The stress distribution around the mining excavations under different tectonic loads

• Published in: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
• Main Authors: Semenova, IE, Kulkova, M S
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: IOP Publishing 2021
• Subjects: Arctic; Murmansk; Norway
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/833/1/012127; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/833/1/012127; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/833/1/012127/pdf

Abstract The article studies the fatures of stress distribution around the mining excavations under different tectonic loads on the case study of the Zhdanovskoe copper-nickel ore deposit, Murmansk region, Russia. The deposit is located in the Arctic zone on the Russia-Norway state boundary and is excavated by the Severny underground mine using simultaneously the sublevel caving and the open stoping methods. The combination of these mining methods in the same area affects the geomechanical conditions; moreover, the highest level of stresses is identified between the opposing excavation fronts. The deepening of mining increases the geodynamic risks caused by the stress state in the rock mass. In this regard, the study of the Zhdanovskoe deposit rock mass stress state and its transformation due to the mining progress is urgent. To address the issues a numerical geomechanical 3D model was created. To specify the correct boundary conditions, the results of the in-situ measurements were compared to visual observation results. To achieve the most accurate result, the direction and ratio of the tectonic loads were varied and the results were analyzed. The authors have analysed the modelling results in the form of the stresses and deformations distribution in the area around the excavations under different directions of tectonic loads. Based on this analysis, the authors have substantiated a relevant variant of direction of tectonic forces relatively the ore body strike. The results have been applied to forecast the changes in perspective stress-strain state during the mining progress.