Friendly and Resource-Saving Methods of Underground Ore Mining in Disturbed Rock Masses

Abstract

One of the most problematic aspects in underground ore extraction in mining-disturbed rock masses is backfilling of man-made voids, which affect origination and redistribution of stress-strain state of the rock mass. Their existence in the earth's crust provokes subsidence/collapse of the day surface and also contributes to arising geomechanical and seismic phenomena. The purpose of the study is to substantiate environmental-friendly and resource-saving methods for backfilling of voids in underground ore mining based on revealing the features of rock integrity of the day surface and life-sustaining activity of the population living in the mining-affected area. The main negative consequences of the impact of mining on the environment and humans are high costs for conserving day surface and ensuring life-sustaining activity of the population living in the mining-affected area, as well as removing large areas of land from human activity, etc. Based on the study of a rock mass stress-strain state using geophysical and surveying methods, an environment-friendly method for backfilling of man-made voids in disturbed rock masses is proposed. It enables ensuring the integrity of the day surface and life-sustaining activity of the population living in the mining-affected area (in the vicinity of mines, dumps, sites of backfilling complexes, preconcentration and heap leaching of metals from substandard ores, tailings storage facilities, etc.). Combined geotechnologies are proposed for backfilling of voids during the development of ore deposits by underground block leaching, and scientific and methodological and technical support was provided for drilling and blasting preparation of hard ores and underground leaching of pilot blocks at the Michurinsky deposit of GP VostGOK, Ukraine. The research findings can be used in underground mining of ore deposits of complicated structure.