#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Following the discovery of the unique Talnahskoye copper-nickel ore deposit in 1960, which has no counterparts in the world, the primary goal of the Norilsk combine became the development of this resource.
In 1962, the decision to build the first mine, Mayak, at the Talnahskoye deposit set the stage for rapid progress. During geological exploration of the Southern main deposit of the Komsomolsky mine in 1963, geologists Budko and Kulagov discovered a mineral in the chalcopyrite group, later named talnahite after Talnah. In 1964, the USSR Council of Ministers approved a project for the construction of the second underground mine, Komsomolsky.
Initially named Mayak-2, the mine was renamed Komsomolsky on April 2, 1965, by an order from the combine director, Vladimir Dolgih, in response to a request from the Komsomol members of Norilsk. Construction officially began in 1965.
The first explosion to create the pit for the hoisting machine’s foundation occurred on March 29, 1965. By the end of 1968, the first hole at the Komsomolsky mine was drilled by the legendary driller Evgeny Astashin’s team, which set speed records one after another, bringing the first phase launch closer. In March 1971, the first six dump trucks loaded with ore were sent to Norilsk, and the state commission accepted the first phase of the Komsomolsky mine into operation, followed by the second phase. In less than a year, the mine produced enough ore to cover the construction costs of the first phase entirely. The Norilsk combine, especially Talnah, was declared a nationwide Komsomol construction project. By December 1975, the fifth phase was put into operation, and with it, the mine reached its design capacity of 1.2 million tons of rich ore, steadily increasing its potential over the years.
Komsomolsky mine’s second wind
However, after half a century of operation, the main reserves of rich sulfidic copper-nickel ores at Komsomolsky were nearly exhausted. While there remained around 350-400 million tons of copper and disseminated ores, they were more challenging to process. This raised the question: what to do? Geologists helped having discovered new deposits of rich ore, although accessing them proved difficult. Nevertheless, the effort was worthwhile, and construction of new underground corridors began at the mine. In 2020, a significant event occurred at a depth of 950 meters – a junction connecting Komsomolsky with the Skalisty mine was established.
Among various challenges, miners had to navigate the Norilsk-Haraelah fault, characterized by significant rock fragmentation and instability. For added safety, a 60-meter section was reinforced with a gallery of steel arches.
Today, the Komsomolsky mine is again at the forefront of supplying valuable metal-bearing raw materials. It remains one of the largest and most promising mining units of the Polar Branch of Nornickel. The ore from Komsomolsky contains a full spectrum of metals in the company’s product range. The mine is actively engaged in underground development of the Octyabrskoye and Talnahskoye sulfidic copper-nickel ore deposits. The mining field extends over four kilometers, and the underground rail system spans more than 80 kilometers. Current mining operations cover 450 kilometers. The ore field is accessed through seven vertical shafts, four of which supply air. The mine workings are ventilated through general mine depression and local fans. The depths of the Komsomolsky mine shafts range from 330 meters (the southern ventilation shaft) to 605 meters (the cage shaft).
Each year, the mine carries out about 14 000 meters of mining development. After the ore extraction, the mined space is backfilled with hardening materials. The total length of the main transport workings is about 150 kilometers. Over more than fifty years, the mine has extracted over 150 million tons of ore. Today, it produces more than 4 million tons of ore annually. With this level of production, the mine is assured of ore reserves for over a hundred years. According to Nornickel’s raw material base development plan, production volumes are expected to increase by 20 percent by 2030.
Mining laboratory
Throughout its history, the Komsomolsky mine has served as both a testing ground and a production laboratory for implementing new technologies and equipment. It’s often referred to as a mining laboratory.
Komsomolsky has always been recognized for its advanced technologies, highly skilled workforce, and production records. In recent years, several new types of equipment have been introduced, including self-propelled drilling rigs for mechanized support and more powerful mine locomotives weighing 20 tons. The mine has also transitioned to automated drilling and implemented mining-geological information systems and personnel positioning technologies.
The unified operational center, established under the Technological Breakthrough program, employs modern digital and software technologies to monitor ore extraction processes in real-time around the clock and plans mining operations at all stages. Additionally, Komsomolsky serves as one of the sites for testing cutting-edge technologies, particularly new types of support. During the development of the Northern Second ore deposit, the mine replaced its locomotives: instead of using two K-14s, ore is now transported by a single Czech Ferrit, specially manufactured for Nornickel. The mine also features the first anchoring machine in Russia equipped with a two-component resin injection system.
Main value is team
All the achievements of the mine are primarily due to the dedication of its team. Today, over 1 700 people work here, with an average age of 36. Nearly 1 300 of them have received various awards, ranging from state and ministerial honors to the title of Honored Worker of the Company.
Komsomolsky actively participates in programs aimed at improving the social and living conditions of its employees, engaging in socially oriented projects and sports events. The company’s priorities include increasing labor productivity, reducing ore extraction costs, and enhancing working conditions and safety. Looking ahead, Komsomolsky aims to increase ore production to five million tons per year by utilizing additional production capacities, upgrading the northern ventilation shaft, and implementing other technical solutions.
With the launch of a comprehensive project for the mine’s development, we can confidently speak of a new chapter of Komsomolsky’s history, ensuring the mine’s viability for at least another hundred of years.
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Text: Larisa Stetsevich, Photos: Nornickel Polar Branch’s press service and Nikolay Shchipko
