Grain size distribution of waste rock masses of Kuzbass coal strip mines

Grain size distribution as a structural characteristic of waste rock and bulk masses in the course of mining and construction works acquires quantitative values in the process of rock blasting and hauling of rock mass. Such physical-mechanical and structural-textural parameters of a rock mass, as the ultimate strength of rocks and rock mass, fracturing, diameter of the natural rock jointing, have a significant impact on the blasted rock mass grain size distribution. On the other hand, such characteristics as stability, permeability of waste rock masses largely depend on the lithology and grain size distribution of the loosened rocks composing waste rock dumps and their height distribution within a dump. The paper describes the findings of the study of the grain size distribution of waste rock masses of Kuzbass coal strip mines and the features of its spatial variations within the masses. The textures of the bulk masses and physical and technical properties of the stacked rocks were studied both at the Kuzbass waste rock sites and in laboratory conditions. The grain size distribution of the fine lump part of the dumps with the lump size up to 50 mm was investigated by sieve method according to GOST 12536–2014, and the medium and large lump part was studied using oblique photoplanimetry. The field observations showed that the bottom part of the rock dumps, dumped by peripheral bulldozer or excavator methods was composed of coarse fraction with average lump size of: d_cr = 0.8–1 m, while the middle part, of rock lumps of d_cr = 0.4–0.6 m, and the upper part, mainly of fine fraction with lump size of less than 0.1 m. The ratio of length, width, and thickness of the blasted rock lumps was 1:0.85:0.8, which corresponds to elongated-flattened shape of the lumps. This requires significant number of coordinates for describing the lump positions in the rock mass, as well as taking into account the moments of inertia when modeling the motion of such lumps until they reach a stable position. Up-to-date non-commercial or commercial software and corresponding hardware can be used to take into account non-isometric shape of the lumps when modeling their motion.

rocks, waste dump, loose medium, grain size distribution, fracturing, geotechnical calculations, Kuzbass

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