RE-CUTTING BENCHES IN A BLAST-BULLDOZER-BASEMENT COMPLEX DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF “MOUNTAIN-DEPOSIT” TYPE DEPOSITS

Abstract

This article discusses and presents a methodology for cutting benches in a blast-bulldozer-basement system for mining “mountain-deposit” mineral deposits. Experimental studies have demonstrated the feasibility of reducing the volume of rock bypassed by bulldozers in a blast-bulldozer-basement system by enhancing the blast's throwing effect on the discharge. In most cases, when the slope angle is less than or equal to the working wall angle (φ≤γ), steep-slice mining can begin from the bottom up the slope. This increases the quarry wall height with the cutting of new benches until the wall reaches the mountain crest. Subsequently, the wall height will remain constant for a long time (when mining a mountain ridge or plateau) or begin to decrease (when mining a dome-shaped hill). The high efficiency of the blast-dozer-basement system using flat, stepped charges makes it suitable for construction material quarries. This system is particularly effective in newly developed deposits. Switching to this technology at existing quarries using a different system requires minor modifications, such as re-cutting the benches.