Permafrost

156
The Strategy of Developing the Gold Ore Reserves
under Permafrost Conditions of the Vitim Tableland
V.P.Antonov-Drouginin
(“JV Phonika”, 19, Shabolovka Str., Moscow, Russia; E-mail: gardep@ms12.ru)
Abstract: Vitim tableland is located at the Zabaikalia territory. The region is at all times known
with its gold-bearing placers. Until recently ore deposits were poorly prospected and not
exploited. Nowadays their industrial mining starts. This is very important for social and
economical development of the region.
Rational strategy of the nature management is to be based upon modern concept of the
cryolithozone nature-technical systems. This notion combines: 1) the character of the key
economics; 2) the features of geocryological conditions having decisive impact on the local
economy and the population life support. It is worth to note that some technical solutions may
fit in conditions of cryolithozone nature-technical systems very successfully.
The region under consideration is characterized with thick crust of weathering including a
zone of cryogenic disintegration. Location near southern boundary of permafrost area has
predetermined the frozen ground unsteadiness during Pleistocene that was favorable for
cryogenic weathering and loss of initial rocks’ strength. It is essential that in Cenozoic the
central part of Zabaikalia was not the subject to glaciations and therefore there was no exaration
of fissured rocks. Taking this into account the technical mine leadership has decided to use
hydraulic hammers instead of conventional drilling and blasting operations. It helps to improve
the environment protection, the works’ safety and in the same time to reduce the excavation
cost. Besides such a method let remove the rocks by thin (up to 0.5 m) layers. This heightens
many times a selection ability of the high grade ore.
Long and frosty winters impel to apply a frozen core in the dams of water reservoirs and
tailings disposal facilities. Also the natural cold is planned to use for constructing the ice food
depots of M.Krylov’s system.
In spite of hard frosts, Vitim tableland has significant sources of renewable atmospheric
heat, first of all in the insolation form. It was established that during daylight hours the heat flux
more than 1кW/m 2 comes from atmosphere onto the surface with temperature 0 o С (for example
naked frozen ground). It allows to organize the heat water supply using the simplest water
heaters made of synthetic hooves.
Prospecting and experimental-industrial mining of gold ore deposits give wonderful ability
to studying the thermal regime, composition and cryogenic structure of perennially frozen
ground. In this connection the geocryological station is organized at one of the new mines. It
will serve as the base for geoecological monitoring and a part of international program
“Thermal State of Permafrost” led by IPA president J.Brown.
In conclusion it should be referred to the usage of centuries-old experience of the native
people.
The dwellings for the mine shift teams was fitted out in the Mongolian yurtas (nomad's
tents), where all the year round the comfortable conditions are supported.
Key words: permafrost, developing gold ore deposits, nature-technical system, cryogenic
disintegration, geoecological monitoring.