Investigation into crown stability at underground leaching of uranium ores
Authors:
M.I.Stupnik, Dr. Sc. (Tech.), Prof., State Institution of Higher Education “Kryvyi Rih National University”, Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
V.O.Kalinichenko, Dr. Sc. (Tech.), Prof., orcid.org/0000-0002-1938-2286, State Institution of Higher Education “Kryvyi Rih National University”, Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
M.B.Fedko, Cand. Sc. (Tech.), Assoc. Prof., orcid.org/0000-0003-4169-7425, State Institution of Higher Education “Kryvyi Rih National University”, Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
О.V.Kalinichenko, Cand. Sc. (Econ.), Assoc. Prof., orcid.org/0000-0002-9138-9271, State Institution of Higher Education “Kryvyi Rih National University”, Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract:
Purpose. Determination of influence of various factors on crown stability at underground block leaching of uranium ores.
Methodology. Mathematical modeling applying the finite element and analytical methods is used to investigate into the impact of the ore body dip angle and crown workings on changes in the crown stress-strain state and stability. On this basis, dependencies of the above factors’ influence on the crown stability are determined enabling their adequate consideration when specifying the appropriate crown thickness. Laboratory studies allow estimating influence of the reagent used at block leaching of uranium ores on their hardness for the purposes of determining safe crown parameters.
Findings. The dependencies of the ore body dip angle impact and the degree of crown disturbances caused by workings on crown stability as well as uranium ore hardness decrease resulted from application of the acid solution enable adjusting the appropriate crown thickness in determining safe parameters of the technology at the stage of the design work execution.
Originality. Scientific novelty consists in determining dependencies that consider the impact of the ore body dip angle and the degree of crown disturbances caused by workings on crown stability. For the first time, influence of the sulfuric acid solution used in underground block leaching of uranium ores on changes in their hardness has been studied. Comprehensive consideration of the effect of these factors and the determined dependencies enables specifying safe thickness of crowns and ensures their integrity.
Practical value. Possibility of adjusting crown thickness considering the ore body dip angle, the degree of disturbance caused by workings, and the acid solution impact will allow specifying the appropriate crown thickness at the stage of designing. This will allow avoiding possible failure of crowns caused by negative impacts of the above factors and ensuring safety of works.
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