“Yakutniproalmaz” Institute (Mirnyy, Russia):

Akishev A. N., Head of Department, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, e-mail: AkishevAN@alrosa.ru

Babaskin S. L., Head of Laboratory, e-mail: BabaskinSL@alrosa.ru

Zyryanov I. V., Deputy Director of Scientific Work, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, e-mail: ZyrianovIN@alrosa.ru

During the open-pit development at “Udachnaya” kimberlite pipe, there has arisen the research necessity for the improvement technology of ore pillars, left in the lower part of pit edge. It is not possible to hold the open cast development of ore pillars in full volume and within the specified period, because of the requirement of the total reconstruction of open pit with the pit edge rebuilding (along the full height). This reconstruction leads to the necessity of removal of tens of millions m³ of waste rocks and takes not less than ten years. The underground method for the full ore pillars caving is also not suitable, because it requires the considerable volumes of mine preparation works. Such a requirement doesn’t fit in the schedule dates of underground mine construction. Moreover, it requires the considerable financial expenditure for roadheading. For this problem solving, it is suggested to divide the ore pillars into two parts: the upper part should be developed by open cast method; the lower part should be developed by underground method. During the reconstruction process, it is suggested to strip the working levels by steeply inclined transportation ramps with increased gradient (up to 250‰), for the purpose of decreasing of the open pit volume reconstruction, during the ore pillars improvement. Further, these ramps are planned to use for the lifting of pit bottom retained ore, using the hinged dump trucks, equipped with the remote control. Application of the described technology makes it possible to do the following operations:
-minimization of the stripping volumes, during the reconstruction of eastern pit edge;
-reduction of the reconstruction period;
-construction of the lower part of pit edge with the ultimate possible parameters of sustainability;
-increasing of the ore excavation capacity by the most cheap open cast method.
This research work was held with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation, within the project No. 2010-218-01-001 “Creation of complex innovation environmentally safe technology of extraction and processing of diamondiferous ores in the Far North”, which is being held with the participation of North-Eastern Federal University named after M. K. Ammosov and “ALROSA” JSC.

1. Chaadaev A. S., Akishev A. N., Babaskin S. L. Skhema vskrytiya i otrabotki glubokikh gorizontov almaznykh karerov krutonaklonnymi vyrabotkami (Scheme of stripping and processing of deep horizons of diamond open pits by the steeply inclined excavations). Gornaya promyshlennost — Mining Industry, 2008, No. 2.
2. Akishev A. N., Babaskin S. L., Zyryanov I. V. Optimizatsiya parametrov skhem vskrytiya gorizontov kimberlitovykh karerov (Parameters optimization for the opening schemes of the horizons of kimberlite open pits). Gornyi Zhurnal — Mining Journal, 2010, No. 5.
3. Vremennye rekomendatsii po bezopasnoy ekspluatatsii sharnirno-sochlenennykh samosvalov na krutykh uklonakh na gornykh rabotakh AK «ALROSA» (Temporary recommendations of the safe exploitation of hinged dump trucks on steep pitches, on mine operations of «ALROSA» JSC). Mirnyy: «Yakutniproalmaz» Institute, 2008, 12 p.
4. Akishev A. N., Babaskin S. L. et al. Sposob formirovaniya krutonaklonnogo transportnogo sezda (Method of the formation of steeply inclined transport ramp). Patent RF, No. 2425220. Published: July 27, 2011. Bulletin No. 21.