Subsoil Use Research Articles

A Subsoil use rights in Russia: from origins to modern times

The article considers subsoil use rights in Russia, starting from their origins and ending with modern problems. The authors conduct a comprehensive analysis of laws governing the formation, alteration, and termination of subsoil use rights, as well as the relevant scientific literature and law enforcement practice on this issue, identifying several urgent issues and suggesting ways to solve them. The study is based on the work of authorized bodies that control the activities of subsoil users, discussion of draft laws, generalization of modern judicial and arbitration practice, licensing, and other materials. The regulatory framework was formed by laws and other legal acts of pre-revolutionary Russia, the USSR, the Russian Federation, and constituent entities of the Russian Federation and international legislation regulating subsoil use relations.

Astrophysical and other components of rock mass stress

Research objective is to study the patterns of stress formation in various fields, identify the trend in stress changes over time and reduce the severity of technological disaster consequences in the field of subsoil use. Prediction of rock pressure manifestation place and time is currently one of the most urgent tasks. Methods of research include in-situ experimental measurements of the stress state of the deposit’s rock mass and ore at accessible depths and horizons, the establishment of patterns of stress growth with depth, as well as long-term geodeformation monitoring of virgin ground stress level since 1990. Research methodology is geodeformation monitoring in mine conditions and statistical processing of the results. Results analysis made it possible to establish the patterns of changes in the stress-strained state of both natural and man-made rock masses in the course of mining. An analysis of mining experience has shown that tectonic disturbances commonly act as stress concentrators, introducing significant heterogeneity in the stress field of a rock mass section and often resulting in emergency situations. Conclusions. The paper presents the generalized results of long-term geodeformation monitoring of natural stresses in Ural mines, carried out by the Laboratory of Geodynamics and Rock Pressure, IM UB RAS, over the past 20 years. The results have suggested a new, more advanced structure of the field of natural stresses with reference to their change in time. It was revealed that the relative deformation of the Earth and the Earth's crust in particular cycles does not exceed 1.43 · 10–4 (leading to changing rock mass stress state by 5–15 MPa), which is presumably the same for all continents and causes emergencies everywhere

Safety rationale for composite ore deposits underground mining in energy distributed masses

Introduction. Composite ore deposits development in energy-disturbed masses is currently characterized by reduced ore areas, lower metal content in ore, deteriorated mining-geological and mining conditions, as well as stringent requirements for human safety in mining facilities influence zone. Research objective is to develop safety rationale for composite ore deposits underground mining, taking into account the geomechanical state of energy disturbed masses based on graph-analytical calculation methods for stable parameters of enclosing rock outcrop and filling material in during processing. Methods of research. A systematic approach was used, which contains an outcome analysis of research, development and design of new technologies and technical means that ensure the rational use and protection of subsoil, environment and population, taking into account advanced instrumental, geological, mine surveying and geomechanical support for standard and new methods. Results. A graphic-analytical method (nomograms and calculation formulas) is recommended to justify safe parameters of chambers based on the results of multi-year research during composite ore deposits underground development and depending on the rock mass properties. Safe parameters are determined from experience for a highly, moderately and sparsely jointed rock mass with horizontal outcrop. The Instruction on the Geomechanical Rationale for Safe Mining at GP VostGOK Mines, Ukraine, was also compiled. This will make it possible to improve mining and environmental safety of operations at the deposits of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ukraine and other developed mining countries of the world.

Groundwater as an object of legal relations

The concepts of "groundwater", "underground water body", "water body" are considered. The classification of an underground water body is presented. The normative legal acts in the field of subsoil use and water use, as well as the legislation of foreign countries are analyzed. The comparison of direct groundwater objects with the legislation of foreign countries is carried out. The author's concept of classification of underground water bodies and their concepts is presented.

Intellectual and natural resources: new opportunities for development

The article analyzes the role of intellectual resources in the development of extractive industries through research on promising technological solutions for the main stages of technological processes. The relevance of the study lies in the possibility and necessity of using patent analytics as a tool for forming growth points for high-tech sectors of the economy in resource-type regions. The authors suggest that the oriented adaptation of patent analytics tools will solve a large-scale scientific problem - to identify patterns and dependencies of changes in the mining and geological conditions of subsoil use and, accordingly, the main parameters of mining machines, over time and develop a methodology for predicting and justifying the promising parameters of various mining machines as one functional purpose, and multifunctional, ensuring their efficient operation for a given period of time.

Study of modern movements of the Earth's crust The Kola Peninsula and Karelia according to satellite observations

Issues of safety of operation of subsoil use objects are one of the most important tasks of engineering geology. Thanks to the development of satellite geodesy technologies, it became possible to obtain data on the current movements of the earth's crust at different scale levels with sub-centimeter accuracy. The article is devoted to the issues of deformation monitoring of the Kola Peninsula and Karelia. There are many industrial enterprises in this area. Mining has a man-made impact on the earth's crust, which must be monitored. The purpose of the study is to study the horizontal movements of the earth's crust of the territory under consideration. Thanks to constant observations at various satellite stations, their speeds of movement were obtained. The results of satellite observations were processed using the Elcut program. As a result of processing by the finite element method, displacement vectors, strain tensors and a color scheme of horizontal displacements were obtained.

Relative deformation of matter at the micro- and macrolevel under the conditions of changing space weather

Research subject. Deformations and stress state of rock masses at subsoil use objects.Materials and research methods. Extensive experimental data about the relative deformation of matter and, in particular, about the deformation of rock masses (earth’s crust) allowed the authors to find a solution to this problem using the very behavior of the rock mass during its response to technogenic activity.Results. Novel results were obtained on the relative deformation of matter under the conditions of changing external factors: 1) deformation of rock mass itself; 2) deformation of a surveying tape as a measuring instrument, 3) deformation of a quartz tube in a deformometer as a measuring instrument. Using the results of measurements over the 11-year nanocycle of solar activity available to us, regularities in the emergence of deformations and stresses of rock masses were revealed. A justification was obtained for changing the physical state of measuring instruments based on electromagnetic waves: satellite navigation systems, light and radio range finders. At the same time, it was found that all these parameters change in time continuously and endlessly, thereby requiring constant monitoring for making a reliable forecast of their impact on technogenic activity.Conclusion. The results presented in the article extend previous publications of the authors, the main conclusions of which are as follows. 1. The results about the deformations of rock masses, which are currently being obtained by methods based on various physical principles, are relative; therefore, these results do not allow one to judge about their absolute values. 2. The international community of scientists should develop a mechanism for tracking changes in the deformations and stress state of rock masses.

Resource metering in economic comparable assessments of minerals

The purpose of the article is to substantiate the essence and conceptual apparatus of mineral resourcemetry, the practical application of geological, methodological, economic information to reflect the results of research of minerals and products of their industrial processing. The research methodology basis of the study is the application of a resource approach to the definition of concepts, the use of abstract-logical, system-structural and comparative analysis, ranking, generalization. The scientific novelty of the results obtained is to substantiate the conceptual apparatus of resourceometry as a science of measurement, evaluation and prediction in quantitative and qualitative indicators of the super-level resources and their economic use according to needs, substantiation of recommendations for improving its effectiveness. Conclusions. Thus, resourcemetry is logically interpreted as a science of measuring, evaluating and predicting in quantitative and quantitative-qualitative indicators of surface resources and their economic use according to needs, substantiation of recommendations for improving its effectiveness, for the formation of other managerial information. Management of Resurosometry is macroscale in obtaining for management analysis of data logically developed on a special statistical basis, using specific industry materials, in particular, energy, labor-consuming, little studied in subsoil use. Keywords: resources, management, information, minerals, hydrocarbons, uranium, iron ores, subsoil users.

STRUCTURAL AND LITHOLOGICAL MODEL OF THE TURBIV DEPOSIT OF ELUVIAL KAOLINS

The geological data on the Turbiv deposit of eluvial kaolins, which is located in Vinnytsia district of Vinnytsia region near the village of Turbiv and is a part of Glukhivetsko-Turbivsky kaolin district, were generalized. Based on the coordinates and description of the wells, the topography of the base and surface of the eluvial kaolin deposits, as well as the lateral change in their thickness, was studied. It has been established that the surface relief and the thickness of the weathering crust are poorly correlated with each other and are conditioned by the history of the geological and geomorphological development of the territory, in particular, by the development of the Middle Eocene, Miocene and modern hydrographic networks, as a result of which the weathering crust was partially eroded. Data on the vertical zonality of the weathering crust and the material composition of its zones are presented. It has been established that the transitions between the zones are not clear, sometimes there are no separate zones, and the profile of the weathering crust, the lithological composition of its zones are determined by the petrotype of the basement crystalline rocks, their mineral composition and the degree of hypergene transformation. The material composition of eluvial kaolins is characterized. Based on the results of well testing and chemical analysis of kaolins, the lateral distribution of oxides of iron, aluminum, titanium and whiteness was studied. It has been established that the spatial distribution of the whiteness index within the deposit varies widely and correlates with the contents of Fe2O3 and TiO2, or one of the indicated oxides. It has been established that in most of the deposit area, the content of Al2O3 is clearly correlated with the whiteness index, namely, areas with a high content of Al2O3 correspond to areas with high whiteness values and vice versa. The vertical distribution of iron, aluminum, titanium oxides and whiteness kaolin within individual wells was studied. It was found that the whiteness index has a direct correlation with the content of Al2O3 and mainly inverse correlation with Fe2O3 and TiO2, оr with one of the oxides. Information is given on the content of iron oxides and the whiteness of kaolins within different subsoil use areas. Kaolins have been found to be enriched in zircon, ilmenite, monazite and rare earth elements, which can be extracted during field development and kaolin enrichment. The conclusion is made about the complexity of the Turbivsky deposit of eluvial kaolins. Based on the analysis of multi-temporal space images, the dynamics of changes in the area of the disturbed geological environment as a result of the extraction of eluvial kaolins during 1990-2020 was studied.

Formation of a system of intelligent analysis of geological data based on ontological engineering

This article discusses the relevance and options for using the tools of ontological modeling, in relation to the objects of the mineral resource complex. Currently available geological information resources are consistently converted into electronic form, which creates a significant array of electronic scanned copies of documents that must first be translated into electronic text (recognition operation), and then analyze the electronic text for the presence of geological, economic, geological and technical parameters relevant for making managerial decisions in the field of subsoil use. The solution of the text recognition problem is relevant for quite “old” geological information resources, while the task of text analysis is relevant for each of them. One of the options for forming the semantics of interaction is ontology. It has a significant potential for application in various fields of knowledge, including in the field of geology and subsoil use. Ontologies allow integrating disparate data in order to form their thesaurus, which is especially necessary in geology, where the ambiguity of terminology interpretations creates significant barriers in the formation of ontologies of geological information resources. This problem is aggravated by a decrease in the number of specialized specialists in geological exploration organizations. The developed ontology is designed to form a knowledge base in the structure of geological information resources as the basis of a management decision support system in this industry.

Issues of market monopolization in the mining of non-metallic minerals in transition economies

This paper considers the issue of mining non-metallic (rock) products in the context of transition economies. Our studies have shown that interest in non-metallic products is growing every year, as evidenced by the growing volumes of production both around the world and in the group of countries considered in the article. The market analysis for non-metallic minerals has revealed the market development dynamics; however, its high monopolization may lead to some restrictions on free competition in subsoil use. In order to assess such monopolization, we have calculated the Herfindahl-Hirschman index for each non-metallic mineral mined in countries with economies in transition. We have found that the entire product range under consideration is part of a highly concentrated market dominated by the Russian Federation. We have presented some options for designing and introducing various kinds of arrangements to develop the mining potential of non-metallic minerals in order to reduce the dominant component of individual countries or companies and to balance the market. It is proposed to consider a partial transition from the possibility of developing deposits to an underground one — as an alternative option that harms the environmental load on the situation in the mining area. The results of this study will be used to conduct a detailed analysis in each country under review, which will provide the most complete picture of the mining industry in countries with economies in transition.

Обоснование параметров и создание высокоэкономичных вентиляторных установок аппаратов воздушного охлаждения

Introduction. Sustainable development of regions with high subsoil use demands performance improvement in gas cooling at compressor stations of main gas pipelines and environmental safety. Low energy prices specified the design parameters of gas transmission units throughout the boost of the gas industry. Therefore, the crucial task is to enhance the economic efficiency of main gas pipelines. One of the most energy-intensive units here is the cooling system of transported gas, which enables the reduction in operating costs. Gas air-cooling units used for cooling transported gas flow have spread significantly being notable for their increased energy output. Simulation methods of fan system parameters in gas air cooling units are assuming great importance in a rapidly globalizing world depending on their specific speed. Research objective. This study aims to develop a simulation model and guidelines on the construction of fans with high specific speed comparable cost-effectively to industrial fans. To support business objectives it is essential to specify the principles of cost-efficiency variation from that of specific speed, the influence of geometric and kinematic parameters, to conduct an experimental investigation to verify the results. Materials and methods. The research was based on a hypothesis for the consistency of the ratio between the pressure loss in a fan and the specific energy of transferrable air. Aerodynamic efficiency was accepted as a criterion for a fan local efficiency in order to determine the dependency of fan cost-effectiveness against its specific speed. Basic equations of fluid mechanics and theory of optimization were used as research mathematical tools. Results and discussion. In this study, we have established the influence pattern of the structural elements of a fan air duct and its geometrical parameters on the efficiency over a wide range of alterations of specific speed. We have obtained a mathematical model of correlation between geometrical and kinematic parameters of fans and their cost-effectiveness in a function of specific speed and residual flow swirl. The study has proved that it is essential to improve the aerodynamic quality of impeller airfoils and reduce the aerodynamic drag of air duct elements with the increase in specific speed of fans to extend their cost-effectiveness. Conclusion. The research described in this paper confirms the commercial importance of utilizing fans in air-cooling units according to aerodynamic configurations with a single wheel “K” and high specific speed ny ≥400, as far as they provide the highest possible aerodynamic efficiency at minimum weight dimension characteristics. The paper shows the capability of designing aerodynamic configurations of fan units of high specific speed ny ≥ 400 with the efficiency ≥ 0,85 where ԑy ≤ 0,2 achieves aerodynamic efficiency of impeller sections К ≥ 25. It has been established that the optimal region of theoretical pressure coefficient of fan units with a specific speed 380≤ny≤450 is located in the range 0,02<ΨТ <0,08. We have determined that when the aerodynamic drag coefficient of an air duct of a fan unit is equal to ԑy ≥ 1,2, its efficiency declines by more than 25 percent relative to ԑy ≤ 0,1. The authors have designed an aerodynamic scheme and produced an industrial prototype of a fan unit OGM VU 2.7-1.2 K3 with OV- 121TOH airfoils.

Институт горного дела Уральского отделения РАН: современное состояние и перспективы развития

The article aims to demonstrate the current state and directions of the institute's development in line with the adopted strategy. It describes the results of fundamental and applied research performed over the last 5 years, reveals the main aspects of scientific, organizational, innovative and social activities, and presents the achieved and target personnel and economic indicators of the Institute's work. The research has been performed using retrospective analysis and statistical data processing. The paper shows the achievements of the Institute in rejuvenation of its research staff, advanced training of young researchers at its own postgraduate courses, preparation and defense of theses at the Institute's Academic Council. The Institute's efforts related to its integration with academic and university research, as well as its activities in the international arena, are outlined. The strategy to improve the material level provides incentives for high quality implementation of the researcher's individual plan. Significant results have been achieved in addressing the social concerns of the Institute's staff, most of which relate to availability of housing. Activities of the Young Scientists' Council to organize competitions, the All-Russian Youth Conference, and launching of a web-based publication on issues of subsoil use are described. Innovative and research and education centers, laboratories for non-destructive testing and geomaterials testing have been set up to develop the required infrastructure. The main anticipated results of the Institute's development strategy are the concentration of material and human resources to tackle research in priority areas, achieving world-class results in these areas, creating an innovation potential for the development of critical technologies in the Russian Federation and reaching the top-level category of institutes

Engineering of GIS for environmental monitoring of mining landscapes

Features of GIS design, designed to monitor the state of disturbed lands at open mining facilities, natural and climatic conditions in the mining area, are considered in order to inform the adoption of administrative and management decisions. The introduction of such systems will make it possible to carry out operational environmental monitoring of lands subject to technological violations, reduce the time for preparing reporting and technical documentation when designing and conducting measures aimed at land reclamation, make decisions on the technology and timing of reclamation of subsoil use facilities, and also reduce the time for making such decisions.

Prospects for application of mining systems with caving in stoping blocks with manmade bottoms at deep levels in Donskoe Chromite Mine

The main and constitutive criteria in selecting methods and engineering plans for ore mining are the geological conditions of ore bodies and enclosing rocks, their structure, strength, deformability and stability. After these criteria are scrutinized, the geotechnical behavior of rock mass during mining is assessed, the parameters of engineering procedures with the assumed mining system are determined, as well as the issues of mining safety, reliability and efficiency are addressed. In this respect, it is required to reveal the nature of possible implications, reveal geotechnical patterns in the course of mining, select processes flow charts and their designs to avoid accidents and to ensure sound subsoil use. Thus, justification of engineering solutions for deep-level chromite-bearing ore mining in difficult geological conditions by Donskoe GOK is a relevant scientific problem. Stoping operations form underground enclosed areas which need to be dealt with at the preserved efficiency of the mining technology and economy. In this regard, the most promising geotechnology involves creation of artificial bottoms at the intersections of drift pillars in the zone of ore drawing and haulage. These manmade floors should be capable to sustain extremely high overburden pressure. From the accomplished calculations of strength of a vertical and square reinforced concrete column–support 7–9 m high, its factor of safety is assumed as 1.51. By the estimates, the proposed technology of stoping in extraction blocks with manmade bottoms can save up 1,347,2 million Kazakhstani tenge per block.The study was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan, Grant No. AR05131352. The authors appreciate participation of PhD A. T. Abakanov, Researcher at the Integrated Subsoil Management Laboratory of the Kunaev Institute of Mining, and Doctoral Student B. K. Bektrur from the Satbayev University in this study.

The Effect of Covering Media Composition and Fertilizer Cow Manage on The Growth of Palm Oil (Elaeis Guineensis J.) Seeds in Pre-Nursery

The impact of using humus as a medium for planting oil palm seeds continuously canreduce the availability of humus in the field. Therefore, the use of subsoil as a plantingmedium and the use of cow manure are expected to increase the growth of oil palmseedlings. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of the composition ofthe planting medium on the growth of oil palm seedlings. The research was conductedin Simalas Village, Serdang Bedagai, North Sumatra. The research method used was a 2factor randomized block design with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The results showedthat topsoil and subsoil planting media with a ratio of 1:1 had an effect on increasingplant height and leaf number of oil palm seedlings, while the application of cow manure25 g/polybag also had an effect on increasing the number of leaves of oil palmseedlings. There is a treatment interaction between the composition of the plantingmedium and cow manure on the number of leaves of oil palm seedlings.

An approach to differentiation and evaluation of mineral resource potential in coal mining

A mining company is a complex probabilistic system which functions in-between the geological and market environments. These environments are the carriers of various uncertainties which have influence on the business success. The authors discuss the background of differentiation of the mineral resource potential in terms of a coal field as transformation of a natural possibility to the manmade reality. It is distinguished between the limit, achievable and investment potentials. This type design takes into account the stages of geological exploration, study of coal properties and actual mining of the subsoil use object. The static, ergodic and non-ergodic categories of uncertainty are discussed.

Legal aspects of ensuring national security in the sphere of subsoil use of natural gas in Russia and China

In the current context, the goals of Russia and China in achieving "carbon neutrality" by 2060 and strengthening their own energy resource and environmental security, the comparative study of the laws on transition towards low-carbon energy sources and new environmental standards declared by both countries is relevant and urgent. The subject of this research is measures to reform legislation in the sphere of exploration and extraction of natural gas in Russia and China, which can be divided into the following aspects: reform of the legislative system on the mineral resources and competitive transfer of the right to use the subsoil plots, reform of the law "On Foreign Investment" and definition of state strategic mineral resources, legal system of environmental protection, and reform regarding the protection of environmental resources in the mining districts. Based on comparative research in various legal disciplines, the author generalizes and analyzes the similarities and differences in ensuring resource and environmental security in Russia and China. This article summarizes the experience and shortcomings of Russia and China in maintaining balance between the national resource security and environmental security aimed at the achievement of "carbon neutrality". Stemming from the fact that both countries manage the appropriate resource and environmental security, China should adopt the Russian experience and transform the administrative provisions of the lower level associated with the protection of resources and environmental security into legislative acts, in order to enhance their law enforcement, compulsory and deterrent authority. Russia, in turn, should also resort to the experience of China in implementation of the factors of market competition in the sphere of exploration of oil and gas, as well as encourage and motivate foreign or domestic private capital to contribute to oil and gas exploration and help Russia to upgrade its equipment and boost production.

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE FORMATION OF THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM OF ACTIVITIES UNDER THE CONCESSION AGREEMENT

The development of concession activities in the field of subsoil use of the Republic of Belarus is presented, namely, the solution of issues of information support and the formation of information on the activities of business entities under concession agreements in the accounting and reporting system of organizations-subsoil users. The types and features of concession agreements operating on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, the features of the organization of subsoil use within the framework of the conclusion of concession agreements are considered, the objects of accounting arising from organizations that are concessionaires according to concession agreements are determined.

STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT - UNDERESTIMATED TOOL FOR SUSTAINABLE SUBSOIL USE

Strategic environmental assessment is an effective tool for improving the level of environmental safety in various areas. The purpose of the article is to identify and classify the main tasks of strategic environmental assessment in subsoil use, taking into account its role and functions in the subsoil management system, and to suggest ways to improve environmental safety in subsoil use by means of strategic environmental assessment. The materials for the article were the results of many years of authors' research on various aspects of the methodology for assessing the environmental safety of subsoil use and scientific source analysis. The main research methods were comparison, deduction, analysis, synthesis, and classification. The authors grouped the tools of the strategic environmental assessment into five main groups: analytical, organisational, scientific and technical, control and procedural, and media. Analysis of the legal framework determines the need to finalise the draft of the Subsoil Code to take into account the requirements of the Law of Ukraine "On Strategic Environmental Assessment" in the context of carrying out state examination and assessment of reserves and resources of minerals and establishing conditions for mineral raw materials, drafting industrial development (technological scheme) of the deposit. The classification of the tools of strategic environmental assessment in subsoil use is carried out. Analysis of draft legislation in the field of subsoil use shows positive changes in achieving sustainable development goals. Simultaneously, the authors identified some inconsistencies between different legislative acts and projects.