An integrated approach to laboratory studies of deformation and strength properties of man-made soils on example of landslide deposits of Aikhal open-pit mine (Yakutia)

The efficiency of mining the underground reserves of diamond kimberlite pipes in Yakutia is largely determined by the condition of man-made protective massifs. These typically consist of an ore cushion, or sometimes an ore pillar, overlain by man-made altered and redeposited soils formed as a result of intensified weathering and development of gravitational processes (talus, rock falls, landslides, etc.) within the quarry walls. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively assess the deformation and strength properties of man-made landslide deposits formed at the bottom of the Aikhal open-pit mine and determining the safety of underground mining operations. Laboratory studies of soils included granulometric, mineralogical-petrographic, chemical, geomechanical, and other types of analyses. Additionally, experimental studies of the deformation potential of detrital and dispersed soils were conducted. The use of an integrated approach to studying man-made sediments revealed their distinctive features, including a high degree of heterogeneity in their state and properties. The soils are composed primarily of crushed rock and gravel with sandy loam aggregate. The coarse-grained material is characterized by a wide range of weathering and strength parameters (from slightly to highly weathered and from strong to soft). The presence of soft fragments in the composition of sediments contributes to their premature destruction. Fine-grained soils are characterized by abnormally low values of deformation and strength parameters, which allowed them to be characterized as structurally unstable and prone to yielding.

1. Ogorodnikova E.N., Nikolaeva S.K., Durgalyan M.G., Abakumova N.V. Rational use of man-made soils – production wastes. In: Ledashcheva T.N. (ed.). Aktual’nye problemy ehkologii i prirodopol’zovaniya: sbornik nauchnykh trudov XVIII Vseros. nauch.-prakt. konf. = Relevant problems of ecology and nature management: collected scientific papers of the 18 th All-Russian scientific and practical conference. 23–24 November 2017, Moscow. Moscow: People’s Friendship University of Russia; 2017, p. 201-206. (In Russ.). EDN: YRJKWJ.

2. Nesmeyanov S.A., Voeikova O.A. Technogenic formation as a characteristic feature of the technogenic stage in the Earth’s history. Geoekologiya. Inzhenernaya geologiya, gidrogeologiya, geokriologiya. 2020;1:18-21. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.31857/S0869780920010147. EDN: MXIHXM.

3. Huot H., Simonnot M.O., Morel J.L. Pedogenetic trends in soils formed in technogenic materials. Soil Science. 2015;180(4/5):182-192. https://doi.org/10.1097/SS.0000000000000135.

4. Hulisz P., Pindral S., Kobierski M., Charzyński P. Technogenic layers in organic soils as a result of the impact of the soda industry. Eurasian Soil Science. 2018;51(10):1133-1141. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229318100046.

5. Uzarowicz Ł., Charzyński P., Greinert A., Hulisz P., Kabała C., Kusza G., et al. Studies of technogenic soils in Poland: past, present, and future perspectives. Soil Science Annual. 2020;71(4):281-299. https://doi.org/10.37501/soilsa/131615.

6. Sazonova S.A., Ponomarev A.B. On the need for a comprehensive study of the properties of man-made soils and their use as building foundations. Vestnik Permskogo natsional’nogo issledovatel’skogo politekhnicheskogo universiteta. Stroitel’stvo i arkhitektura. 2013;2:98-106. (In Russ.). EDN: RBQSIJ.

7. Lolaev A.B., Ryashchenko T.G., Akulova V.V., Badoev A.S., Tvauri I.V. Complex research of structure and properties of the technogenic soils. In: Nauchnye trudy Vol’nogo ehkonomicheskogo obshchestva Rossii: trudy regional’noi ploshchadki MAEF-2021: ekonomika, ekologiya, energetika otdalennykh territorii = Scientific Works of the Free Economic Society of Russia: Proceedings of the MAEF-2021 regional site: economics, ecology, energy of remote territories. 22 May 2021 – 24 May 2022, Vladikavkaz. Vladikavkaz: Gorsky State Agrarian University; 2021; p. 122-134. (In Russ.). EDN: WQOOXT.

8. Safiullina I.S., Khairulina L.A., Shainurova A.R. Study of physical and mechanical properties of soils for engineering and geological purposes. Historical aspects and contemporary issues. Herald of the academy of sciences of the republic of Bashkortostan. 2022;43(2):22-36. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.24412/1728-2022-2-22-36. EDN: AVIMDB.

9. Gladkov A.S., Drozdov A.V., Koshkarev D.A., Potekhina I.A., Afon’kin A.M. Evaluation of structural and tectonic framework of Aikhal kimberlite pipe deep horizons for hydrogeomechanical monitoring setting. Proceedings of the Siberian Department of the Section of Earth Sciences of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. Geology, Prospecting and Exploration of Ore Deposits. 2015;2:46-56. (In Russ.). EDN: ULFFIF.

10. Drozdov A.V., Iost N.A., Lobanov V.V. Cryohydrogeology of diamond deposits in Western Yakutia. Irkutsk: Irkutsk State Technical University; 2008, 507 p. (In Russ.).

11. Kislenko A.B. Material composition of Aikhal pipe kimberlites (Alakite-Markha kimberlite field, Sakha Yakutia Republic). In: Problemy geologii i osvoeniya nedr: trudy XXIII Mezhdunar. simpoziuma im. akademika M.A. Usova studentov i molodykh uchenykh, posvyashchennogo 120-letiyu so dnya rozhdeniya akademika K.I. Satpaeva, 120-letiyu so dnya rozhdeniya professora K.V. Radugina = Problems of Geology and Subsoil Development: Proceedings of the 23 d International Symposium named after Academician M.A. Usov for students and young scientists dedicated to the 120 th birth anniversary of Academician K.I. Satpayev, and the 120 th birth anniversary of Professor K.V. Radugin. 8–12 April 2019, Tomsk. Tomsk: National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University; 2019, vol. 2, p. 40-42. (In Russ.). EDN: NUDENY.

12. Kurlenya M.V., Baryshnikov V.D., Gakhova L.N. Influence of Aikhal mine partial flooding on the stress-strain state of the ore ceiling. Fiziko-texhnicheskiye problemy razrabbotki poleznykh iskopaemykh. 2013;4:23-31. (In Russ.). EDN: RADOUF.

13. Yannikov A.M., Trifonov N.S., Lepokurova O.E. The impact of faults on the water inflow and gas content of the deep levels of the Aikhal pipe (Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)). Proceedings of Voronezh State University. Series: Geology. 2021;1:104-113. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17308/geology.2021.1/3342. EDN: ILANMX.

14. Kurilko A.S., Drozdov A.V., Kaimonov M.V. Assessment of the possibility of water body liquidation in Aikhal mine. Nauka i obrazovanie. 2013;4:53-57. (In Russ.). EDN: RYEYLJ.

15. Ryashchenko T.G. Regional soil science (Eastern Siberia). Irkutsk: Institute of the Earth’s Crust of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science; 2010, 287 p. (In Russ.). EDN: QKJFJF.

16. Yannikov A.M. Formation features of disintegrated strata in open mine workings of Aikhal pipe deposit permafrost zones. In: Geologiya i mineral’no-syr’evye resursy Severo-Vostoka Rossii: materialy XII Vseros. nauch.-prakt. konf., posvyashchennoi 65-letiyu Instituta geologii almaza i blagorodnykh metallov Sibirskogo otdeleniya RAN = Geology and mineral resources of the North-East of Russia: Proceedings of the 12 th All-Russian scientific and practical conference dedicated to the 65 th anniversary of the Institute of Geology of Diamond and Precious Metals of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 23–25 March 2022, Yakutsk. Yakutsk: Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University; 2022, p. 513-515. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.52994/9785751332846_2022_106. EDN: DPRDTJ.

17. Karpenko F.S. Physico-chemical nature of clayey soils strength. Geoekologiya. Inzhenernaya geologiya, gidrogeologiya, geokriologiya. 2019;5:48-60 (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.31857/S0869-78092019548-60. EDN: HWRXZT.

18. Osipov V.I., Karpenko F.S., Kal’bergenov R.G., Kutergin V.N., Rumyantseva N.A. Rheological properties of the clay soils. Geoekologiya. Inzhenernaya geologiya, gidrogeologiya, geokriologiya. 2017;6:41-51. (in Russ.). EDN: ZRJAWL.

19. Karasev M.A., Pospekhov G.B., Astapenko T.S., Shishkina V.S. Stress–strain behavior prediction models for weak manmade soil. Mining informational and analytical bulletin (scientific and technical journal). 2023;11:49-69. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.25018/0236_1493_2023_11_0_49. EDN: EOTJVE.

20. Voznesenskii E.A. General genetic classification of technogenic soils. Moscow University Bulletin. Series 4. Geology. 2019;5:3-9. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.33623/0579-9406-2019-5-3-9. EDN: NWQUZB.