A model guidance on ground support for underground mines on the basis of quantitative stability assessment

The article offers a brief description of the developed model guidance on ground support for permanent, development and preparatory roadways and stopes in underground metallic and nonmetallic mines, except for coal and salt mines, with regard to geological and geotechnical conditions, origin and composition of minerals, and mining conditions, on the basis of quantitative assessment of excavation stability. The sequence of compilation of the document is described as a setting of sections qualified to ensure safety and efficiency of mining operations through the forecast reduction of accident rate. Stability of underground excavations is assessed both conventionally and using a new method of stability assessment to be coordinated with the 2025 draft code of Federal Regulations for Stability Control of Underground Openings in Metallic and Nonmetallic Mineral Mining. It is recommended that the model guidance on ground support for underground mines covers the following aspects: range of application; basic concepts and definitions; basic provisions on methods of ground support type selection and design; analysis of geological conditions of roadheading and substantiation of cross-section configuration of roadways; selection of ground support type and design; specification and determination of the selected and additional parameters of mine support systems; ground support for mine junctions; ground support in special situations; assessment of failure probability in mines; reference list; table of contents and an authentication sheet.

Trofimov A. V., Rumyantsev A. E., Sergunin M. P., Eremenko V. A., Kosyreva M. A. A model guidance on ground support for underground mines on the basis of quantitative stability assessment. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(12):70-90. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_12_0_70.

A.V. Trofimov¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Director of Science and Technology Development Department, e-mail: TrofimovAV@nornik.ru,
A.E. Rumyantsev¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Head of Geotechnique Laboratory, e-mail: Rumyantsevae@nornik.ru,
M.P. Sergunin¹, Chief Specialist of Geotechnique Laboratory, e-mail: SerguninMP@nornik.ru,
V.A. Eremenko, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of Research Center for Applied Geomechanics and Convergent Technologies in Mining, Professor at Department of Physical Processes in Mining and Geocontrol, NUST MISIS’ College of Mining, e-mail: prof.eremenko@gmail.com,
M.A. Kosyreva, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Project Engineer at Research Center for Applied Geomechanics and Convergent Technologies in Mining, Associate Professor at Department of Physical Processes in Mining and Geocontrol, NUST MISIS’ College of Mining, e-mail: marinkosyreva@gmail.com,
¹ Gipronickel Institute, Saint-Petersburg, Russia,
² NUST MISIS’ College of Mining, 119049, Moscow, Russia.

V.A. Eremenko, e-mail: prof.eremenko@gmail.com.

1. Marysyuk V. P., Darbinyan T. P., Sergunin M. P., Shilenko S. Yu. Implementation of improvement concept of stope support design and installation in mines of NorNickel’s Polar Division. Russian Mining Industry Journal. 2019, no. 3(145), pp. 10—13. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.30686/1609-9192-2019-3145-10-13.

2. Eremenko V. A., Ainbinder I. I., Marysyuk V. P., Nagovitsyn Yu. N. Guidelines for selecting ground support system for the Talnakh operations based on the rock mass quality assessment. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2018, no. 12, pp. 101—106. [In Russ].

3. Sajjad Chehreghani, Hossein Azad Sola, Hamid Chakeri Stability analysis and support system design of Angouran underground mine batching room. Mining of Mineral Deposits. 2022, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 92—100. DOI: 10.33271/MINING16.01.092.

4. Zeqiri K., Ibishi G., Shabani M., Kortnik J., Bilir M. E., Geniş M., Yavuz M., Hetemi M., Bacak G. Preliminary support design for underground mine adit, Artana Mine, Kosovo. Mining Science. 2021, vol. 28, pp. 141—159. DOI: 10.37190/Msc212811.

5. Eremenko V. A., Lushnikov V. N., Kosyreva M. A. Stability rating method for mine openings. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2025, no. 1, pp. 9—19. [In Russ].

6. Tretenkov I. V., Luk'yanov V. G. Ustoychivost' gornykh vyrabotok [Stability of Mine Openings], Tomsk, 2015, 132 p.

7. Litvinsliy G. G., Smekalin E. S., Kladko V. I. Stability procedure and criteria for underground mine openings. DonGTU Transactions. 2020, no. 19, pp. 5—14. [In Russ].

8. LaBranche N., Keles C., Sarver E., Johnstone K., Cliff D. Characterization of particulates from australian underground coal mines. Minerals. 2021, vol. 11, article 447. DOI: 10.3390/min11050447.

9. Morissette P., Hadjigeorgiou J. The development of a ground support strategy for deep mines subjected to dynamic loading conditions. Proceedings of the Eight International Conference on Deep and High Stress Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, 2017, pp. 651—665.

10. Barton N., Lien R., Lunde J. Engineering classification of rock masses for the design of tunnel support. Rock Mechanics. 1974, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 183—236.

11. Handbook using the Q-system rock mass classification and support design. NGI, Oslo, 2025, 58 р.

12. Louchnikov V. N., Eremenko V. A., Sandy P. M., Kosyreva M. A. Support design for mines exposed to rockburst hazard. Journal of Mining Sciences. 2017, no. 3, pp. 86—95. [In Russ].

13. Potvin Y. The need for new technology to optimise the engineering design of ground support systems in underground mines. Proceedings of the First International Conference on Underground Mining Technology. 2017. DOI: 10.36487/ACG_REP/1710_0.2_POTVIN.

14. Gmurman V. E. Teoriya veroyatnostey i matematicheskaya statistika: uchebnik dlya vuzov. 12-e izd. [Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics: University Textbook, 12 edition], Moscow, Izd-vo Yurayt, 2025, 479 p.

15. Risk management — Risk assessment techniques: ISO/IEC 31010: 2009. It is commissioned 2009-10-09. Geneva, IEC. 2009, 92 p.

16. Brown E. T. Risk assessment and management in underground rock engineering — an overview. Journal of Roch Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 2015, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 193—204.

17. Barlou R., Proshan F. Matematicheskaya teoriya nadezhnosti [Mathematical Theory of Reliability], Moscow, 1969.