Mixed-type technology of crystal mineral mining

A mission of the crystal mineral mining industry is creation and improvement of new and conventional technologies that provide maximum preservation of natural quality of crystals. It is possible to enhance mining efficiency by integrating rationally technologies and equipment with regard to natural properties of individual areas within a deposit. This can considerably reduce the loss of mineral quality in the course of mining and can save the extraction cost. In Russia the conventional technology of kimberlite mining includes drilling-andblasting, which affects integrity of diamonds. In the meanwhile, blast free mining gradually finds wider application with the use of different design cutters, rotary excavators and other equipment. Regarding kimberlite, which is a high-value and high-strength ore, the effective extraction is possible via combining different mining methods and equipment in different zones of a deposit. This article reviews the mixed-type technologies of crystal mineral mining using different sets of extracting machinery, water-assisted mining, blasting and rock loosening (softening) techniques. The authors propose a mixed-type technology of underground mining of primary diamond deposits, including mechanical cutting in areas of high-value ore and moderate blasting in the rest rock mass, with generation of a perimeter protection layer with drainage piping for by-pass of brines from upper lying aquifers. Furthermore, the article puts forward a method of selective preparation of kimberlite ore for mining.

Cheban A. Yu., Sekisov A. G., Khrunina N. P., Vasyanovich Yu. A. Mixed-type technology of crystal mineral mining. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2022;(7):55-67. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2022_7_0_55.

The research used the resources of the Scientific Knowledge Sharing Center supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Project No. 075-15-2021-663.

A.Yu. Cheban¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Leading Researcher, e-mail: chebanay@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2707-626X,
A.G. Sekisov¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Chief Researcher, e-mail: sekisovag@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5780-6150,
N.P. Khrunina¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Leading Researcher, e-mail: npetx@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8117-0922,
Yu.A. Vasyanovich, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, e-mail: vasyanovich_2011@mail.ru, Far East Federal University, 600091, Vladivostok, Russia,
¹ Mining Institute, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 680000, Khabarovsk, Russia.

A.Yu. Cheban, e-mail: chebanay@mail.ru.

1. Fedotov G. S., Pastikhin D. V. Pit optimization considering the deposit stripping method for mining and processing plant named after V. Grib. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2020, no. S11, pp. 3—12. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2020-4-11-3-12.

2. Smit K. V., Shor R. Geology and development of the Lomonosov diamond deposit, Northwestern Russia. Gems & Gemology. 2017, vol. 53, no. 2, pp. 144—167. DOI: 10.5741/ GEMS.53.2.144.

3. Kramskov N. P., Vokhmin S. A., Trebush Yu. Kurchin G. S., Mayorov E. S. Method of normalization of losses and impoverishment of ore during underground mining of the Aikhal kimberlite pipe. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2013, no. 12, pp. 34—37. [In Russ].

4. Leach P., Heyden B., Ravenscroft P. A novel economic-filter for evaluating sub-Saharan diamondiferous kimberlites. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. 2020, vol. 120, no. 9, pp. 541—545. DOI: 10.17159/2411-9717/1173/2020.

5. Sekisov G. V., Cheban A. Yu. Low-waste mining technology for structurally complex deposits with mixed-type process flows of ore extraction and processing. Fiziko-tekhnicheskie problemy razrabotki poleznykh iskopaemykh. 2021, no. 6, pp. 110—118. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.15372/ FTPRPI20210610.

6. Anistratov Yu. I., Borshch-Komponiets L. V., Anistratov K. Yu. Efficiency of open-pit mining of deposits in natural-technological zones. Gornyi Zhurnal. 1990, no. 8, pp. 19—24. [In Russ].

7. Anistratov Yu. I., Anistratov K. Yu., Shchadov M. I. Spravochnik po otkrytym gornym rabotam [Handbook of open cast mining], Moscow, NTTS «Gornoe delo», 2010, 700 p.

8. Chaadaev A. C., Zyryanov I. V., Bondarenko I. F. Status and development prospects of mining technologies at diamond mining enterprises of ALROSA PJSC. Russian Mining Industry. 2017, no. 2, pp. 6—13. [In Russ].

9. Cheban A. Yu., Khrunina N. P. Intensification of open mining operations with a small distance of transportation of rock mass. International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa. 2018, vol. 38, pp. 100—114. DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/JERA.38.100.

10. Kumar C., Kumaraswamidhas L. A., Murthy V. M. S. R., Prakash A. Experimental investigations on thermal behavior during pick-rock interaction and optimization of operating parameters of surface miner. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2020, vol. 133, article 104360. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104360.

11. Cheban A. Yu. Selective development of the Elginsk coal deposit with using the excavating and sorting complex. Izvestiya Tul’skogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, Nauki o Zemle. 2017, no. 4, pp. 247—254. [In Russ].

12. Cheban A. Yu. Technology of development of difficulty-structural deposit of apatitis and excavation-sorting complex for its implementation. Journal of Mining Institute. 2019, vol. 238, pp. 399—404. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.31897/ PMI.2019.4.399.

13. Laubscher D., Guest A., Jakubec J. Guidelines on caving mining methods: the underlying concepts. Queensland: The University of Queensland, 2017. 282 p.

14. Pikhler M., Dikk F., Pankevich Yu. B. Combines Wirtgen Surfase Miner for diamond mining in Alaska. Russian Mining Industry. 2009, no. 4, pp. 14—15. [In Russ].

15. Yucong P., Quansheng L., Qi L. Full-scale linear cutting tests to check and modify a widely used semi-theoretical model for disc cutter cutting force prediction. Acta Geotechnical. 2020, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 1481—1500.

16. Ermakov S. A., Burakov A. M. Improvement of geo-technologies of surface mining the deposits of permfrost zone Perfection of geotechnologies of open pit mining of permafrost zones. Problems of Subsoil Use. 2014, no. 3, pp. 96—104. [In Russ].

17. Tarasov P. I., Zhuravlev A. G., Furin V. O. Justification for technological parameters of deepening complex justification of the technological parameters of the deep complex. Mining Equipment and Electromechanics. 2011, no. 9, pp. 2—10. [In Russ].

18. Aynbinder I. I., Ovcharenko O. V. Geomechanical behavior of deep-level rock mass in Internatsionalny and Mir mines. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2020, no. 11, pp. 57—69. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2020-11-0-57-69.

19. Montyanova A. N. On the issue of automation of the technology for laying operations during the combine mining of ore from primary diamond deposits. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2010, no. 2, pp. 343—353. [In Russ].

20. Vedin A. T., Anistratov K. Yu., Yurin N. N., Rassudov A. V., Bezborodov S. M. Patent RU 2009318. 15.03.1994. [In Russ].

21. Geotekhnologii otkrytoy dobychi mineral'nogo syr'ya so slozhnymi gorno-geologicheskimi usloviyami. Otv. red. S. M. Tkach [Geotechnology of open mining of minerals with complex mining and geological conditions. Tkach S. M. (Ed.)], Novosibirsk, Akademicheskoe izd-vo «Geo», 2013, 307 p.

22. Ochosov O. Yu., Matveev A. I. Use of centrifugal concentration in by-recovery of gold in diamond-bearing sand processing at Almazy Anabara. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021, no. 1, pp. 120—129. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2021-1-0-120-129.

23. Ermakov S. A., Fedorov L. N. New methods of development of small volume diamond deposits and excavation of undersurface reserves. Nauka i obrazovanie. 2015, no. 4(80), pp. 62—67. [In Russ].

24. Kaplunov D. R., Rylnikova M. V., Kalmykov V. N., Petrov Yu. A., Suslov V. A. Combined geotechnology in the development of the diamond deposit of the Udachnaya pipe. Russian Mining Industry. 2005, no. 4, pp. 22—26. [In Russ].

25. Klishin V. I., Izakson V. Yu., Vlasov V. N., Vlasov I. N., Kramskov N. P. Patent RU 2136887, 10.09.1999. [In Russ].

26. Nikolaev N. I., Leusheva E. L. Theoretical and experimental investigation of hard rock drilling efficiency. Vestnik Permskogo natsional’nogo issledovatel’skogo politekhnicheskogo universiteta. Geologiya. Neftegazovoe i gornoe delo. 2015, vol. 14, no. 15, pp. 38—47. [In Russ].

27. Rybal'chenko A. Ya., Rybal'chenko T. M., Kvitkin S. YU., Belkin V. V. Patent RU 2286456, 27.10.2006. [In Russ].

28. Barnov N. G., Eremenko V. A., Kondratenko A. S. Blasting of hydrofracturingpreconditioned blocks with decoupled explosive charges. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2016, no. 3, pp. 200—209. [In Russ].

29. Voronov E. T. Crystallo-saving technology of extraction of colour tourmaline. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2010, no. 5, pp. 42—44. [In Russ].

30. Voronov E. T., Bondar I. A. Crystal-saving technology of underground mining of rock crystal. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2011, no. 11, pp. 23—25. [In Russ].

31. Trubetskoy K. N., Zakharov V. N., Galchenko Yu. P. Patent RU 2709846, 23.12.2019. [In Russ].

32. Derevyashkin I. V., Sadykov A. A. Scientific justification of commercial amber production without crushing in work face. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2019, no. 11, pp. 81—93. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2019-11-0-81-93.

33. Cheban A. Yu. Improving the efficiency of combined development of primary diamond deposits. Problemy i perspektivy kompleksnogo osvoeniya i sokhraneniya zemnykh nedr. Materialy IV konferentsii mezhdunarodnoy nauchnoy shkoly akademika RAN K.N. Trubetskogo [Problems and prospects of integrated development and conservation of the Earth's interior. Materials of the IV conference of the International Scientific School of Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences K.N. Trubetskoy], Moscow, Izd-vo IPKON RAN, 2020, pp. 261—264. [In Russ].

34. Vlasov V. M., Androsov A. D., Beskrovanov V. V. The level of modern crystal-saving technologies for diamond mining in the North. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2001, no. 8, pp. 5—6. [In Russ].

35. Rasskazov I. Yu., Sekisov G. V., Sekisov A. G., Cheban A. Yu., Khrunina N. P. Patent RU 2664283, 16.08.2018. [In Russ].

36. Sekisov A. G., Cheban A. Yu. Crystal-saving technology of open mining of complex structure kimberlite deposits. Vestnik of Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University. 2021, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 5—13. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.18503/1995-2732-2021-19-2-5-13.