects in the area of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2014. No. 8. pp. 69–74.
34. Ignatenko I. M., Dunaev V. A., Tyupin V. N. Improving procedure of pre-project assessment of hard rock blastability in open pit mines. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2019. No. 1. pp. 46–50 . DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2019.01.10
35. Ignatenko I. M., Yanitsky E. B., Dunaev V. A., Konovalov A. V. Efficient procedure for rock mass jointing characterization and particle size determination after blasting in open pit mines. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2019. No. 8. pp. 33–38. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2019.08.06