Analysis of radar monitoring data on the slope stability of Zhelezny open pit, Kovdorsky GOK JSC

Radars have been used in Russia relatively recently and nowadays this monitoring
method becomes more and more popular in spite of rather high cost of equipment. Such popularity is due to the undoubted advantages over other methods: the ability to produce a large amount of information about the rock mass movement in a short period of time; 24-hour control of the rock mass stability in any weather; high accuracy of observations, etc. A significant drawback is the lack of instructional materials for employees of enterprises on the use of these systems. This article presents data on cases of loss of stability of the adjacent rock mass in the Zhelezny open pit recorded by the IBIS FM radar (manufactured by IDS (Italy)). The data obtained from field measurements were analyzed and critical values of benches displacement rates preceding the loss of stability were determined. The analyzed data and available experience made it possible to draw up two instructions for the personnel of the geomechanical service, which specify the measures to ensure the effective operation of this technology, the procedure for detecting areas of the rock massif with potentially dangerous deformation, destructions and actions of personnel when giving alarms.

Rozanov I. Yu., Kovalev D. A. Analysis of radar monitoring data on the slope stability of Zhelezny open pit, Kovdorsky GOK JSC. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2022;(12-1): 122-133. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2022_121_0_122.

I.Yu. Rozanov, Researcher, Mining Institute, Kola Scientific Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences, 184209, Apatity, Russia, e-mail: ivan-rozanov@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0236-6749,
D.A. Kovalev, Engineer, JSC Hexagon Systems Rus, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: dmitry.kovalev@geosystems.ru.

I.Yu. Rozanov, e-mail: ivan-rozanov@yandex.ru.

1. Kozyrev A. A., Savchenko S. N., Panin V. I., Semenova I. E., Rybin V. V., Fedotova Yu. V., Kozyrev S. A. Geomekhanicheskie protsessy v geologicheskoy srede gornotekhnicheskikh sistem i upravlenie geodinamicheskimi riskami: Monografiya [Geomechanical processes in the geological environment of mining systems and management of geodynamic risks], Apatity, FITs KNTs RAN. 2019, 431 p. DOI: 10.37614/978.5.91137.391.7.

2. Rybin V. V. Razvitie teorii geomekhanicheskogo obosnovaniya ratsional'nykh konstruktsiy bortov kar'erov v skal'nykh tektonicheski napryazhennykh porodakh [Development of the theory of geomechanical substantiation of rational designs of open pit walls in tectonically stressed rocks], Candidate’s thesis, Apatity, 2016, 41 p.

3. Kharisov T. F., Kharisova O. D., Efremov E. Yu., Konovalova Yu. P. Reserch of stability of endges and benches of thr Kiyembayevsry field open-pit. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedenii. Gornyi zhurnal. 2018, no. 5, pp. 30—39. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.21440/0536-1028-20185-30-39.

4. Adamo N., Al-Ansari N., Sissakian V., Laue J., Knutsson S. Dam safety: the question of tailings dams. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering. 2020, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1—26. DOI: 10.47260/jesge/1111.

5. Adamo N., Al-Ansari N., Sissakian V., Laue J., Knutsson S. Dam safety and dams hazards. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering. 2020, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 23—40.

6. Cheskidov V. V., Lipina A. V., Melnichenko I. A. Integrated monitoring of engineering structures in mining. Eurasian Mining. 2018, no. 2, pp. 18—21.

7. Ismagilov R. I., Zakharov A. G., Badtiev B. P., Senin N. V., Pavlovich A. A., Sviridenko A. S. Use (testing experience) of a ground-based radar at the construction site of a steeply inclined conveyor complex at the southern pit of Mikhailovsky GOK. Russian Mining Industry. 2020, no. 3, pp. 84—90. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.30686/1609-9192-2020-3-84-90.

8. Ismagilov R. I., Kozub A. V., Badtiev B. P., Pavlovich A. A. Introduction of safety monitoring at the construction site of high-angle conveyor in Yuzhny open pit mine of Mikhailovsky GOK. Russian Mining Industry. 2020, no. 1, pp. 120—126. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.30686/16099192-2020-1-120-126.

9. Dyke G. P. Best practice and new technology in open pit mining geotechnics: Geita gold mine, Mali—a case study. World Gold Conference 2009. The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2009, pp. 169—176.

10. Severin E., Eberhardt S., Stewart N. A. Importance of understanding 3-D kinematic controls in the review of displacement monitoring of deep open pits above underground mass mining operations. Proceedings of the 3rd CANUS Rock Mechanics Symposium. Toronto, 2009 pp. 214—225.

11. Ramsden F., Coli N., Benedetti A. I., Falomi A., Leoni L., Michelini A. Effective use of slope monitoring radar to predict a slope failure at Jwaneng Mine, Botswana. Proceedings of the 2015 International Symposium on Slope Stability in Open Pit Mining and Civil Engineering. The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Johannesburg, 2015, pp. 162—179.

12. Hutchison B.. J., Naude S., Howarth J. Management of a toppling failure wall collapse at the Kanmantoo Coper Mine in South Australia. Proceedings of the 2015 International Symposium on Slope Stability in Open Pit Mining and Civil Engineering. The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Johannesburg, 2015, pp. 81—98.

13. Mitri H., Vennes I. Rock slope surface monitoring technologies with focus on groundbased synthetic aperture radar. Proceedings Mine Planning and Equipment Selection. Switzerland, 2014, pp. 1251—1263.

14. Pieraccini M. Real Beam vs. Synthetic aperture radar for slope monitoring. Proceedings Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium Proceedings. Stockholm, Sweden, 2013, pp. 1627—1632.

15. Atzeni C., Barla M., Pieraccini F., Antolini A. Early warning monitoring of natural and engineered slopes with ground based sythetic aperture radar. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2015, vol 48, no. 1, pp. 235—246. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-014-0554-4.

16. Farina P., Leoni L., Babboni F., Coppi F., Mayer L., Ricci P. IBIS-M, innovative radar for monitoring slopes in open-pit mines. Proceedings, Slope Stability 2011: International Symposium on Rock Slope Stability in Open Pit Mining and Civil Engineering. Vancouver, Canada, 2011, pp. 1625—1639.

17. Farina P., Leoni L., Babboni F., Coppi F., Mayer L., Coli N., Helbawi A. Monitoring open pit slopes through slope monitoring radar based on synthetic aperture radar. Proceedings RockEng 2012 21st Canadian Rock Mechanics Symposium. Edmonton (AB), Canada, 2012, pp. 1452—1465.

18. Farina P., Coli N., Yon R., Eken G., Ketizmen H. Efficient real time stability monitoring of mine walls: the Çöllolar Mine case study. Proceedings of 23rd International Mining Congress & Exhibition of Turkey. Antalya, Turkey, 2013, pp. 111—117.

19. Rozanov I. Yu., Zavyalov A. A. Application of IBIS FM radar to pit wall monitoring at Zhelezny open pit mine of Kovdor Mining and Processing Plant. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2018, no. 7, pp. 40—46. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2018-7-0-40-46.

20. Rozanov I., Zavialov A. Determination of critical deformation and destruction parameters of the zhelezny open pit rock mass (JSC Kovdorsky GOK) based on IBIS FM ground radar data. Trigger Effects in Geosystems. Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2019, pp. 387—393. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-31970-0_41.