Justification of applicability of the mosaic pillar system in the ore-free blocks in mining of lode gold deposits
D.N. Ermoshkin1, K.Z. Kurmanaliev2, V.A. Mansurov3, V.I. Mezhelovsky4, E.A. Babkin3
1 Global Asia Management, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
2 Geolekspertproekt LLC, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
3 Vertex Gold Co, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
4 Global Shiraldjin Mining, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Russian Mining Industry №3 / 2023 р. 108-114
Abstract: The paper discusses the formation of self-similar, hierarchically scaled, fractal properties of ore and ore-free subsystems of blocks within the mineralized zone. It is planned to identify the ore-free invariant blocks to create pillars within the extended producing block boundaries with the size of up to 160 m along the strike and up to 120 m down the dip of the thin veins, for mechanized layer-wise mining from sublevel strikes. Subsystems of the ore and ore-free blocks have similar fractal dimensions and degree of hierarchy, which is close to the coefficient of 2. Application of the method to leave the ore-free intervals as pillars considerably reduces the specific operational costs from 28-34 USD/ton of ore to 16,64 USD/ton due to cutting costs of drilling and blasting operations of the pillar volume (up to 14%) as well as for the mine preparation and stoping operations. The method of leaving pillars in the ore-free intervals makes it possible (1) to abandon the practice of rock and consolidating stowing while cutting the specific costs down to 5.18 USD/ton of ore; (2) to control the rock pressure while mining lode bodies in the vertical extent with cascades up to 120 m and the expected mineralization mining depth of up to 1000 m; (3) to enhance the produced ore grades from 14% to 25% by minimizing the primary dilution from the ore-free intervals.
Keywords: lode deposit, invariant nature of blocks, creation of geotechnical conditions for the ore-bearing intervals, creation of geotechnical conditions for the ore-free intervals, rock pillars, specific costs
For citation: Ermoshkin D.N., Kurmanaliev K.Z., Mansurov V.A., Mezhelovsky V.I., Babkin E.A. Justification of applicability of the mosaic pillar system in the ore-free blocks in mining of lode gold deposits. Russian Mining Industry. 2023;(3):108–114. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2023-3-108-114
Article info
Received: 11.04.2023
Revised: 05.05.2023
Accepted: 14.05.2023
Information about the authors
Denis N. Ermoshkin – Director General, Global Asia Management, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Kapar Z. Kurmanaliev – Mining Engineer-Geologist, Geolekspertproekt LLC, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Vladimir A. Mansurov – Dr. Sci. (Phys. and Math.), Professor, Geotechnical Advisor, Vertex Gold Co, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Viktor I. Mezhelovsky – Director General, Global Shiraldjin Mining, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Evgeny A. Babkin – Head of the Geotechnical Department, Vertex Gold Co, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
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