Vol 142

The materials on the geological structure, minerals and the environment of the country's subsoil on the basis of the maps (scale 1:10000000) included in the "Geological Atlas of Russia" are considered. The list of atlas maps grouped in four sections is given, and a number of scientific conclusions are drawn, which follow from the analysis of geological, geophysical and environmental materials on geodynamics, patterns of mineral distribution and environmental conditions of Russia.

The proposed conceptual approach to the development of mineral resources of the North and North-East of Russia is a strategy of integrated subsoil development, based on natural and socio-eсonomic conditions, taking into account technical, technological and environmental factors of development. The main directions of research are formulated.

The methods of predicting changes in the natural geological structure of the rocks of the immediate roof, soil and the developed formation ahead of a longwall (face) are considered.

Natural and anthropogenic factors of formation of redox conditions in watered dispersed rock strata are analyzed. The influence of reducing conditions and activity of microbiological activity on changes in composition and physical and mechanical properties of sandy-clay sediments is shown. Examples of rock transformation at contamination of groundwater and rocks with organic components are given.

Thermodynamic calculations performed on the computer by the proposed method determined the possibility of predicting the degree of sulfuric acid decomposition of iron oxide-sulfide associates of different composition and phase ratio. The high probability of galvanic interactions between the components of associates during their dissolution was shown.

The composition, methodology and results of engineering-geological research under the Marine Environmental Patrol program for 1990-1994 in the Baltic Sea are considered. The results of some model experiments and calculations for the seabed soils in the areas of flooding of hazardous technogenic objects are discussed.

"Knowledge of the past life of the Mining Institute is of universal interest...." D. I. Mendeleev The article is devoted to the issues of formation and development of mining and metallurgical science in Russia. It is shown that the fundamental thoughts about the necessity of higher mining education belong to M.V.Lomonosov and his colleagues at the Academy of Sciences. The outstanding role of M.F. Soimonov as a major scientist, statesman and direct organizer of the first Russian St. Petersburg Mining School, which later became the Mining Institute, is highlighted. The author characterizes the Russian scientific schools in the field of geology, mining and metallurgy, formed at the Mining Institute, and their most prominent representatives.

The results of negative trends in the change of technical and economic indicators in underground coal mining are presented. The analysis of the causes of these trends is given and priority directions of improvement of technological schemes of coal mines are formulated.

The issues of artificial regulation of underground spring runoff are considered, the basic ecological and hydrogeological requirements to regulation systems based on resource-saving approach to groundwater use are formulated. It is shown that regulation of spring runoff should be carried out in the direction of redistribution of intra-annual underground runoff. Mathematical expressions for target functions of regulation are given. The proposed strategy is illustrated by the example of regulation of groundwater flow in the valley of the Strelka River at the Izhora groundwater deposit. By means of numerical modeling it is shown that in the conditions of this field the creation of hydraulic barrage and direct impact on the spring funnel is the most promising.

On the basis of basic equipment, industrial technologies for obtaining chloride melts of refractory metals (used for refining and as catalysts), alloyed titanium (homogeneous titanium-zirconium sponge), high-quality titanium and zirconium powders have been developed. The process of obtaining titanium carbide by magnesium-thermal reduction of a mixture of titanium and carbon chlorides has been studied. The technology of obtaining composite material in which magnesium and its alloys serve as matrix and refractory titanium compounds (carbide, carbonitride) act as strengthening phase has been tested. It is shown that using valuable components extracted from the spent melt of titanium chlorinators, it is possible to obtain materials with high technological characteristics: crystalline scandium, aluminum-magnesium-scandium ligatures.

In connection with the problem of correlation of natural-scientific and philosophical approaches to human cognition the theoretical and cognitive views of A.A.Bogdanov and his polemic with N.A.Berdyaev are critically analyzed. Taking into account the peculiarities of the modern state of gnoseology, the necessity of further development of its methodology is substantiated.

The data on some negative consequences of working with a computer collected from literature sources are described. Recommendations for organizing the work of a display operator are given.

Due to the insufficiency of operational technological control of the process of electrolytic aluminum production, its automated control has to be based on methods of indirect estimation of unmeasured parameters. An algorithm for estimating one of the most important non-measurable parameters - the current alumina concentration in the melt - from the measured electrical parameters with their nonlinear relationship has been developed.

The possibility of choosing the optimal method of development of a particular deposit with regard to the expected geo-environmental changes is considered. Assessment (in points) of predicted changes in the natural environment during mining operations by traditional methods allows to consider underground mining as preferable. The necessity of transition of engineering geology to the status of a science justifying the method of development rather than providing a pre-selected one is shown.

The paper considers the issues of perspective application of pneumatic ballast support in flexible technological schemes of perennially frozen rock formations mining by drilling and blasting method. Recommendations on determination of optimal parameters of bottom-hole cleaning are given.

The possibilities of reflection spectroscopy for the diagnosis of gemstones are shown. Mirror reflection in the infrared, diffuse reflection in the visible range and Raman spectroscopy - an effective complex for identification of any gemological objects (natural and synthetic, free or fixed in the product, any size and shape).

The methodical estimation of the stress-strain state of the salt rock massif taking into account the time factor is described, examples of its use in applied problems of massif state control in the vicinity of excavations are given.

The definition of compression and injection zones (disjunctives) and methods of their field diagnostics are given. The internal structure of such disjunctives in the form of similar elements - cells - is established. Typical structure of cells, dependence of structure on viscosity of medium, orientation of permeability areas in cells are considered. Examples of deposits with such structures are given.

The methodology of calculating the normative strength of backfill in the system of mining with sub-stage ore stripping in diamond-shaped chambers is considered. It is proposed to take as normative the largest design value of strength determined from the conditions of stability of the diamond-shaped chamber vault and stability of the complex in shape and structure inter-chamber pillar formed between the chambers.

The results of field, laboratory and analytical studies of the dynamics of air, methane and dust leakage in the mined-out space of mining areas of coal mines are outlined. Regularities of formation of explosive zones in mine workings and adjoining mined-out space are established.

Three directions of automation of mine electric locomotive transportation are considered: automation of starting and braking modes, automatic system of train collision avoidance and dispatch control system. The scheme of calculation of parameters of the automation system of mine electric locomotive transportation is given. It is shown that during the calculation it is necessary to take into account the limitations imposed by the peculiarities of the transportation network, parameters of mining sites, ore preparation devices.

The method of determining the rational cutting speed of combines providing minimum energy consumption is given. The calculation of cutting speed for AMS machine working in the conditions of mines of Lenmetrostroy is made.

The developed first stage of a complex energy method for determining energy losses in an electromechanical drive experiencing random dynamic loads is presented. The method is based on the combination of calculation and experiment to determine the losses in the range of real loads overcome by the drive. The method is practiced on a serial hydraulic drive of a harvester feeder of the URS type.

The results of computer calculations of energy characteristics of roadheaders with dual crown and auger actuators are presented. The parameters of actuators with minimum specific energy consumption for rock destruction are given.

The design, power supply parameters, calculation procedure and profiling of the flow part of a low-speed multistage direct-flow hydraulic turbine with active grids of rotor blades for underwater mining machines are considered.

The shortcomings of the applied methodology of design thermal calculation of duct heaters are noted, it is shown that the replacement of the heat transfer coefficient of the plant with the heat transfer coefficient of the duct heaters can lead to an inadmissible underestimation of the required heating surface of the plant, which in extreme operating conditions will inevitably cause its freezing and failure.

A brief review and analysis of on-board systems of heavy-duty quarry vehicles developed in recent years in our country and abroad for normalization of dump trucks loading within their nominal capacity and accounting of transported rock mass and the number of full-load trips is presented.

The flow of viscoplastic hydraulic mixtures through pipelines is accompanied by redistribution of solid phase concentration along the flow cross-section. Under the structural flow regime and linear character of solid phase distribution, the concentration in the flow core and in the annular space is 1.6 and 0.8 of the initial solid content, respectively.

Methodological approaches to determining the volume of harmful substances with exhaust gases of diesel machines at quarries are described. The statistical method and the method of direct measurements on stands or in the quarry are considered. It is based on the dependence of harmful emissions on the amount of fuel burned at different load modes of the diesel engine. Comparative results of calculations of harmful emissions by different methods are given.

Effective ways to reduce atmospheric pollution by exhaust gases are application of anti-smoke additives, creation of low-toxic diesel, application of water additives in the form of vapor-air mixture to fuel, new types of exhaust gas neutralizers. The analysis showed that all methods are being improved. Self-propelled machines with electric drive can not everywhere replace diesel machines.

Research and development aimed at improving the technical and economic indicators of conveying, loading, unloading and lifting equipment, which can be used in mining and other industries. New constructions of machines and equipment, methods of calculation and selection of main parameters are developed.