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Eco-orientedtechnologies of iron ore mining at underground mines of Ukraine


Work number - P 1 AWARDED

Presented Kryvyi Rih National University

Authors:
M.I. Stupnik, DSc(Engineering), I.L. Kovalenko,DSc(Engineering), M.K. Korolenko, S.P. Poltorashchenko, I.A. Karapa, D.V. Shevchyk, D.V. Kiiashchenko, V.Z. Nebohin

The research is aimed at developing and implementing eco-oriented technologies of underground mining of ores applying the cascade principle of waste disposal to prevent negative environmental impacts, settle the problem of mining waste utilization and ensure rational use of mineral resources of Ukraine.

There have been theoretically and experimentally substantiated scientific principles of mining large ore deposits ensuring stable conditions of the earth surface and ore massif, producing and applying safe TNT-free explosive technologies, disposal of technogenic wastes in the underground space. There has first been elaborated and implemented a system of underground mining technologies which prevents earth surface destruction (10-year long monitoring) and fresh water pollution, decreases dramatically air pollution and enables industrial waste utilization to provide reliable backfill of dead underground spaces resulting in provision of environmental safety and decreased environmental load. 

Due to implementation of the technology at Zaporizhzhia Iron-Ore Plant (ZZRK), over 4.4 mln t of metallurgical production wastes, the enterprise rock wastes and secondary drainage resources has been utilized annually as backfill for dead spaces since 2007, making nearly 55 mln t of wastes totally. Surface subsidence and highly mineralized mine water discharges into open water flows (over 900 thousand m3 annually) have been avoided. The applied TNT-free explosives and self-propelled drilling and charging machinery have enabled 2.5-3.0-fold decrease of poisonous blasting fumes, full mechanization of drilling and blasting operations and 4.6-fold increase of production profitability as compared with traditional technologies. Iron ore underground mines of Ukraine have applied over 34 thousand t of safe home-produced TNT-free materials (including nearly 3500 t in 2019).

In terms of integrated environmental impacts, the technologies developed are 11 times safer than traditional ones. The environmental impact of implementation (as a cost indicator of prevented environmental damage) amounted to over 260.5 mln UAH in 2019, reaching up to 2.18 bln UAH in 2009-2019.

At underground mines of Kryvyi Rih and the PJSC “ZZRK”, the economic effect of the implemented eco-oriented technologies has made nearly 468 mln UAH, including over 51.5 mln UAH in 2019.

The number of publications is 269, including 6 monographs, 1 textbook, 165 articles (11-english with IF). Total number of links to author publications/h-index of work: WebofScience –4/2, Scopus–148/7, GoogleShcolar –489/12. 18 patents of Ukraine for invention and 43 for utility model were obtained. Two doctorate and 4 PhD dissertations are defended by the given theme.

Number of publications: 269, including 6 monographs, 1 textbook, 165 articles (11-english with IF). Total number of links to author publications/h-index of work: WebofScience –4/2, Scopus–148/7, GoogleShcolar –489/12. 18 patents of Ukraine for invention and 43 for utility model were obtained. Two doctorate and 4 PhD dissertations are defended by the given theme.