Backfilling Technologies, Moscow, Russia:

A. N. Montyanova, Chief Executive Officer, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

Gipronickel Institute, Saint-Petersburg, Russia:
A. V. Trofimov, Head of Center for Physical and Mechanical Research, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, trofimovav@nornik.ru
A. E. Rumyantsev, Leading Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences
V. B. Vilchinskiy, Head of Mining Laboratory, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Technology of backfilling using cemented mixtures has no alternatives in mining of very high-value ore in difficult geological conditions, including rockburst-hazardous mines. Improving the composition of backfill is a very topical goal as the share of backfilling in the ore production cost makes 20–25 %. Reducing the cost of backfilling is achieved by using various types of cement-free binders, chemical additives and industrial wastes. The main goal was to reduce the cost of backfills produced in Talnakh mines of the Polar Division of Norilsk Nickel. It was allowed to include minimum corrections to the current technology of backfill preparation, to compositions of the mixtures and to productivity of mills. The cost reduction of backfills is achieved by the introduction of a chemical additive of technical lignosulfonate, which allows decreasing water consumption by 40–60 liters per one cubic meter of solid in the mixture with no change in its flowability and without its rheology deterioration. In turn, the optimized water : cement ratio makes it possible to increase the strength parameters, or, with a decrease in the binder consumption, to reach the specified strength parameters. The article presents the results of the lab tests and technological audit of backfilling plants. The pilot testing procedure and the method of feed of technical lignosulfonates in the process flow chart are described. The results of the lab tests and pilot tests of backfills with plasticized additives are compared. The pilot tests in Talnakh mines show reduction in Portland cement consumption by 25 % in the experimental slag and breakstone mixtures and by 10 % in compositions with anhydrite. Based on the positive results of the pilot industrial tests, the production procedures are developed for re-equipment of backfilling plants in Talnakh mines, and new compositions of plasticized backfills are recommended.

1. Vilchinskiy V. B., Trofimov A. V., Koreyvo A. B., Galaov R. B., Marysyuk V. P. Substantiation of reasonability of application of stowing mining systems at Talnakh mines. Tsvetnye Metally. 2014. No. 9. pp. 23–28.
2. Golik V. I., Lukyanov V. G. Optimization of backfill strength with regard to stress state of rocks. Izvestiya Tomskogo politekhnicheskogo universiteta. Inzhiniring georesursov. 2016. Vol. 327, No. 6. pp. 6–14.
3. Eren Komurlu, Ayhal Kesimal. Sulfide-rich mine tailings usage for short-term support purposes: An experimental study on paste backfill barricades. Geomechanics and Engineering. 2015. Vol. 9, No. 2. pp. 195–205.
4. Sivakugan N., Veenstra R., Naguleswaran N. Underground Mine Backfilling in Australia Using Paste Fills and Hydraulic Fills. International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering. 2015. Vol. 1, Iss. 2. 18. DOI: 10.1007/s40891-015-0020-8
5. Eugie Kabwe, Yiming Wang. Review on Rockburst Theory and Types of Rock Support in Rockburst Prone Mines. Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology. 2015. Vol. 5, No. 4. pp. 104–121.
6. Wael R. Abdellah, Mahrous A. Ali. Stability analysis of vertical and inclined backfilled stope. Journal of Engineering Sciences, Assiut University Faculty of Engineering. 2017. Vol. 45, No 1. pp. 70–79.
7. Korneeva E. V., Pavlenko S. I. Composite cement-free binder from industrial waste and the backfill mixture with his binder. Moscow : Izdatelstvo Assotsiatsii stroitelnykh vuzov, 2009. 140 p.
8. Ageeva M. S., Sopin D. M., Ginzburg A. V., Kalashnikov N. V., Lesovik G. A. Development of composite binders for backfill mixtures. Vestnik Belgorodskogo gosudarstvennogo tekhnologicheskogo universiteta im. V. G. Shukhova. 2013. No. 4. pp. 43–47.
9. Krupnik L. A., Abdykalykova R. S. Paste backfills, properties and preparation technologies. Engineering Education and Science in the 21^st Century – Problems and Prospects: Proceedings of International Forum Devoted to the 80th Anniversary of the Satpaev National Technical University in Kazakhstan. Almaty, 2014. Vol. 1. pp. 360–367.
10. Galtseva N. A., Buryanov A. F. Stowing Mixtures on the Basis of Synthetic Anhydrite from Industrial Waste. Stroitelnye materialy. 2016. No. 7. pp. 33–35.
11. Montyanova A. N., Vilchinskiy V. B., Trofimov A. V. On stowing materials cost reduction at the mines of the Transpolar branch of the Norilsk Nickel mining and metallurgical company PAO. Vestnik Magnitogorskogo gosudarstvennogo tekhnicheskogo universiteta im. G. I. Nosova. 2015. No. 4(52). pp. 45–49.
12. Montyanova A. N. Formation of stowing massifs during the development of diamond deposits in cryolithic zone. Moscow : Gornaya kniga, 2005. 596 p.