Polymetal, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

A. V. Krasnoperov, Leading Geomechanical Engineer, KrasnoperovAV@polymetal.ru

Mayskoe Gold Mining Company, Pevek, Russia

D. A. Vasiliev, Leading Geomechanic
E. S. Vasiliev, Geomechanic
O. V. Koval, Technical Expert—Geomechanic

One of the key objectives in underground mining using open stoping systems is safety and stability of structural elements of project stopes. The article discusses a common foreign approach to designing safe and stable structural elements of mining systems. The authors propose an algorithm of adaptation and calibration testing of the Mathews–Potvin method in the individually conditions of the Mayskoe deposit. The adaptation and calibration of the original method by Mathews–Potvin for stable stopes involved the development of the empirical graphs for the sizes of actual stable stopes and their geomechanical and geotechnical conditions for each individual ore zone of the deposit. After updating the graphs with respect to each exposed surface in stopes, it is concluded that the governing factor for the stope stability is the hanging wall as the most rock falls are connected with the unfavorable intersection of a few planes of structural weakening in rock mass, frequently with the traces of sliding on the surfaces of the cracks; moreover, their overwhelming majority in the zones of mineralization occur closely conformably with the dip of the ore bodies, which leads to gravitational detachment of rocks, or to rock failure when the limiting span in the current conditions is reached. Based on the adaptation, the obtained functions make it possible to determine the hydraulic radius HR of stopes in the hanging wall at the preset geomechanical characteristics N for each ore zone individually. The comparative statistical assessment of the calculated stable parameters recommended for stopes and the actual stoping data showed an increased convergence in the most of stoping scenarios. The developed concept of the method adaptation is applicable in the conditions of operating mines which use mining systems with backfill and/or open stoping.

1. Mathews K. E., Hoek E., Wyllie D. C., Stewart S. B. V. Prediction of stable excavation spans for mining at depths below 1,000 meters in hard rock : Golder Associates Report to Canada Centre for Mining and Energy Technology (CANMET), Department of Energy and Resources. Ottawa, 1980.
2. Eremenko V. A., Galchenko Yu. P., Yanbekov A. M. Justification of new opportunities for the use of the gravitational energy of the earth in underground ore mining with convergent geotechnologies. Eurasian Mining. 2022. No. 1. pp. 3–7.
3. Barton N. Rock mass classification and tunnel reinforcement using the Q-system. Rock Classification Systems for Engineering Purposes : Proceedings of the Symposium. Cincinnati, 1988. Vol. STP984-EB. pp. 59–84.
4. Laubscher D. H., Jakubec J. The MRMR Rock Mass Classification for Jointed Rock Masses. Underground Mining Methods : Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies. Littleton : Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, 2000. pp. 475–481.
5. You C., Hu J., Li J., Zhang J., Qi Z. Collaborative optimization of the Mathews stability graph method and numerical simulation for the limit exposure area in stope. Scientic Reports. 2025. Vol. 15. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-11280-8
6. Li Z.-B., Qiao Z.-B., Yang Z.-B. Stability control of open stopes in high-stress deep mining: A structural parameter design methodology based on the improved Mathews stability graph method. Frontiers in Earth Science. 2025. Vol. 13. ID 1610234.
7. Mortazavi A., Osserbay B. The consolidated Mathews Stability Graph for open stope design. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. 2022. Vol. 40, Iss. 5. pp. 2409–2424.
8. Zhang M., Heng L., Yang Y., Wei J., Zha W. Modified rock stress factor for the Mathews Stability Graph method and its application. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk. 2024. Vol. 15. ID 2344792.
9. Li C., Liu G., Guo L., Zheng D., Yuan X. A new CRITIC-GRA model for stope dimension optimization considering open stoping stability, mining capacity and costs. Applied Sciences. 2024. Vol. 14, Iss. 12. ID 5249.
10. Eremenko V. A., Khazhyylay V. A., Kosyreva M. A., Umarov A. R. Estimation of the stability of outcomes by the Methews–Potvin method under the conditions of development of secondary voltage fields in the development of salt deposits by chamber systems. Nauchnyi vestnik Arktiki. 2020. No. 9. pp. 9–14.
11. Musin A. A., Abdieva L. M. Management of ore dilution by substantiating the optimal parameters of treatment chambers and pillars. Trudy universiteta. 2023. No. 3(92). pp. 206–212.
12. Galchenko Yu. P., Eremenko V. A., Yanbekov A. M. New capabilities of the earth’s gravitational field energy in underground ore mining with convergent technologies. Journal of Mining Science. 2022. Vol. 58, No. 3. pp. 422–429.
13. Marysyuk V. P., Mushtekenov T. S., Trofimov A. V., Kolganov A. V. The modified Mathews–Potvin method in geotechnical substantiation of stope design with equivalent linear cross-sectional search. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2023. No. 1. pp. 92–96.
14. Zemlyanskiy D. A., Kolesatova O. S., Mazhitov A. M., Fattakhov D. A. Stability assessment of stopes using the Mathews–Potvin method at copper–pyritic ore deposits. Socio-Economic and Environmental Problems of the Mining Industry, Building and Energetics : Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on the Mining Industry, Building and Energetic Problems. Tula : Izdatelstvo TulGU, 2024. pp. 138–143.