Center for Geodynamic Safety, Nornickel’s Polar Division, Norilsk, Russia

V. P. Marysyuk, Chief Geotechnical Engineer–Director, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, MarysyukVP@nornik.ru
A. A. Kisel, Chief Engineer
A. K. Ustinov, Head of Department for Geotechnical Supervision of Mining Practice
P. R. Shevchenko, Leading Engineer at Department for Geotechnical Supervision of Mining Practice

In recent years, mines of the Talnakh Mining and Processing Plant (TMPP) have practiced substantial transformation of the mine support technology. Conventional methods of support using armored concrete anchorage are replaced by the modern technologies that ensure rapid development of load-bearing capacity. The introduction stages of thesetechnologies aimed at enhanced safety and improved quality of mining operations are analyzed. Implementation of rock mass classification by the Barton’s Q-system greatly increased accuracy of rock mass characteristics and optimized selection of the support and reinforcement types depending the geological conditions, which enabled reduction of support installation time and risk. Emphasis is laid on the mechanization of support and reinforcement installation processes, which eliminate operation of personnel in unsupported zones, and minimize injuries and influence of human factors. An important step toward enhanced safety became the introduction of modern types of support: steel resin rock bolts, friction bolts and self-drilling rock bolts ensuring fast load-bearing capacity and abating intensity of softening of adjacent rock mass. Reinforcement of rock mass by resin injection and shotcreting using chemical accelerators improved stability of mine openings. The presented automated monitoring system for support patterns (AMS SP) eliminates human factors in design and selection of support owing to automated control of the processes. This promotes an increase in accuracy of work and a decrease in likelihood of mistakes. Thus, the introduction of technologically advanced support and reinforcement and AMS SP made it possible to enhance efficiency of support installation and performance at TMPP and improved mining safety owing to reduction of accidents connected with the support technology. The successful results of technological improvement of mine support processes prove efficiency of practical solutions applied in difficult geological conditions.

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