MINERAL RESOURCES EXPLOITATION 
The paper discusses the main disadvantages of strip and underground mining methods and possibilities of eliminating the disadvantages through introducing a combined technology of coal deposit mining. Combined coal mining technology is the method comprising elements of several geotechnologies, for example, underground and strip mining, as well as, possibly, underwater mining, borehole and other techniques of deposit mining. The combined coal mining technology provides for unified layout for opening, development, production and processing of reserves for the whole LoM on the basis of general technological solutions made in advance. Such complex solutions for opening and development of deposit reserves within the opencast and underground mining contour allows minimizing the volume of openings and reducing the time for commissioning, investment costs, as well as decreasing the costs for aerage, drainage, rock mass hauling and land reclamation. Substantiation of deposit opening options should comprehensively take into account technical, organizational, and economic factors [34–37]. Analysis of the options as exemplified by the Makar’evskoe coal deposit development in Kuzbass allows to conclude that the combined method is promising and promotes increasing optimal volumes of coal production, while reducing the deposit development time by about 15 %, and increase the net present value compared to underground and opencast mining options more than 5 times.
MINING ROCK PROPERTIES. ROCK MECHANICS AND GEOPHYSICS
MINING MACHINERY, TRANSPORT, AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Mining transport systems largely determine effectiveness of mining enterprises. The study aim is developing new technical solutions for progressive mining transport systems based on the harmonization of technological solutions and equipment. The aim is achieved through the introduction of new mine transport designs compatible with tunneling machinery, enabling change from cyclic concept of a mining enterprise activity to in-line system concept. The option is considered on development of designs of steeply inclined and curving conveyors in transport workings, including overhead and floor pipe belt conveyors and airdraulic pipeline systems for delivering lump ore from the face to the surface in the mine. At the same time, the basis of the proposed technology and equipment is the method of contactless hard rock breaking by using hydroimpulsive facilities. The proposed solutions allow decreasing mineral mining and processing capital and operating costs.
GEOLOGY OF MINERAL DEPOSITS
The Chernogorsky jewelry scapolite deposit is located in the eastern part of the Central Pamir tectonic zone (the eastern part of the Republicof Tajikistan). A geochemical anomaly of cobalt and nickel of more than 55,000 m2was identified in the territory of the deposit. Within the anomaly, the metals were detected in all minerals, 95% of which belong to non-metallic minerals: olivine, enstatite, hornblende, phlogopite, calcite, dolomite, plagioclase, scapolite, potassium feldspar, nepheline, and sodalite. The deposit ore minerals comprise ilmenite, titanite, rutile, magnetite, hematite, pentlandite, pyrrhotite, and pyrite. The cobalt content is more than 20 times higher than its crustal abundance, and that of nickel is 10 times above its crustal abundance. It is recommended that the Ministry of Geology and the Ministry of Industry of the Republicof Tajikistanconduct the prospect evaluation to assess the prognostic resource potential for these elements. This allows to consider the deposit rocks (harzburgite, amphibolite and albitite) as cobalt-nickel geochemical anomaly. This anomaly should be the subject of greenfieldexploration for the elements. The deposit monomineral category may change to complex polymineral and polymetal category. This will significantly increase its investment attractiveness and economic feasibility.
SAFETY IN MINING AND PROCESSING INDUSTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Mining and sustainable development may be compatible with the priority of measures to reduce impacts on the major ecosystems with severe consequences for the future generations. Infiltration of contaminated water into soils/rocks due to activity of different sectors of mining industry causes increasing concentration of minor and major deleterious elements in natural environment, forcing an economic operator to implement the best available techniques to solve severe environmental problems. The research is aimed at determining heavy metal contents in tailings storage facilities of coal mining operations in the eastern part of JiuValley, revealing mechanism of interaction of the TSF infiltrate with EastJiuRiver, as well as assessing the impact of the TSF on quality of the natural environment. One more aim of the research was to determine the ways by which the TSF components produce negative impact on the soils and surface waters. The obtained results can be fundamental basis for the future researches in the field of closing and maintaining the mining activities in JiuValleyand the land reclamation.
In mining industry safety is top priority. There is a request for safety management, risk prevention and operator training. Operator fatigue and distraction leads to dangerous situations. The paper is aimed at reviewing the issues of fatigued or distracted driver operation. This is achieved through creating models in occupational safety strategies. Hereafter the implementation of fatigue and distraction control system within a pilot project is discussed. The pilot project was aimed at collecting realistic operation data from mining industry in Europe. Caterpillar Inc. offers a solution called Driver Safety System (DSS). When driver’s micro-sleep is detected, the system alerts operator through different alarms directly. Dangerous events are also recorded and classified individually in 24/7 monitoring centre. The DSS was tested at European limestone open pit mine with typical working regime. This paper discusses theories, results and transferable insights of the study.
