Uncertainties and risks of drained peat deposits mining

Abstract

Purpose. To determine the current risks of development of drained lowland peat deposits of Rivne region taking into account changes in peat properties. The methods. To fulfil the task, an integrated research approach was used, including an empirical research method including a description of the area of drained peat deposits, the area of the drained deposit provided for use for the purpose of peat extraction, and measurements of the deposit thickness by means of sampling; theoretical method of research (analysis, synthesis, abstraction, generalisation, comparison, classification) of stock geological information at the time of approval of peat reserves and the existing state of deposits, as well as methods of statistical processing and display of analysed information of laboratory studies and field tests. Findings. Based on a survey of mining industry respondents and open publications, the author analyzed and assessed short-term (0–3 years) and long-term (3+ years) risks. It was found that the solution to the risk problem for the conditions of existing and development of new peat deposits is achieved by ensuring the extraction of minerals from degraded peatlands. The studies carried out allow us to assert that the risks of development are not a statistical property of drained peat deposits, but manifest themselves as a dynamic characteristic that depends on the presence of geological risk. Scientific novelty. Based on the analysis of uncertainties as sources of risk and the methodology of peat deposit reserves assessment, conceptual approaches to the development and integrated use of drained peat deposits are substantiated. For a representative deposit, the dynamics of changes in the qualitative properties of the mineral in terms of depth and time is determined. Practical significance of the research will allow to carry out levelling of the revealed risks, at the stage of the beginning of development of drained deposits of lowland peat, in order to ensure their management and, if possible, to mitigate their consequences for external and internal mining activities.