The study of the nature of gas distribution in the quarry at stable and unstable states of the atmosphere allows to establish “the actual amount of air ventilating the quarry, taking into account certain atmospheric conditions.On the nature of gas distribution in quarries in the literature there is no information. The main factor of natural ventilation of quarries V.S. Nikitin considers wind energy. This is at variance with our experimental data.

Air exchange in quarries is formed under the action of wind energy and convective flows resulting from the temperature heterogeneity of the atmosphere by height. These factors can act together and separately.In the presence of wind and developed convective flows, air exchange is the most complete and active. The presence of only convective air flows in the absence of wind somewhat worsens air exchange, but provides active transfer of harmful impurities from the lower part of the quarry to the upper zone and beyond the quarry space. Sometimes wind energy is considered sufficient for air exchange in quarries. However, the decisive role in the implementation of air exchange in quarries play convective flows, formed due to a certain temperature stratification of the atmosphere.

Local artificial ventilation of workplaces of quarries with the help of partial ventilation fans has not been studied so far, although in the literature there are indications on the possibility of its application in quarries. Experiments on ventilation of individual workplaces in Sibaysk and Mindyak quarries were conducted in November and December 1960.