Rock mass stress state at the Gremyachinskoe potassium deposit

The article presents the full-scale investigation data on the stress state of salt and anhydrite–dolomite rocks as a case-study of the Gremyachinskoe potassium salt deposit. Stress measurement is carried out in single mine openings and in structural mine elements using the methods based on the Kaiser effect. The research findings are used to estimate the lateral earth pressure coefficient in salt rocks of the test deposit. It is found that for the test rock mass, the typical stress state resembles the hydrostatic stress state. The orientations of the principal stresses are defined. In anhydrite–dolomite rocks, the maximal stress is the horizontal north– south stress, the minimal stress is the horizontal east–west stress, and the vertical stress has an intermediate value. The measured stresses in safety pillars of the room-and-pillar mining system are presented. The measurements were taken in two pillars 7.0 and 8.9 m high. The stress state analysis of adjacent rock mass shows that it has a poor quality and is damaged in all test sites, which is pointed at by the decreased values of the measured stresses. The reported results are meant for the justification of safe and efficient mining activities for a deep potash mine.

Toksarov V. N., Polyakov I. V., Beltyukov N. L., Lifshic E. L., Morozov I. A. Rock mass stress state at the Gremyachinskoe potassium deposit. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(1):100-113. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_1_0_100.

The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation in the framework of the state contract, State Registration No. 124020500031-4.

V.N. Toksarov¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: toksarov@mi-perm.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0006-105X,
I.V. Polyakov, Cand. Sci. (Eng.),
N.L. Beltyukov¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: bnl@mi-perm.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0716-998X,
E.L. Lifshic, Chief Surveyor, EuroChem-VolgaKaliy LLC, 404354, Kotelnikovo, Russia,e-mail: Lifshic@eurochem.ru,
I.A. Morozov¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Researcher, e-mail: imorozov.work@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6513-1293,
¹ Mining Institute of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 614007, Perm, Russia.

I.A. Morozov, e-mail: imorozov.work@yandex.ru.

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