Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements, Moscow, Russia:

N. G. Barnov, Researcher, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences

IPKON, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia:
V. A. Eremenko, Principal Researcher, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, e-mail: eremenko@ngs.ru

Chinakal Institute of Mining, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia:
A. S. Kondratenko, Academic Secretary, Candidate of Engineering Sciences
V. V. Timonin, Head of a Laboratory, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

In view of the known features of geological structure and complicated geological, geomechanical and, particularly, geotechnical conditions, the primary corundum deposits located, as a rule, in upland areas are not the attractive objects for investing. Such deposits occur at an elevation over 2 km above mean sea level in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Burma and other contries. In spite of high profit and minimum payback period due to high quality and cost of the mineral and the prevailing feasibility of accessing via adits, mining is very difficult as the deposits occur in the high mountainous and inaccessible regions where there is no water and energy supply and oxygen concentration in air is insufficient, etc. In breaking of corundum ore using shotholes, more than 90% of corundum material is damaged. Similarly, under mechanical and explosion rupture, major part of corundum, especially if large size, is disintegrated since abrupt softening, i.e. transition of enclosing rocks and corundum from high stress to relaxation, initiates disintegration of large crystals and crack formation. In the course of the theoretical and experimental research aimed at preservation of integrity of rubies, as an alternative of the current technologies for thin and small vein deposits, the authors have substantiated parameters of hydryaulic fracturing technology for mining primary corundum deposits in difficult working conditions in upland areas. Drilling-and-hydraulic blasting parameters are developed based on parameters of stoping (production faces) in room-and-pillar mining of horizontal and gently dipping thin and small veins. The drilling-and hydraulic blasting parameters govern the optimal sizes of structural standard-quality blocks cut off by hydraulic fracturing in the course of stoping. For opening of the hydraulic fractures and for breakage of the created blocks, tender blasting is carried out at the bottom of central shot hole, or, if necessary, in additional shot holes (not from the controlled blasting pattern).

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