Specific Features of Iron Ore Mining in Gornaya Shoria

Abstract

The complex geological conditions and geomechanical behavior of rock mass at the Tashtagol, Sheregesh and Kaz deposits induce geodynamic events during transition to deeper level mining. Mining advance from the higher stress concentration areas in the hanging wall of a fault towards the lower stress concentration areas contributes to the reduction in rockburst hazard. The use of the self-propelling equipment provides larger volume of preparatory driving per 1000 t of ore production by 10–20% as compared with the portable equipment. The mechanism of rock mass movements in deeper level stoping is revealed. Increased mining depth and high strength of enclosing rocks are favorable for starting extraction of ore reserves left in pillars. The combination of these factors and the efficient mining system design enable mining of blind ore bodies without backfill and allows extraction of ore reserves from pillars under the rivers and ground surface infrastructure.