New Methods of Development of Small Volume Diamond Deposits and Excavation of Undersurface Reserves

Abstract

A short review is given and new methods of the development of small-volume kimberlite fields and excavation of undersurface and undermine reserves of diamonds are suggested. The essence of the drilling method is that an ore field is divided into adjacent to each other regular hexagons with sides equal to the diameter of a drilling well. Then of kimberlite cores of large diameter with the centers at the apexes and in the center of the regular hexagons are drilled. The cores are cutted by mechanical method from the cavity of the central well and are excavated by a self-propelled mobile crane. For cutting the core of the central well a secondary bore hole is bored in its center. It is shown that delivery to the surface of a mineral in the form of a core of large diameter allows a broader line of methods of further disintegration, than at a bottom hole. The novelty of the methods is confirmed by the patents of the Russian Federation. The feature of the methods is a possibility of their use as in geological exploration for pits and trenches, and in construction for deep holes and foundation pits.