The features of changing the properties of quaternary deposits in the sides of the quarry under the influence of climatic factors during rainfall and drying of the soil as a result of drainage and evaporation of moisture are considered. Using the methods of seismodeformation monitoring based on the records of seismic signals and metric measurements of the displacement of the reference points on the edges of the side in the fault zone, the limits of the change in the hodographs and the rate of displacement of the soil during its moistening and drying are determined. The spread of hodographs in the range from 15 to 25% is essential for the development of erosion and requires control to prevent emergencies. These results indicate the natural self-organization of the destruction of rocks of the marginal part of the side of the quarry under the influence of seasonal natural and climatic factors due to changes in the strength of the near-surface layers of the soil.

Mines operate high-precision electronic priming systems, therefore it is required to improve selection of blasting pattern parameters with regard to structural and mechanical properties of rocks and their variability within a treated area in block rock mass with a view to enhancing breakage efficiency. The discussed approach is based on determination of structure, jointing characteristic and strength of rocks using data of ground-based laser scanning and engineering seismics, as well as detonation velocities of explosives—from on-site measurements taken by icroTrapTM VOD/Data Recorder. It is shown that strength, acoustic acoustic impedance and blast wave velocity should be taken into account when selecting lines of burden, structures of explosive charges, blast patterns, stemming arrangement and delay intervals with regard to structural features of block rock mass. Both measurement tools and experimental data obtained in the seismic deformation monitoring of geomechanical and geodynamic behavior of rocks in mines are applicable to attain the objective. Design of blasting patterns using the listed parameters allows optimizing delay intervals. The method application is described in terms of limestone and magnetite production.

In terms of Tashtagol Mine, the authors address the issues connected with the configuration and surface of cavities formed by blasts of explosive charges in high-stress rock mass structured as a hierarchy of blocks. Laser scanning of a cavity offers the data on linear and angular characteristics of the cavity surface. The analysis of the surface structure provides details of the rock mass block hierarchy, which essentially influences formation of the roof and sidewalls of the cavity. Individual areas of the cavity surface are described with the help of approximation of measured coordinates of the cavity boundary in the cross sections using the second order curves, including circumferences and ellipses the radius of which are canonically connected with the phenomenon of zonal disintegration of rock mass.

Due to a technical error volume 53, issue 4, 2017 has been published online with an incorrect cover data. The issue has erroneously been distributed with the cover date July 2018. The correct caver date for volume 53, issue 4 should be July 2017.

Obtained in underground excavation in Tashtagol Mine, Kemerovo Region, and in dislocation area in karst in Iskitim marble quarry, Novosibirsk Region, the experimental data give evidence of the change in the velocity of seismic wave packets depending on energy of mechanical impulse inputs when elastic waves propagate in the system of mineral body–fault zone–mineral body. It is shown in the article that the resulting dependences between first arrivals of seismic wave packets and energy of impact (source) conform with the kinematic relationship typical for pendulum waves in high-stress structured geomedia.

The article describes the integrated method and results of deformation–wave monitoring of temporal lining in railway tunneling in complex geological conditions in the south of Western Siberia. 3D geometric parameters of temporal lining are measured by laser scanning at a span of 3 months, which enables comparing actual 3D models of temporal lining and rocks in reinforced tunnel section. Based on the data obtained at various times of observation, shifting of unmarked points of temporal lining and deformation of tunnel walls and arch were determined. High density scanning allows remote identification of comparatively small zones where structure of rocks and state of lining are changed. The authors analyze seismic vibration of rocks under hammering, which shows that peak spectral densities of elastic wave in rocks are conditioned by low-frequency (pendulum) wave generated at siltstone and coal interface, and are related with dimension of joints and with mechanical properties of rocks.

The article discusses the interaction between the groups of explosive charges installed at the free surface of rock exposure along the open pit mine perimeter. The spectrum analysis of the explosion-induced seismic waves shows that peak density frequencies of the seismic waves are governed by the formation of the canonical low-frequency components as a result of successive actuation of explosive charges, and are conditioned by hierarchical block structure of blasted rock masses.