NorNickel’s Polar Division, Norilsk, Russia:

V. P. Marysyuk, Chief Geotechnical Engineer—Director of Center for Geodynamic Safety, Candidate of Engineering Sciences
T. S. Mushtekenov, Deputy Director for Mineral Resources

Gipronickel Institute, Saint-Petersburg, Russia:
A. V. Trofimov, Head of Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, TrofimovAV@nornik.ru
A. V. Kolganov, Researcher at Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory

Mining technology design choices involve substantiation of safe geotechnical parameters including kinematic stability of exposed elements of mining systems, in particular, roofs and sidewalls of stopes. In Talnakh mines, extraction of impregnated ore follows high-grade ore mining, as a rule, which greatly affects the initial stress–strain behavior of rock mass. Impregnated ore is undermined, and the stoping area stability depends in many ways on the kinematic stability and block structure of rock mass rather than on its stress level. The kinematic stability undergoes influence of natural properties of rock mass in combination with geotechnical characteristics formed during mine design. The body of these factors defines the variety of combinations of input parameters, which needs a calculation approach in use to be partially automated. With this aim in view, the authors propose the calculation approach to the substantiation of stope designs in impregnated ore mining using the Mathews–Potvin stability assessment method and its modifications. The choice of this method is governed by its positive application in the global practice and by its scope encompassing all factors of influence on stability—the kinematics and structure. The method is usable as the discrete variant of stability estimation in the stability–transition state–failure system. The approach enables finding a balance between safety and efficiency in ore mining using stoping systems.

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