Hydrogeomechanical problems in mining

The hydrogeomechanical problems of mining are considered, which deal with rocks and ground water as a single mechanical system. Among these problems are the openpits slopes stability, rocks consolidation and surface subsidence due to ground water level lowering, water inrushes into mine workings, rock bursts prevention by using the water injection into the advance boreholes, etc. The paper contains the basic theoretical grounds, as well as in-situ and laboratory methods for the investigation of these processes. The combined study of ground water regime and rock deformations has resulted in the theoretical substantiation of the hydrodynamic and geomechanical processes within the scope of unique scientific direction-hydrogeomechanics (Mironenko, 1974). The hydrogeomechanical models are widely used now for the analysis and forecasting the extremely important processes connected with the safe and efficient mining operations, as well as with the protection of geological medium. Among these processes are:

–	o deformations of the open-pit slopes and spoil dumps;
–	o consolidation of rocks due to the ground-water pressure drop;
–	o water-and-rock material inrushes into mine workings caused by deformations of the undermined rock mass;
–	o geodynamical processes due to the changes in ground water regime;
–	o artificial hydrofracturing in rocks;
–	o transformations of clay linings under the tailing ponds and other technical water basins