Sokolov I.V., Baranovsky K.V. Choosing an efficient technique for underground mining of quartz

Abstract

This article presents results of research aimed at justifying an underground mining technique used to mine medium width pitching ore bodies and ensuring a drastic loss reduction in mining a unique deposit of quartz. The analysis of the theory and practice of pitching ore body mining helped establish that the drastic reduction in quartz losses can be achieved through application of a Combined Mining System (CMS) encompassing an open stoping system used for extracting the main chamber deposits and an ore and country rock caving system used for extracting interchamber pillars (ICP). Different types of CMS can be grouped by the shape of ICP (rectangular or trapezoidal), which is the key characteristic, and by ICP recovery conditions (under the hanging wall or under loose rock), which is an additional characteristic. Based on the grouping, seven efficient versions of CMS have been designed that are also distinguished by the ICP stoping method (breakage, ore drawing, stoping sequence) and by the reclamation method (artificial or uncontrolled caving of hanging walls) and procedure (before or after ICP breakage). A technique has been developed to determine the loss and dilution of quartz which uses the width and incidence of the quartz body and the width of chambers and ICPs as basic arguments. This technique helps identify the best process parameters depending on the above factors. It was determined that the most efficient types of CMS, i.e. CMSs with wider chambers, trapezoidal yield ICPs mined under the hanging wall or artificially caved rock), ensure a loss reduction of 6 to 11%.

Keywords

Quartz deposit, underground mining technique, pitching ore body, losses and dilution, combined mining system.

Sokolov Igor Vladimirovich – D.Sc. (Eng.), Head of the laboratory of underground geotechnology of the Institute of Mining UB RAS, Ekaterinburg, Russia. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Baranovsky Kirill Vasilievich – Researcher at the laboratory of underground geotechnology of the Institute of Mining UB RAS, Ekaterinburg, Russia. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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