NorNickel’s Polar Division, Norilsk, Russia

T. P. Darbinyan, Director of Mining Practice Department, Candidate of Engineering Sciences
A. A. Tsymbalov, Deputy Director of Mining Practice

Mining Institute, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm, Russia
A. V. Zaitsev, Head of Mining Practice Development Laboratory, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, artem.v.zaitsev@yandex.ru
M. O. Perestoronin, Engineer at Mining Practice Development Laboratory

One of the major problems in current deep-level underground mining is the increased temperature of mine air, which conditions unfavorable and unsafe operating environment. The article describes the experimental measurement of temperature in rocks within the limits of production strata in Taimyrsky Mine of NorNickel’s Polar Division by contact sensing in boreholes. Using the measured data, the averaged geothermal characteristics of rock mass are determined and recommended for introduction in designing of new mine sites  and making engineering decisions on normalization of microclimate on operating sites. It is found that the main contribution in generation of the thermal field of a mineral deposit or a mine is made by: the tectonic and magmatic activity; the difference in thermophysical properties of contacting rocks; the fluid flows; the presence of mined-out voids. In new mine site designs and in engineering solutions on microclimate normalization on existing sites, it is recommended to amend geothermal characteristics of the mine field by contact sensing in boreholes drilled from underground roadways. The temperature field in Taimyrsky Mine is nonuniform along the depth and across the area. The temperature difference at the same elevations within the mine field can reach 4.8 °C. The main factors which govern the nonuniformity of the temperature field in the mine and the presence of thermal abnormalities are: the tectonic and magmatic activity; the difference in thermophysical properties of contacting rocks; the fluid flows; the decomposition of the crustal radioactive elements; the presence of mined-out voids.

The authors appreciate participation of E. N. Mizonov, Head of the Mining Practice Office at the Mining Practice Department (MPD) of NorNickel’s Polar Division (PD), V. N. Zhitnyak, Head of the Mining Practice Unit of PD’s MPD, and V. V. Vorobiev, Manager of the Mining Practice Supervision Unit of PD’s MPD.

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