JUSTIFICATION OF APPLICATION AREAS FOR RATIONAL SYSTEMS OF UNDERGROUND MINING OF LOW-POWER STEEPLY DESCENDING ORE BODIES IN METAL DEPOSITS OF ARMENIA

Abstract

Many deposits of non-ferrous and precious metals are sometimes epresented in nature by very thin and thin ore bodies, which, despite the insignificant reserves of ore, due to the high content of metals, have a significant economic potential. Such ore bodies are Alaverdi, Shamlugh and Kapan copper, Tund and Terterasar gold, Gladzor polymetallic and a number of other ore deposits in Armenia.

In order to select the most economically feasible (optimal) system for the development of very thin and thin ore bodies from the selected ones, the following technically applied underground mining systems are considered: with separate extraction of ore and backfilling of the goaf with undermined host rocks; with under-floor drifts with slotted ore extraction; with stockpiling of ore with blast-holes from risers; with ore storage to push ore mining with spacer support; with a downward layered excavation with backfilling of the goaf with undermined host rocks; with a descending layer excavation with an interlayer enclosing reinforced concrete floor .

Using the indicator "critical power" of the ore body or its separate part:

• optimal development systems are chosen: with separate ore mining and backfilling of mined-out space with undermined host rocks, with sublevel drifts with slotted ore mining, with ceiling-sloping ore mining with spacer support, with ore storage for a stable rock-ore massif;
• the optimal mining system is chosen with ore stockpiling and blasting with blastholes from resurgents for an unstable rock-ore massif.