Monitoring of seismic activity in near-wall rock masses of open pits using seismic recorders in deep boreholes beyond the final pit boundary

Kagan M.M., Chernobrov D.S.
Mining Institute Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №1S / 2023 р. 84-88

Abstract: The article presents some results of monitoring seismicity in a rock mass at an open-pit ore mine. The research included an assessment of the seismic impact in the open-pit mining areas. As the result, strong seismic events, confined to the near-wall rock mass of the open-pit mine were registered with their hot-spots lying within the depth of 10 to 50 meters from the free surface. Potentially hazardous zones were identified in terms of wall stability loss as well as the zone of seismic events concentration. Locations of these zones in relation to the structural faults inside the rock mass were determined. Changes in their position over time were analyzed. The data obtained as a result of the study helped to establish the correlations between the dynamics of microseismic activity and the deformation processes in the near-wall rock mass. This information is of interest for specialists involved in geophysical control of geological media under man-made impacts as well as in geomechanics of surface mining.

Keywords: surface mining, open pit wall, rock mass, seismic method, seismic events, seismic activity, structural faults, fracturing

For citation: Kagan M.M., Chernobrov D.S. Monitoring of seismic activity in near-wall rock masses of open pits using seismic recorders in deep boreholes beyond the final pit boundary. Russian Mining Industry. 2023;(1 Suppl.):84–88. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2023-S1-84-88

Article info

Received: 17.02.2023

Revised: 07.03.2023

Accepted: 09.03.2023

Information about the authors

Mikhail M. Kagan – Senior Researcher, Mining Institute, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7748-3288; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dmitry S. Chernobrov – Junior Researcher, Mining Institute, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1602-9217; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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