Analysis of gas distribution in operating areas in mines of the Upper Kama potassium and magnesium salt deposit toward improvement of mine air sampling procedure

Underground mining of potassium deposits is complicated by emission of natural and industrial gases which affect operational safety of mine excavations. For enhancing safety conditions in operating areas in potassium mines, it is required to ensure their continuous and full-fledged airing. Mine air sampling during gas surveying in mines of the Upper Kama potassium and magnesium salt deposit helps determine air amount required for the effective ventilation of operating areas. As mineral production increases, the work environment in mines worsens. Elongation of mine openings and expansion of mined-out voids leads to nonuniform gas distribution and to poor removal of gaseous impurities from operating areas. This greatly complicates gas control and necessitates persistent improvement of the existing approaches to mine air monitoring. This article analyzes the existing methods of mine air monitoring and identifies disadvantages of the mine air sampling techniques in use. Within the framework of the research, the necessary experiments were carried out on laboratory and mine scale, and their results made it possible to develop an air sampling procedure for the assessment of concentrations of gaseous impurities in air in operating areas in mines at the Upper Kama potassium and magnesium salt deposit. The proposed approach takes into account the identified disadvantages, peculiarities of distribution of gas impurities and the actual physicochemical processes in operating areas in mines. 

Starikov A. N., Levin L. Yu., Maltsev S. V. Analysis of gas distribution in operating areas in mines of the Upper Kama potassium and magnesium salt deposit toward improvement of mine air sampling procedure. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2026;(2):68-85. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_2_0_68.

The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of a state contract, R&D project state registration no. 124020500030-7. 

A.N. Starikov¹, Engineer, e-mail: starikov4488@mail.ru,
L.Yu. Levin¹, Corresponding Member of Russian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Head of Department, e-mail: aerolog_lev@mail.ru,
S.V. Maltsev¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Head of Sector, e-mail: stasmalcev32@gmail.com,
¹ Mining Institute of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm, 614000, Russia.

A.N. Starikov, e-mail: starikov4488@mail.ru.

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