Analysis of water conditions and evolution of rock mass at a mining industry object after reclamation

The article presents the research into water conditions and evolution of rock mass at a mining industry object after reclamation. It is hypothesized that water conditions of rock mass at a reclaimed tailings pond are directly connected with deformation processes in the surface layer of the tailings pond. A methodology is developed and tested, that takes into account both studies of some reservoir properties of rocks, such as porosity, permeability, water saturation and compressibility, and seismic monitoring data on the test area. As a result of the accomplished research, the main parameters influencing technogenesis at the Unal tailings pond are determined, namely: climate (mountain and valley winds, seasonality and abundance of rainfall); volume of water feed from drain area; specific nature of water conditions of rock mass at the mining industry object after its reclamation. The quantity of water is determined and differentiated with respect to the volume of rainfall supply on the surface of the tailings pond along the main paths. During field works, the water conditions of the reclaimed tailing pond were investigated, the results were analyzed, and the conclusion on the required development of new monitoring methods for comprehensive understanding of evolution of technogenesis at the tailings pond was drawn. Finally, it is proposed to undertake a special research in the form of the stress–strain monitoring of the tailings pond body with respect to the seismic factors and their influence on evolution of water conditions of rock mass, and probability of flow rock origination.

Fomenko V. A., Makovozova Z. E., Sokolov A. A., Aksenova M. A., Kovalev G. S. Analysis of water conditions and evolution of rock mass at a mining industry object after reclamation. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(5):118-129. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/ 0236_1493_2025_5_0_118.

The studies were carried out at the Southern Federal University and supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Projects Nos. RNF/23-37-GL and 23-77-00015.

V.A. Fomenko¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, e-mail: vafomenko@sfedu.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3791-8793,
Z.E. Makovozova², Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), e-mail: geologistik@bk.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0000-3555-4394,
A.A. Sokolov¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, Head of Chair, e-mail: anso@sfedu.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1127-9612,
M.A. Aksenova¹, Assistant of Chair, e-mail: maaksenova@sfedu.ru, ORCID ID 0009-0005-5482-4691,
G.S. Kovalev², Student, e-mail: georkovalev@mail.ru, ORCID ID 0009-0005-6016-0545,
¹ Branch of Southern Federal University in Gelendzhik, 353461, Gelendzhik, Russia,
² North Caucasus Mining and Metallurgical Institute (State Technological University), 362021, Vladikavkaz, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Russia.

A.A. Sokolov, e-mail: anso@sfedu.ru.

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