Seismicity as an echo of stress–strain behavior change in rock mass in the course of mining

The article presents the studies into seismicity variation monitoring in rock mass for eight years during mining operations carried out simultaneously on a few levels in the Kukisvumchorr deposit site with difficult ground conditions. The seismic data are analyzed in order to obtain the rock mass estimate in the test site where strong seismic events (energy class K≥6) were recorded in January 2016 and in April 2020, which induced instability in rock mass and damaged boundaries of underground excavations. The actual seismic data are compared with estimated characteristics of the effective stress field. The possible causes of activation of seismicity as an echo of stress redistribution under the influence of mining and daily blasting, which can induce either stress relaxation or stress increase, are identified. The rockburst hazard prediction can be complicated by the fact that in case of high seismic activity in some area in rock mass, both high stability of rock mass and actuation of seismicity in this site are possible. The described approach is a continuation of the research aimed at development of an integrated rockburst hazard criterion for different areas in rock mass.

Semenova I. E., Zhuravleva O. G., Zhukova S. A. Seismicity as an echo of stress– strain behavior change in rock mass in the course of mining. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(6):46-58. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_6_0_46.

The study was carried out in the framework of R&D Topic 0226-20190058 and was supported by Apatit’s Kirovsk Division.

I.E. Semenova¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Head of Sector, e-mail: innas@goi.kolasc.net.ru,
O.G. Zhuravleva¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: zhuravlevaog@goi.kolasc.net.ru,
S.A. Zhukova¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: svetlana.zhukowa@yandex.ru,
¹ Mining Institute, Kola Scientific Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences, 184209, Apatity, Russia.

O.G. Zhuravleva, e-mail: zhuravlevaog@goi.kolasc.net.ru.

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