Features of weathered layers at copper deposits

Copper deposits and mineralization zones are widely spread in the crust, have various origin and occur in different geological and tectonic environments. Prospecting and exploration of such deposits and their long-term and extensive mining are one of the toppriority objectives of the national mining industry. It is a typical feature of such deposit that there are overlaid with shallow weathered layers. The latter possess different properties as their mother substrates are represented by various rocks (sedimentary, magmatic, metamorphic) in Russia, and because the areas of the mineral deposits feature different geomorphology. For this reason, Russia is currently one of the most interesting test ground for studying weathered layers of different types. Examination of the weathering process is a challenging problem. Therefore, it is important to correctly determine the type and profile of the weathered layer at the stage of geological exploration, as well as to find changeability of geotechnical conditions during accessing mineral reserves with a view to predicting stability of sidewalls or pitwall in underground and surface mines later on.

Abaturova I. V., Bobina T. S. Features of weathered layers at copper deposits. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(11-1):146—161. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_111_0_146.

The study was prepared in accordance with the state assignment for the implementation of research work for the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Ural State Mining University» No. 075-03-2021-303 dated December 29, 2020.

Abaturova I. V.¹, Dr. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), е-mail: gingeo@mail.ru;
Bobina T. S.¹, Senior Lecturer, е-mail: tanyashka1993@mail.ru;
¹ Ural State Mining University, Yekaterinburg, Russia.

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