Fedorovsky Polar State University, Norilsk, Russia

A. S. Koretskiy, Associate Professor, KoretskiyAS@nornik.ru

Drilling and Blasting Department, Mining Practice Management, Department of Mining Practice, NorNickel’s Polar Division, Norilsk, Russia

V. G. Bochkarev, Head
A. V. Elizariev, Chief Specialist
D. S. Frantsev, Chief Specialist

MMC Norilsk Nickel is a leader of the mining and metallurgy industry in Russia and the largest producer of nonferrous, noble and rare earth metals. General information on the license activity connected with handling of industrial explosives in Oktyabrsky Mine is given. The granular explosives used in underground mining are characterized, the procedure of the acceptance testing and production certification of the granular explosives in accordance with the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union for safety of explosives and related products is described. Emphasis is laid on the necessity to introduce field supervision and supervisory control in the subject-matter area. The check-up testing took into account the specificity of blasting in the Company’s mines (the presence of sulfide ore). Determination of chemical compatibility of explosives and sulfide ore in Oktyabrsky Mine is discussed, namely, the studies into effect of the mechanism, kinetics and decomposition catalysis of ammonium nitrate (from the literature review). It is known that in mine conditions, ammonium nitrate decomposes intensively in the presence of sulfide-bearing drilling cuttings (evaporation, flowing and flare in boreholes charged with ammonium nitrate explosives). The nature of this phenomenon is the catalytic (acceleration) effect exerted by sulfides and especially persulfides on the reaction of decomposition of ammonium nitrate. On the whole, the mechanism of catalytic and inhibitory (decelerative) effect exerted by various substances on decomposition of ammonium nitrate is investigated and described sufficiently well. The experimental data display a reliable mechanism of ammonium nitrate decomposition catalysis by sulfocontaining rocks, which produces mainly sulfuric acid, sodium sulfate, some few nitrogen acid, water steam and nitrogen. No sulfur oxides or volatile sulfur compounds originate at this mechanism of catalysis.

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