Safety of hydraulic structures in mining in the North

The article addresses safety of hydraulic structures in the conditions of mineral mining in the zone of permafrost. The harsh climate and the properties of permafrost rocks dictate wider range factors to be considered in engineering, design and operation of hydraulic structures. The causes and consequences of potential risks in operation of hydraulic structures are discussed in terms of mining operations in the climatic zone of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The scope of the discussion embraces approaches to improvement of design and control during construction and operation of hydraulic structures around tailings ponds of processing plants. The analysis data on nitrile content of drain water samples are given. The nature of toxic chemicals contained in tailings is reflective of high potential hazard for the environment and local population. It is emphasized that hydraulic structures should hold their protective functions upon termination of estimated service life period of mines. Considering a large number of hazardous industrial objects unpossessed actually for some reasons, for reduction of risk of environmental disasters, it is expedient to implement continuous monitoring of safety of such objects, to undertake timely accident risk prevention, as well as to update reliability standards and safety criteria of hydraulic structures toward their fail-safety.

Keywords: tailings pond, toxic waste, hydraulic structures, mining safety, environment protection, gold refining plant, frozen rocks.
For citation:

Kovlekov I. I. Safety of hydraulic structures in mining in the North. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(7):154-164. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_7_0_154.

Acknowledgements:
Issue number: 7
Year: 2021
Page number: 154-164
ISBN: 0236-1493
UDK: 622.7:502.17
DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_7_0_154
Article receipt date: 31.12.2020
Date of review receipt: 15.02.2021
Date of the editorial board′s decision on the article′s publishing: 10.06.2021
About authors:

I.I. Kovlekov, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, e-mail: kovlekov@mail.ru, Mining Institute, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, 677000, Yakutsk, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russia.

For contacts:
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