LLC "Instutute Gipronikel", Saint Petersburg, Russia:
A. V. Trofimov, Head of the Center for Physical and Mechanical Research, Candidate of Engineering Science, avtro@nikel.spb.su
V. B. Vilchinsky, Head of Mining Laboratory, Candidate of Engineering Sciences
A. E. Rumyantsev, Leading Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences
K. E. Breus, CAT I Engineer

The research into physical sense of processes that run in rocks under impact of mining is the element of design and performance in the mining and metallurgical industry. Design solutions and production decisions on rock mass stability or mining and processing technologies can result in the loss of economic efficiency and safety of the production if they are based on inaccurate information. Such formulation of the problem is of particular concern for new or operating mines within Nornickel’s Polar Division, that function in complex geological conditions. The promising objects for mine design and planning include Maslovskoe platinum–copper–nickel deposit. With the reliable knowledge on properties of rocks, mine designers can optimize production processes as early as the stage of the project feasibility study. Within the assessment of works on Maslovskoe deposit development, the Center for Physical and Mechanical Research of Gipronickel Institute accomplished the large-scale investigation into the physical properties of rocks at the deposit. The scope of the integrated research embraced the analysis of geological materials, development and geomechanical substantiation of sampling procedure, framing of the content and amount of tests, scientific support of sampling process and, finally, complete-cycle physical and mechanical testing of rocks.

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