ABSTRACT
One of the most important tasks in deep open mining is to provide for the slope stability, which requires an operative diagnostics of its conditions. Such diagnostics can be performed by geophysical methods only which allow obtaining objective information about the properties and parameters of the rock mass state through discrete and continuous in time observations.
The evolution of geomechanical processes in open pit walls with open mining progress can be traced through a microseismic method. The operational control of actual wall sectors (groups of benches) is performed by ultrasonic logging, well logging and seismic tomography methods.
All of the above methods have been successfully applied for many years by the Mining Institute KSC RAS in the open pits of the Kola Peninsula; in particular at the Zhelezny open pit mine, JSC Kovdorsky mining-processing enterprise (Kovdorsky GOK), and Khibiny apatite mines.
