Prediction of ground surface collapse by instrumental observation data on rock mass movements during underground mining

Using the data of long-term surveying at the Saranovsky chrome iron ore deposit, movements of rock mass were analyzed with a view to identifying potential early signs of ground surface collapse. The research findings are unique as one of the instrumental observation series was accomplished on the eve of the ground surface sinking above non-backfilled voids of earlier stoping. It was found that the test area experienced vertical alternating movements, and sinking was preceded by upheaval of ground surface. However, the further analysis revealed no clear cause-and-effect between the event and insufficiency of its study. The subsequent research identified a local cluster of rock mass subsidences at gradually increasing velocities, which showed up a few years before the sink appeared on ground surface above its initiation source. The absence of this cluster zone in the period before the collapse is explained by the damage of check points in this site. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that in certain geological conditions, deformation processes are localized and manifest no visible signs of impact on the enclosing rock mass and ground surface. Manifestations of these processes from the instrumental observations concentrate directly in the local area of their development, which should be taken into account in the analysis and prediction of movements. It is emphasized that the existing and new criteria of hazardous deformation processes should be corrected and updated for geomechanical monitoring of mineral mining objects.

Kharisova O.D., Kharisov T.F. Prediction of ground surface collapse by instrumental observation data on rock mass movements during underground mining. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2020;(3-1):264-274. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2020-31-0-264-274.

The study was supported within the framework of State Contract No 07500581-19-00. Project No. 0405-2019-007. Project 3 (2019–2021).

Kharisova O.D.¹, Researcher, OlgaZheltysheva@gmail.com,
Kharisov T.F.¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher,
¹ The Institute of Mining of the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 620075, Ekaterinburg, Russia.

1. Belodedov A.A., Dolzhikov P.N., Legostaev S.O. Analyzing mechanism of forming earth surface deformations over liquidated mines mining workings. Izvestiya Tul’skogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Nauki o Zemle. 2017. no 1. pp. 160–169. [In Russ]

2. Lavrova N.V., Bogomaz M.V., Kadebskaya O.I. Monitoring observations of the sinkholes in the Perm Region territory in the first half of 2017. Gornoe ekho. 2017. no 2 (67). pp. 28–33. [In Russ]

3. Shachkov A.S., Vetoshkina A.V., Solyanik I.V. Ekologicheskii monitoring likvidirovannykh mestorozhdenii [Environmental monitoring of abandoned fields], Novoe v poznanii protsessov rudoobrazovaniya. Materialy 7 Ross. molodezh. nauch.-prakt. shk. Мoscow, IGEM RAS Publ, 2017, pp. 319–322. [In Russ].

4. Chistyakov E.P., Fedorenko A.I., Chistyakov D.E., Moshinskii V.I. Mining and geomechanical aspects of rock displacement at mining enterprises of Kryvbas. Gornyi vestnik. 2013, no 1 (96), pp. 109–112. [In Russ].

5. Strozik G., Jendrus R., Manowska A., Popczyk M. Mine subsidence as a post-mining effect in the Upper Silesia coal basin. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 2016, Vol. 25, no 2, pp. 777–785. DOI 10.15244/pjoes/61117. [In Russ]

6. Van Den Eeckhaut M., Poesen J., Dusar M., Martens V., Duchateau Ph. Sinkhole formation above underground limestone quarries: A case study in South Limburg (Belgium). Geomorphology, 2007, Vol. 91, pp. 19–37. DOI 10.1016/j.geomorph.2007.01.016.

7. Harnischmacher S., Zepp H. Mining and its impact on the earth surface in the Ruhr District (Germany). Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, 2014, Vol. 58, Suppl. 3, pp. 3–22.

8. Scotto di Santolo A., Forte G., Santo A. Analysis of sinkhole triggering mechanisms in the hinterland of Naples (southern Italy). Engineering Geology, 2018, Vol. 237, pp. 42–52. DOI 10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.02.014.

9. Longoni L., Papini M., Brambilla D., Arosio D., Zanzi L. The risk of collapse in abandoned mine sites: the issue of data uncertainty. Open Geosciences, 2016, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, pp. 246–258. DOI 10.1515/geo-2016—0022.

10. Sainsbury D.P., Sainsbury B.L., Lorig L.J. Investigation of caving induced subsidence at the abandoned Grace Mine. Mining Technology, 2010, Vol. 119, no 3, pp. 151–161. DOI 10.1179/174328610X12820409992336.

11. Xia K., Chen C., Zheng Y., Zhang H., Liu X., Deng Y., Yang K. Engineering geology and ground collapse mechanism in the Chengchao iron-ore Mine in China. Engineering Geology, 2019, Vol. 249, pp. 129–147. DOI 10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.12.028.

12. Draskov V.P. The analysis of peculiarities of development of deformation processes traffics on the results of field observations on Sarany Deposit of chromite. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2015. no 9. pp. 49–58. [In Russ]

13. Kashnikov Yu. A., Ashikhmin S.G., Bukin V.G., Grishko S.V., Getmanov I.V., Odintsov S.L., Gorbatikov A.V. Deformation forerunners of earthquakes triggered off by development of hydrocarbon accumulations. Fiziko-tekhnicheskie problemy razrabotki poleznykh iskopaemykh. 2011, no 4, pp. 40–49. [In Russ].

14. Szwedzicki T. Rock mass behaviour prior to failure // International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences, 2003, Vol. 40, pp. 573–584. DOI 10.1016/S1365— 1609(03)00023—6.