This book focuses on the mineral deposits from the mining complex of Kazakhstan, including copper ores from the Nikolayevsky and Shemonaikhinsky open-pit quarries, and from the Kazchrome and Konyrat mines in Balkhash. This study assesses the geomechanical conditions of the rock massive, as well as strengthening and reinforcing processes. It develops methods for their assessment and provides detailed instructions on applying the methods. The book also summarizes the latest research and developments in formulating cement solutions to reinforce slopes and suppress dust on the roads of the quarry. The book’s overarching goal is to promote geological and mining engineering conditions that ensure the ecologically safe development of the mineral resource fields. Given its scope, the book will be of interest to mining engineers, researchers, and students in a broad range of geomechanical, geodesic, mining and environmental fields.

This book analyses climate change influences on rainfall erosivity and soil erosion across Central Asia, provides an overview (past and projections) on the Central Asian countries where projected changes in rainfall erosivity and erosivity density are the greatest, and discusses the potential impacts on the environment across the region. This analysis is accomplished primarily using the RUSLE model with past and future climate projections, spatiotemporal variations of rainfall erosivity and soil erosion based on WorldClim, and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) climate models (for Central Asia and separately Kazakhstan). The relationship between precipitation characteristics and erosion has been well established, but spatial and temporal projections of future rainfall erosivity in a changing climate in Central Asia have not been published significantly. Therefore, assessing rainfall erosivity and its consequences can assist specialists and researchers in achieving the best practices for soil conservation. The result of this type of research is all-encompassing, and may reflect normal variations in other parts of the world (for example, the arid and semi-arid regions) and is inherently limited to the Central Asian region.

This book summarizes the outcomes of research results based on field works and recent studies related to soil cover of the dried Aral seabed in Kazakhstan. The purpose of the work was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current state of the soil cover in the dried bed of the Aral Sea in order to study the processes that are occurring in the local soils as a result of anthropogenic impacts inducing soil degradation and desertification (e.g., soil salinization and deflation). Additionally, the book analyzes morphological characteristics and chemical-physical properties of soils in the dried bottom of the Northern Aral Sea in order to know how material properties can be transported during soil deflation in dust/sand/salt storms in the region, as well as to identify changes in long-term dynamics of aridization and climatic parameters such as temperature, precipitation and evapotranspiration in the Aral Sea region. The novelty of this research is reflected in the latest information on the vertical and spatial distributions of soils and their chemical properties in the region containing the dried bed of the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan. Consequently, an updated soil map (soil salinization and salinization degree, land degradation) of the seabed was obtained according to the collected field data and satellite-derived images such as those recorded by Landsat-8. The book is mainly addressed to scientists and researchers who study soil cover in the dried Aral Seabed and its region, as well as soil degradation and desertification in the dried lake playas and aridization in other arid regions. The book will also be useful for students and planners who feel responsible for the sustainable development and sustainable use of natural resources in Central Asian countries.

This book aims to identify the impact of tourism on social and economic development in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan, and to predict the development of the tourism industry and identify any limiting factors for the development of the tourism industry in the Republic as a whole. The impacts of tourism on the region have been poorly understood since the country gained independence in 1991, and so improved methods for identifying and increasing the contribution of the tourism industry to the economic and social development of the region are needed. The book assesses the impact of tourism on the socio-economic situation in the Issyk-Kul region is assessed on the basis of statistical modelling and GIS mapping, provides a comparative analysis of the categories and types of tourism in the regions of the Republic, in particular in the Issyk-Kul region, and identifies factors that have a negative impact on the country’s tourism potential, as well as the shortcomings and prospects for future development. The book's primary audience will be scholars and researchers whose research focuses on the socio-economic impacts of tourism, as well as students and planners. It is expected that it will become a source of information and inspiration for all readers who feel responsible for initiating sustainable development and sustainable use of tourism resources in Kyrgyzstan and other countries.

This annual series of books includes scientific papers on mining profiles. This volume presents multiple aspects of mining technology implementation in several aspects: extraction of coal, iron, manganese, uranium and other ores. Capturing and utilization of coalbed methane by various methods including alternative ones, safety measures in mining, ecological aspects, etc.Specific attention is paid to intensification of mineral resources extraction processes by way of modernizing opening methods, development and mining methods depending on mining-geological conditions. Experimental results of stress-strain state rock massif forecast by means of computational experiments using recursive methods are also discussed. Any mining operations should finally result in adequate recovery of land surface and utilization of mining wastes using various environmentally friendly methods, thus, sufficient attention is paid to this scientific trend. Non-traditional methods of minerals mining are becoming more topical and of higher demand in the modern society. Hence, several papers/chapters are devoted to underground coal gasification and its subsequent processes. In addition, extraction technologies of gas hydrate, as a source of an abundant amount of natural gas, are thoroughly examined in this book, including implementation of gas hydrate technologies for mine methane utilizations with its following transportation in a solid state. Furthermore, attention is given to evaluation of economic efficiency of minerals mining by the proposed methods, their ways of enrichment, ecological aspects and the influence of mining production on the environment, innovational logistic solutions at mining enterprises, and also to perspectives of Ukraine‘s mining industry integration to the European standards.

KWIC Index of Rock Mechanics Literature, Part 2: 1969-1976 is an index of subjects in rock mechanics. The KWIC (keyword-in-context) index is produced by cyclic permutation of significant words in the title of the publication. The text covers materials in rock mechanics and geomechanics published around the 70s. The book will be of great use to students, researchers, and practitioners of geological sciences.

Guidelines for Open Pit Slope Design is a comprehensive account of the open pit slope design process. Created as an outcome of the Large Open Pit (LOP) project, an international research and technology transfer project on rock slope stability in open pit mines, this book provides an up-to-date compendium of knowledge of the slope design processes that should be followed and the tools that are available to aid slope design practitioners. This book links innovative mining geomechanics research into the strength of closely jointed rock masses with the most recent advances in numerical modelling, creating more effective ways for predicting rock slope stability and reliability in open pit mines. It sets out the key elements of slope design, the required levels of effort and the acceptance criteria that are needed to satisfy best practice with respect to pit slope investigation, design, implementation and performance monitoring. Guidelines for Open Pit Slope Design comprises 14 chapters that directly follow the life of mine sequence from project commencement through to closure. It includes: information on gathering all of the field data that is required to create a 3D model of the geotechnical conditions at a mine site; how data is collated and used to design the walls of the open pit; how the design is implemented; up-to-date procedures for wall control and performance assessment, including limits blasting, scaling, slope support and slope monitoring; and how formal risk management procedures can be applied to each stage of the process. This book will assist in meeting stakeholder requirements for pit slopes that are stable, in regards to safety, ore recovery and financial return, for the required life of the mine.