Medvezhiy Ruchey LLC, Norilsk, Russia
I. I. Uvarov, Deputy CEO–Chief Engineer
D. Yu. Fedorets, Chief Miner
A. S. Milkov, Chief Engineer of Zapolyarny Mine

Nornickel’s Polar Division, Norilsk, Russia
V. P. Marysyuk, Chief Geotechnical Engineer–Director of Center for Geodynamic Safety, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, MarysyukVP@nornik.ru

The article describes the historic trail and technical upgrading routes of a unique industrial entity—Zapolyarny Mine—which celebrates the 80th anniversary of operation in the sphere of copper–nickel ore production in the Extreme North: from the first events of ore haulage from day-holes by horses in the 1930s to the up-to-date high-tech production facility comprising an open pit mine 435 m deep and an extensive underground infrastructure in the depth range from +252 to –63 m. Geological conditions of Norilsk-1 deposit: gently dipping strata, high gas content (methane and hydrogen), permafrost and limited shipping season, governed the choice of a special technology and exclusive engineering solutions. A detailed description of evolution of mining systems is given: from room-and-pillar mining to shrinkage and block stoping, and to present-day high-effective sublevel caving purposefully adapted for the use of large self-propelled machinery. Actual re-equipment of the Mine conforms with the leading-edge trends: the open pit mine operates BelAZ-75131 dump trucks with capacity of 136 t and excavators with bucket capacity of 22 m³, and the underground mine mostly uses high-production Sandvik DD422IE, LH514 and TH545i machines. Emphasis is laid on ecofriendliness of the upgrading, namely, introduction of Normet battery electric vehicles in the conditions of high methane content, and total transition to emulsion explosives manufactured on site. Development program 2050 sets scale-up of the total capacity of the Mine through extraction of ore reserves from a protection pillar using a combination of sublevel caving and open stoping with gradual transition to internal dumping and subsequent reclamation of the open pit. The Mine’s social policy shapes a framework for the support of mining dynasties: from children’s educational trips and up to the corporate cultural center represented by holiday camp Ulybka (Russian for “Smile”). Complete professionalism of the Mine’s personnel is regularly revered with government and departmental awards.

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