kimberlitic tubes underquarry reserves

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Kimberlitic Tubes Underquarry Reserves

Mining TechnologyAndreev Maxim Nickolaevich

National Mineral Resources University, Russian Federation

Abstract. Article is in touch with mining industry and devoted to the analysis and

generalisation of world experience of underground mining of kimberlitic tubes

underquarry reserves. In article the urgency of research of new technologies of

underground mining of kimberlitic tubes underquarry reserves in the conditions of

the deposits, developed by diamond stock company ALROSA is formulated and

basic problems arising in this area are defined.

Keywords: Kimberlitic tubes, underquarry reserves, water-bearing level,

compound of backfill material.

1 General InformationThe fourth part of world diamond extraction is produced by the diamond-mining

industry of Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and makes a basis of its modern

economy. Basically working out of diamond deposits is conducted by open way in

extremely difficult hydro-geological conditions characterised by presence of

perpetually frozen rocks and highly pressured mineralized brines. The world

theory and practice of mining has no experience of excavation of deposits with a

similar complex of problems.

In the nearly future the transition to mining works is inevitable. It is driven by

formation of ore underquarry reserves and economical efficiency.

The research of new technological and technical decisions for full development

of kimberlitic tubes underquarry reserves with providing the minimum losses and

dilution of a valuable mineral is necessary. Unfortunately, the examples of

underground development of kimberlites which are close to conditions of the

Yakutian deposits do not exist.

2 Yakutian Kimberlitic Tubes MiningKimberlitic tubes "Mir" and "Internationalnaya" cross the heavy layer (to 200

meters) of water-bearing bed containing aggressive chloride-sodium brines with

dissolved hydrogen sulphide. Transition to underground extraction of these

reserves under the water-bearing bed with raised water content, does not allow

conducting work with rockslide technologies (technologies with a collapse of ore32 A.M. Nickolaevich

and containing rocks). Besides, it is necessary to create barrier cranch between

water-bearing bed and the first underground level. In such conditions underground

extraction of the first turn should be conducted with a stowing of the developed

space and without application of large-scale mass explosions to avoid break of

water from the water-bearing bed into mining developments. Uncontrollable water

transit from a surface through the broken-down rocks or the beaten off ore around

excavation works creates emergency danger (it is not excluded - catastrophic) of

breaks of water and water sated arcillas. Probably also adfreezing of water content

rocks and ore with their uncontrollable lags, it conducts to uncontrollable and

dangerous carrying out of mining works.

2.1 Modern Situation

Nowadays mining operations under water-bearing bed on kimberlitic tube"Internationalnaya" are conducted (fig. 1), works are carried out by the open and

underground ways in parallel. The ore body is presented by a sub vertical tube of

the oval form executed by diamond bearing kimberlitic rocks. They are

monotonous on structure and consist on 93 % from porphyritic kimberlites and

autolithic kimberlitic breccias, with kimberlitic massive columns of non-changed

structure among them (7%).Fig. 1 The opening scheme of mine "Internationalniy": 1 - water-bearing bed; 2kimberlitic tube; 3 - opening developments; 4 - left barrier cranch


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4Kimberlitic Tubes Underquarry Reserves Mining Technology 33

Kimberlites are characterized by small durability and considerable degree ofrock jointing. Oil and gas blowouts on a deposits containing rocks are tracked

until the depth of 1200 m. On mine the system of working out with a consolidating

stowing and stoping by selective heading machine in blind passes by an ascending

or descending order is applied. Parametres of blind passes are accepted in limits:

width of 5,1-5,4 m; height of 4,0-4,75 m.

2.2 Min ing Operations and Machines Used to Excavate

Diamond OreStoping consists of consecutive excavation of stoping tapes (rooms) on a layer

with barrier establishing between the fulfilled tapes (rooms) not less than two

width of a tape (10,2 m, 10,8). Layers are excavates completely without ore

barrier establishing. Stoping works are conducted by four mining complexes: the

mining combine 75 or 105 Alpine-Miner Germany and load-haul-dump

machine EST-6 or TORO-400. The maximum distance of delivery of ore to thedivisional millhole does not exceed 150 m.

3 The Technological Problems Met While ExcavatingHowever the applied technology does not give possibility to excavate all

underquarry reserve because of a difficult hydro-geological situation (fig. 1). Also

at a bottom of the mined-out quarry the rocks are destroyed by mass explosions

and at mining of last top layer, at ascending working off of a deposit, inevitably

there will be a hydraulic communication of mining developments with the

developed space of a quarry. The applied mining technology does not give

possibility to avoid break of underground waters from water-bearing bed. In

addition it has low intensity of excavation of the ore and the raised danger, when

miners stay directly in a stoping face.

Serious problem is represented by the organisation of transition to mining

works after end of open-cast mining of a deposit.It is necessary to create the uniform project of working out of underquarry

reserves in the open and underground ways of extraction, technologically and

organizational interconnected among themselves in optimum system providing

effective application. Thus it is necessary to form the general schemes of opening

and development of reserves, joint decisions of questions of geomechanics,

ventilation, water outflow and transportation of ore.

4 Technology Which Is Suggested as SolutionAs the solution of the above listed problems can serve the mining technology

offered by authors water content underquarry reserves of diamond deposits

(fig. 2). It includes simultaneous conducting of open and underground mining34 A.M. Nickolaevich

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1Fig. 2 The scheme of mining technology of water content underquarry reserves of diamonddeposits mining: 1 - bottom of open-pit; 2 - stowing-airway; 3stoping pass; 4 - artificial

barrier cranch; 5 - haulage gate; 6ore drift; 7worked out stoping pass; 8 - millhole; 9cross slit of ramp with an ore entry; 10 - ramp; 11a watertight pillow; 12 - strengtheningcranch; 13 - stowing hole

works, deepening of open-pit to limiting depth, creation of a canned pillow at the

bottom of open-pit and its dumping by overburden, and also creation of the

barrier artificial and strengthening artificial pillars before the beginning of mining

underground capital works.

4.1 Descri ption of Patented TechnologyThe essence of method of kimberlitic tubes underquarry reserves mining consists

the following. The deposit is simultaneously developed by open and underground

ways. After working off of a quarry to the maximum depth at the bottom of openpit

1 by means of a concrete stowing and an isolating film is formed a watertight

pillow 11 after that dumping of quarry is conducted by overburden. Then the ore

body is opened with vertical shafts and crossdrifts, divided into levels by drifting

of haulage gates 5. On the centre of an ore body a ramp 10 is drifted, exploited for

transportation of the mining equipment. For stowing of the worked-out stoping

passes 3 in the top part of the block the stowing-airway 2 is drifted.Kimberlitic Tubes Underquarry Reserves Mining Technology 35

Using the continuous heading machine the ring site on a contour of an ore body

and a part of an ore file across the strike of tube are worked-out, which are filled

with a concrete stowing, forming thereby artificial barrier 4 and strengthening

cranches 12.

Working out of extraction chambers by underground way begins from below to

upwards by layer system of mining with a hardening stowing after creation of

artificial barrier cranch 4 and strengthening cranch 12, leading to dividing the

block on chambers.

Then after carrying out of development and face-entry drivages begins the

dredging of ore in extraction chambers using of a shearer and load-haul-dump

technique. The ore beaten off by a shearer from stoping pass is delivered using of

the load-haul-dump technique to millhole 8 on ore drift 6. Working out of stoping

passes is conducted on an alternate order. The worked out stoping passes are

barricaded and are filled in with a hardening stowing by stowing hole 13. Afterworking out of all stoping passes 3 in a layer, the mining equipment is transported

by the ramp 10 on the following layer where the stoping cycle repeats.

5 ConclusionAuthors carried out the analysis of experience of underground working out the

Method of kimberlitic tubes underquarry reserves mining

Necessity of research of new technologies of kimberlitic tubes underquarry

reserves in the conditions of the deposits developed by Diamond Stock Company

ALROSA is proved and basic problems arising in this area are defined.


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With consideration of colligation of world experience of working out of

diamond deposits authors develop a Method of water content kimberlitic tubes

underquarry reserves mining.

References[1] Ajnbinder, I.I.: To a working off problem of underquarry tube reserves Mir in theunderground way / I.I.Ajnbinder, N.P. Kramskov. Mining Magazine 8 (2000)[2] Zamesov, N.F.: Technical decisions on the accelerated opening and preparation for

operation of underquarry reserves of Mir diamond tube stocks. Mountain Magazine2 (2000)[3] Kaplunov, D.R.: The combined geotechnology at development of a diamondiferousdeposit of a tube Udachnaya / M.V. Rylnikova, V.V. Kalmykov, U.A. Petrov, V.A.

Suslov. Mining Industry 4 (2005)[4] Osintsev, V.A.: The complex of opened-underground way of working out of oredeposits with abrupt non-working boards of an open-cast mine. Mining Magazine of

News of HIGH SCHOOLS 3 (2005)

[5] Boguslavskiy, E.I.: Technology of kimberlitic tubes mining. Boguslavskiy, E.I.,Andreev, M.N. / Scientific Reports on Resource Issues, Freiberg, Germany (2010)

kimberlitic tubes underquarry reserves

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