Industrial safety monitoring in iron ore mining in the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly

Abstract

The mining facilities of Lebedinsky GOK, Stoilensky GOK, Mikhailovsky GOK, Yakovlevsky GOK and KMAruda in the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly annually produce more than 170 Mt of iron ore, which is more than 60% of total iron ore production in Russia. Mining operations in KMA are the hazardous production facilities. High-rate mineral mining, as well as difficult geotechnical and hydrogeological conditions govern disequilibrium in the stress–strain behavior of rock mass. For preventing emergency situations at hazardous production facilities and in accordance with the federal legislation, it is required to carry out permanent geomechanical monitoring. Researchers of the Belgorod State University propose a geomechanical safety monitoring algorithm of iron ore mining in KMA. The monitoring of stability in mined-out voids in Gubkin Mine of KMAruda company is discussed. The recommendations are given for geomechanical monitoring using modern electron-optical and scanning systems. For the slope stability estimation of pitwall and dumps, the Belgorod State University has developed a package of programs OtkosKRUG, Otkos.log, Otkos1 and Slope Stability Calculator, which have passed the state certification. After updating for a few years, the programs include the recent achievement in programming, and enable calculation of safety parameters and stability factor (safety criterion) for slopes by the method of algebraic addition of forces, as is recommended by the Safety Rules for Pitwall and Dump Slopes in effect since 2021.