Institute of Integrated Mineral Resources Development – IPKON, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia:

V. N. Zakharov, Director, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences
E. V. Fedorov, Head of Department, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Research Center for Applied Geomechanics and Convergent Technologies in Mining, College of Mining, National University of Science and Technology – MISIS, Moscow, Russia:

V. A. Eremenko, Director, Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, prof.eremenko@gmail.com

Russalt LTD, Orenburg, Russia

D. V. Lagutin, Chief Geologist

The article presents the results of the research focused on the evaluation of scenarios and conditions of lower level rock salt mining in the Iletsk field. The sequence and advance of mining using the room and rib pillar method are determined and described. The research findings on the state of rock mass during operation of cutter–loader and under drilling and blasting, as well as the data of the numerical modeling of the rock mass stress state are reported. During the lower level mine planning, the presence of two upper levels, one of which was almost completely mined out while extraction of the other drew to a close, and flooded mine 1 above the operating mine 2 were taken into account. The sequence of the new level mining was determined so that to ensure rock mass stability and to preserve water proof stratum between mines 2 and 1. Based on the research results, the variants and conditions of safe and efficient rock salt mining were determined with regard to actual geomechanical behavior of earlier mined-out levels, including flooded horizons, which made it possible to substantiate requirements for planning rational parameters of simultaneous room and pillar mining on a number of levels.
The authors appreciate participation of E. N. Esina, Senior Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, IPKON, and D. V. Druzhkin, Chief Engineer, Rock Salt Extraction and Processing Shop, Iletsksalt, in the research.

1. Petrishchev V. P., Noreyka S. Yu. Natural and Technogenics Geosystems of Salt Dome Origin. Ekologiya urbanizirovannykh territoriy. 2016. No. 3. pp. 89–95.
2. Noreyka S. Yu. Formation and landscape transformation of Iletsk deposits of rock salt and gypsum. Izvestiya Orenburgskogo otdeleniya Russkogo geograficheskogo obshchestva. 2017. No. 9. pp. 68–77.
3. Ermashov A. O. Rheological model of deformation and destruction of salt rocks for forecast of sedimentations of Earth surface during the development of Verkhnekamskoe deposit of potassium and magnesium salts. Marksheyderskiy vestnik. 2014. No. 4. pp. 50–55.
4. PB 07-269-98. Rules for protection of facilities and natural objects from harmful influence of underground mining at coal deposits. Saint Petersburg : VNIMI, 1998. 291 p.
5. Barton N. R., Lien R., Lunde J. Engineering Classifi cation of Rock Masses for the Design of Tunnel Support. Rock Mechanics. 1974. Vol. 6, Iss. 4. pp. 189–236.
6. Laubscher D. H. A geomechanics classification system for the rating of rock mass in mine design. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. 1990. Vol. 9, No. 10. pp. 257–273.
7. Lushnikov V. N., Sendi M. P., Eremenko V. A., Kovalenko A. A., Ivanov I. A. Method of definition of the zone of rock massif failure range around mine workings and chambers by numerical modeling. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2013. No. 12. pp. 11–16.
8. Louchnikov V. N., Eremenko V. A., Sandy M. P. Ground support liners for underground mines: energy absorption capacities and costs. Eurasian Mining. 2014. No. 1. pp. 54–62.
9. Eremenko V. A., Neguritsa D. L. Efficient and active monitoring of stresses and strains in rock masses. Eurasian Mining. 2016. No. 1. pp. 21–24. DOI: 10.17580/em.2016.01.02
10. Guidance on design of underground digging and lining calculation. Moscow : Stroyizdat, 1983. 272 p.
11. Borshch-Komponiets V. I., Makarov A. B. Rock pressure during the mining of thick flat metalliferrous deposits. Moscow : Nedra, 1986. 271 p.
12. Makarov A. B. Practical geomechanics : guidance for mining engineers. Moscow : Gornaya kniga, 2006. 380 p.
13. Makarov A. B., Rasskazov I. Yu., Saksin B. G., Livinskiy I. S., Potapchuk M. I. Geomechanical evaluation of roof-and-pillar parameters in transition to underground mining. Fiziko-tekhnicheskie problemy razrabotki poleznykh iskopaemykh. 2016. No. 3. pp. 27–38.
14. Terzaghi K., Peck R. B., Mesri G. Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. 3rd ed. New York : John Wiley & Sons, 1996. 592 p.
15. Liechoscki de Paula Faria D., Tadeu dos Reis A., Gomes de Souza J. O. Three-dimensional stratigraphic-sedimentological forward modeling of an Aptian carbonate reservoir deposited during the sag stage in the Santos basin, Brazil. Marine and Petroleum Geology. 2017. No. 88. pp. 676–695.
16. Li W., Han Y., Wang Т., Ma J. DEM micromechanical modeling and laboratory experiment on creep behavior of salt rock. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering. 2017. No. 46. pp. 38–46.
17. Jie C., Liu J.-X., Jiang D.-Y., Fan J.-Y., Ren S. An experimental study of strain and damage recovery of salt rock under confi ning pressures. Yantu Lixue/Rock and Soil Mechanics. 2016. Vol. 37, No. 1. pp. 105–112.