Erosion channels in salt—Seismic surveying and geomechanical substantiation

This article describes the in-mine seismic survey results obtained by the CDP-based method of reflected shear waves with separation of reflections, geological interpretation of the results and geomechanical substantiation of the nature of the revealed structures. For the first time in history of geological exploration of the Upper Kama salt deposit, the authorial method of separation of the wave fields has allowed the discovery of geological structures known in the structural geology but never recorded at the deposit under discussion. This article examines in details the geological interpretation of erosion channels as their detection is a major measure of operational safety in potash mines. The mechanism of erosion channeling is described, and fracturing of the crests of heaves is provided with a geomechanical substantiation. The developed method substantially improves the comprehensiveness and reliability of geological modeling. The introduction of the shear wave seismic exploration with separation of reflections in the advanced prospecting practice makes the latter more informative, and enables earlier impossible detection and localization of anomalies, which greatly reduces the risk of accidents in underground mining of salts at the Upper Kama deposit.

Keywords: Upper Kama salt deposit, geophysics, seismic reflection method, common depth point method, shear wave seismic exploration with separation of reflections, geology, geomechanics, erosion channel, fracturing zone, waterproof strata, inversion relief, anticline, tensile cracks.

For citation:

Prigara А. М., Gribkov D. S., Aptukov V. N. , Tsarev R. I., Zhukov A. A. Erosion channels in salt—Seismic surveying and geomechanical substantiation. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2023;(2):72-85. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2023_2_0_72.

Acknowledgements:

About authors:

A.M. Pigara^1,2, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Leading Researcher, e-mail: Andrey.Prigara@uralkali.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0129-6133,
D.S. Gribkov¹, Researcher, e-mail: Dmitry.Gribkov@uralkali.com,
V.N. Aptukov^1,2, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Head of Chairr, e-mail: valeryaptukov@gmail.com,
R.I. Tsarev¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: Roman.Tsarev@uralkali.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7794-411X,
A.A. Zhukov¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Head of Laboratory, e-mail: Aleksandr.Zhukov@uralkali.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-3819-4309,
¹ «VNII Galurgii» JSC, 614002, Perm, Russia,
² Perm State National Research University, 614990, Perm, Russia

 

For contacts:

A.M. Pigara, e-mail: Andrey.Prigara@uralkali.com.

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