Reduction of the Ore Losses Emerging within the Deep Mining of Bauxite Deposits at the Mines of OJSC «Sevuralboksitruda»

Abstract

This article considers the issues associated with the deep mining of bauxite ores. A need for effective development of Russian aluminum mineral resource base requires companies to reduce the ore losses emerging while moving to the deeper mining, which is characterized by sophisticated geological, technical and geodynamic mining conditions. In this article we have revealed the changing patterns of the inter-chamber pillars’ stress state and stability taking into account the influence of various mining and geological factors. Based on the mine data and the results of numerical experiments performed with the use of PRESS 3D URAL software, this research has revealed that at the depth of more than 700-800 m inter-chamber pillars enter the supercritical mode of deformation and have minimal bearing capacity. Failure to take into account the supercritical mode of deformation leads to the significant losses of ore in pillars reaching 30-50%. At the same time, the ore losses can be reduced to 15-25% by considering the residual strength and supercritical deformation of the pillars while designing their parameters. The economic result would be achieved by improving the design process of mining operations, providing increased safety of mining operations along with losses reduction leading to to increase in production volumes.