Author 1:
Name & Surname: Gorpinchenko V. A.
Company: Polar Division of PJSC “MMC “NORILSK NICKEL” (Norilsk, Russia)
Work Position: Chief Expert, Center for Geodynamic Safety
Contacts: e-mail: iaforce@yandex.ru

Author 2:
Name & Surname: Saznov V. V.
Company: Polar Division of PJSC “MMC “NORILSK NICKEL” (Norilsk, Russia)
Work Position: Principal Engineer, Center for Geodynamic Safety

Author 3:
Name & Surname: Andreev A. A.
Company: VNIMI (Saint-Petersburg, Russia)
Work Position: Head of Norilsk Sector, Metalliferous and Nonmetalliferous Deposit Geomechanics Laboratory

Author 4:
Name & Surname: Vilchinskiy V. B.
Company: Gipronickel Institute (Saint-Petersburg, Russia)
Work Position: Head of Mining Laboratory
Scientific Degree: Candidate of Engineering Sciences

In order to enhance efficiency of generation of mining impact-resistant zones by means of advance drilling of relief holes in deep level mining of rockburst-hazardous deposits in the Norilsk Industrial Area, the scientific research has been undertaken, the pilot trial of the research findings has been carried out, and the procedure has been developed for optimization of the relief hole drilling parameters depending on physico-mechanical properties of rocks, and on geological, geomechanical and technical conditions in terms of development work and actual mining operations in mines of the Polar Division of Norilsk Nickel. Based on the comparison of the geomechanical conditions of test areas and the parameters of safe zones generated there, the identified determinants are the load-bearing capacity and strength of rock blocks between the relief holes. Accordingly, using the known criteria of rockburst hazard of the Norilsk deposits, the Turner–Shevyakov hypothesis [3] and the appropriate formulas, the optimized spacing of the relief holes is calculated for different diameters of the holes and various strength characteristics of ore and rocks. The pilot trial of the procedure has confirmed that generation of safe zones at the recommended design parameters of the relief hole drilling ensures technological and economical efficiency of rockburst hazard and other emergency countermeasures.

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