Development of wear-resistant picks for potash continuous miners
D.S. Gribov1, D.I. Shishlyannikov2
1 VNII Galurgii JSC, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
2 Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Perm, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №4/ 2026 p. 141-146
Abstract: The article provides information about a mechanized method of mining potassium-magnesium ores and the heading and winning machines used. It is noted that a significant amount of downtime of potash continuous miners caused by emergency failures is due to damage to the components and parts of their cutters, including the picks. Pick failures lead to higher power requirements and energy consumption of the potash ore crushing operations, while negatively affecting equipment productivity and the cost of the heading operations. The article discusses the known methods for increasing the service life of the picks, as well as advantages and disadvantages of common solutions to improve their wear resistance. A design of a promising tangential non-rotating RP pick is proposed, characterized with the front face shaped as a pitched roof and a triangular form of the cutting edge. The results are presented of comparative tests of the commercial tangential non-rotating RS-14 picks and the promising RP pick for breaking blocks of potassium ore and isotropic material, i.e. gypsum plates, using a laboratory bench. Rational parameters and design of the picks for continuous miners in potash mines are justified based on the bench test results and previous mine studies in order to increase their operating time. A compound pick design is proposed based on the RP pick to increase its wear resistance, extend its service life, and reduce the material costs of underground mining operations for potash and magnesium ores.
Keywords: potassium and magnesium ores, heading and winning machines, rock-cutting tools, increased operating time, cutting force, specific energy consumption, laboratory bench, compound pick
For citation: Gribov D.S., Shishlyannikov D.I. Development of wear-resistant picks for potash continuous miners. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(4):141–146. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-4-141-146
Information about the article
Received: 19.03.2026
Revised: 04.05.2026
Accepted: 12.05.2026
Information about the authors
Dmitry S. Gribov – Head of Mining Department, VNII Galurgii JSC branch in Saint Petersburg, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dmitry I. Shishlyannikov – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Mining Electromechanics, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Perm, Russian Federation
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