The fate of the Ivangrad field in the Donbas
In the spring of 2014, the re-development of the Ivangrad gypsum deposit, where active mining was carried out half a century ago, began in the Donbas. The now open development method allows you to develop the remaining pillars.
At the moment, the village of Ivangrad is in the area of military operations: from time to time there are reports of shelling of the village in media reports. Given the social and political situation in the region, the fate of the quarry raises questions.
History and technical data
The deposit is located near the village of Ivangrad in the Artemovsky district. Gypsum layers in the deposit are located in the body of a hill, the geological structure of which is represented by layers of gypsum-anhydrite layers with interlayers of red-brown clays and loams. On one side, the hill has a steep slope: it was there that the entrances to the gypsum mines were located. From above, the hill is covered with numerous craters and sinkholes caused by precipitation and ground water, which was visible even on satellite images of the field.
The issue of allocating the deposit to the use of LLC "Knauf Gypsum Donbass" for the organization of gypsum production has been discussed in the district administration since 2004. The main obstacle was the disagreement of local residents, whose homes are located in the immediate vicinity of the proposed open pit.
In 2009, the administration, together with representatives of Knauf, conducted an excursion for deputies and residents of the village of Ivangrad to the existing quarry of the enterprise, and it worked: public concern about noise, dust and harm to health significantly decreased, and soon an agreement was reached.
"Deputies and members of the public of Ivangrad visited the existing quarry, where gypsum is extracted using a new technology, without the use of explosions. We were convinced that noise and dust during the extraction of gypsum is about ten times less than during the operation of a combine harvester during harvesting. Then the deputies changed their previous decision" (Vperyod newspaper, 2010).
According to the social contracts concluded between the village council and Knauf Gypsum Donbass LLC, substantial sums were allocated, which were used for repairs in a kindergarten, an art school, and a boiler room. By the way, recently the village Council's request to provide regular charitable assistance received a response from the General Director of Knauf Gypsum Donbass LLC A. N. Bychkov, which states: "Social responsibility is as integral a component of Knauf's investment activities in Ukraine as the construction of new enterprises and the development of existing production facilities."
In 2014, the development career began. A mechanized milling cutter was used as a method for developing gypsum. A new thin-layer development of rock massifs was also applied using the 2200 SM Wirtagen Gmb combine.
This technology has a number of features:
- excavation and loading operations are carried out in the process of continuous progressive movement of the combine during layer-by-layer development of the massif;
- the face is not a ledge, but the surface of a horizontal platform;
- milled gypsum is loaded into dump trucks through the unloading conveyor located in front of the combine and delivered to the plant;
- overburden rocks are developed on ledges by a diesel single-bucket excavator of the 345 brand with a bucket capacity of 2.7 m.
Published career technical indicators:
Estimated annual productivity:
- production: 400 thousand tons
- overburden (mid-calendar): 362 thousand m3
Height
-on extraction: -
- on overburden: 4 m
Average length of the work front: 250 m
Career life: 20 years
Open pit area within technical limits: 38 ha
Reclamation area: 49 ha, incl.
- for pasture: 42 ha
- for afforestation: 2 ha
- anti-erosion plantings: 5 ha
Satellite view of the quarry
Career plan