Improvement of environmental and economic assessment methods of miningand processing of iron ore by corporations of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation based on mathematical modeling

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2022-2-112-119

C.V. Tishkov¹, A.D. Volkov¹, K.A. Kulakov², V.V. Shchiptsov³ ¹ Institute of Economics, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation ² Petrozavodsk State University, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation ³ Institute of Geology, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation Russian Mining Industry №2 / 2022 р. 112-119

Abstract: Iron ore production traditionally performs an important function in providing the world's manufacturing industry with raw materials and semi-finished products, and plays an important role in the socio-economic development of the regions of the North of Russia. One of the key issues of field operation remains the current, accumulated and potential environmental damage to the territories of location associated with the accumulation of waste from primary processing of raw materials stored in tailings. The development of raw material extraction technologies makes it possible to increase the time horizon for the exploitation of deposits, but requires measures to increase the capacity of the tailings storage facility, modernization of hydraulic structures serving it. In the article, on the basis of forecast data on the development of tailings facilities of the ‘Karelsky Okatysh’ JSC for the period up to 2043, a model for calculating the occupancy of a tailings pond in the event of a new dam break is constructed. At the moment, within the framework of the development of tailings facilities at the specified enterprise, the organization of the construction of a tailings dump on the site of an alluvial beach is being carried out. One of the bases of decision-making is risk assessment, which includes an assessment of emergency situations. 2 scenarios of accidents at the GTS are considered: the loss of static stability of the dam, i.e. the break of the dam wall during normal operation (A1) and the erosion of the body of the dam as a result of the overflow of water over the crest, i.e. the overflow of water over the top of the dam with subsequent destruction of the wall (A2). The assessment of the capacity of the new and old tailings dam (settling pond) and the capacity of new and old hydraulic structures and the analysis of the possibility of using a settling pond and a system of spillway structures, depending on the degree of construction of the tailings pond. The conclusion is made about the necessary measures to improve this system for the localization of man-made accidents in various scenarios.

Keywords: mining enterprise, accident model, tailings storage, resource base, the ‘Karelsky Okatysh’ JSC, dam erosion

Acknowledgments: The article was prepared within the framework of the state assignment of the Karelian Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences "Integrated research and development of the management bases for sustainable development of the northern and frontier belts of Russia in the context of global challenges".

For citation: Tishkov C.V., Volkov A.D., Kulakov K.A., Shchiptsov V.V. Improvement of environmental and economic assessment methods of mining and processing of iron ore by corporations of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation based on mathematical modeling. Russian Mining Industry. 2022;(2):112–119. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2022-2-112-119

Article info

Received: 21.02.2022

Revised: 15.03.2022

Accepted: 16.03.2022

Information about the authors

Sergey V. Tishkov − Cand. Sci. (Econ.) Academic Secretary, Institute of Economics, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6061-4165, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Alexander D. Volkov − Junior Research Scientist, Institute of Economics, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0451-8483, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kirill A. Kulakov − Candidate of Sciences (Physics and Mathematics), Senior Lecturer, Petrozavodsk State University, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0305-419X, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Vladimir V. Shchiptsov − Doctor of Geological-Mineralogical Sciences, Leading Research Scientist, Institute of Geology, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7005-3253, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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