The optical method of modeling the stress state, as it is known, opens wide possibilities of studying the stress state of the rock massif of inter-chamber and ceiling pillars and other elements of the mining system. Until recently, this method was used mainly to solve the problems of stress distribution around single (preparatory) workings. In this paper we set a volumetric task of studying by photoelasticity the stress pattern in the conditions of the pilot block of the Altyn-Topkan mine.