Uralmekhanobr, Yekaterinburg, Russia:

V. A. Zaprudin, Junior Researcher
A. V. Kotenkov, Deputy Head of Mining Science Department

Yakutniproalmaz Institute, ALROSA, Mirny, Russia

I. V. Zyryanov, Deputy Director of Science, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, zyryanoviv@alrosa.ru
A. S. Kulminskiy, Deputy Chief Engineer in Underground Mining

The article presents the chronology and stages of mining resumption at Mir pipe. The initiatory steps of the conceptual approach to underground mining of ore reserves at the depth greater than 1500 m are described. The primary measures on catchment of highly mineralized water from Metegero-Ichersky aquifer are identified. The exploratory study results on deeper level mining safety in the future underground mine in terms of the strata pressure reduction are given. The authors in detail discuss two methods of rock mass destressing: destressing drilling and formation of protection layers with different parameters at the depths of 1000 m and greater. Natural stress state of rock mass is modeled in Rocscience RS3 environment. The analyses of the mathematical models of ore and enclosing rock destressing show that the safest and the most effective methods of dеstressing of deeper level rock mass in Mir Mine is creation of a protective separation layer both in ore body and in enclosing rock mass on the both sides of the ore body at a distance of 15 m. Such destressing measures can allow safe mining of ore reserves using the sublevel stoping method with sublevels to 50 m high. The research findings will be used in the front-end engineering as the basis for the further mine planning and design.

1. Mir Mine : Detailed design of mine suspension. Yakutniproalmaz, 2018.
2. Problems and ways of the efficient processing of diamondiferous deposits: collection of reports of International Scientific and Practical Conference. Novosibirsk : Nauka, 2011. 584 p.
3. Experience and practical measures on recovery of a mine after an accident : All-Russian Conference Proceedings. Moscow : MGTU im. N. E. Baumana, 2018. 135 p.
4. Design procedures for accessing and mining of deeper levels in Mir Mine. Stage II : Justification of mining systems with backfilling. Mirnyi : Yakutniproalmaz, 2020.
5. Paper No. 753-10/10. Determination of physical, mechanical and deformation properties of enclosing rock mass and kimberlite ore of Mir pipe at level –210÷–310 m. Mirnyi : Yakutniproalmaz, 2010.
6. Konstantinova S. A., Kramskov N. P., Solovev V. A. Some problems of rocks mechanics as applied to processing of Yakutian diamond deposits. Novosibirsk : Nauka, 2011. 222 p.
7. Kolganov V. F., Akishev A. N. Primary deposits of Western Yakutia diamonds: tutorial. Novosibirsk : Geo, 2011. 212 p.
8. Baklashov I. V. Geomechanics : tutorial : in two volumes. Moscow : Izdatelstvo MGGU, 2004. 455 p.
9. Nikolaev M. V., Grigorieva E. E., Gulyaev P. V. Assessment of risks influencing innovation activity of industrial enterprises (on example of diamond-brilliant complex). Eurasian Mining. 2016. No. 2. pp. 6–10. DOI: 10.17580/em.2016.02.02
10. Zelberg A. S., Zyryanov I. V., Bondarenko I. F. Current and emerging technologies in development of diamond depo sits. Gornaya promyshlennost. 2019. No. 3. pp. 26–31.
11. Ping Zhang, Ering Nordlund, Graham Swan, Changping Yi. Velocity Amplification of Seismic Waves Through Parallel Fractures Near a Free Surface in Fractured Rock: A Theoretical Study. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2019. Vol. 52, Iss. 1. pp. 199–213.
12. Sheng Zeng, Shaoping Wang, Bing Sun, Qibing Liu. Propagation Characteristics of Blasting Stress Waves in Layered and Jointed Rock Caverns. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. 2018. Vol. 36, Iss. 3. pp. 1559–1573.
13. Rylnikova M. V., Zoteev O. V. Geomechanics : Educational aid. Moscow : Ore and Metals Publishing House, 2003. 240 p.
14. Shiguo Sun, Weichen Guo, Yujuan Zhang, Junlei Wu, Weidong Liu. Research on the Laws of the Overlying Rock Mass Deformation of Combined Open-Pit with Underground Mining. Proceedings of the 2015 International Symposium on Energy Science and Chemical Engineering. Ser.: Advances in Engineering Research. Amsterdam : Atlantis Press, 2015. Vol. 45. pp. 68–72.
15. Sarder M. Yahya, Rini A. Abdullah, Mohd Ashraf Mohamad Ismail, Hisham Mohamad, Muhammad Azril Hezmi, Siti Norafida Jusoh. 3D numerical modelling of shallow tunnel in weathered granite incorporating multi-stage excavation and pre-support. Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences and Engineering). 2016. Vol. 78, No. 8-6. pp. 39–44.
16. Vallejos J. A., Delonca A., Peres E. Three-dimensional effect of stresses in open stope mine design. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment. 2018. Vol. 32, No. 5. pp. 355–374.
17. Standard flowcharts for hazard safety of rock mass and pillars by large diameter drilling. Leningrad : VNIMI, 1991. 39 p.