Yakutniproalmaz Institute, PJSC ALROSA, Mirny, Russia:

I. B. Bokiy, Head of Laboratory, Associate Professor, Doctor of Physical–Mathematical Sciences, bokiyib@alrosa.ru
O. V. Zoteev, Chief Researcher, Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

Mirny Polytechnic Institute (Branch), Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, Mirny, Russia:
V. V. Pul, Assistant

Geology of the Udachnaya kimberlite pipe operated by ALROSA is characterized. The method of development of the deposit is described—the upper part of the pipe is mined-out by the open pit method. The deeper level reserves are extracted using the methods with caving. One of the issues is the risk of freezing of muck pile with subsequent accumulation of free water in the open pit, which, in turn, imposes hazard of hydrodynamic accident in the mine. An engineering solution for prevention of possible accident scenario is ore drawing from ore passes arranged along the whole length of a level, which enables flow of unconsolidated material with disaggregation of the frozen rocks. The monitoring project provides scheduled survey of muck pile surface in order to control the process of muck pile buildup. However, the results of the monitoring obtained in the period when mine reached project capacity show that subsidence of the rock cushion is significantly less than it has been estimated. The  analysis of possible causes of such a deviation from predicted scenario allowed proving that, although this deviation was due to imperfect operational practices, it could not initiate hydrodynamic accidents.

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