#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Since 2009, the mine has included two subdivisions: the Zapolyarny mine itself and the Medvezhy Ruchey opencast mine attached to it. Both the mine and the open pit develop one rock body related to the Norilsk-1 deposit.
The mine has complex specifics: complicated mining and geological conditions of the ore body, the presence of methane and hydrogen in the rocks, but at the same time a wide range of high-value components: copper, nickel, cobalt, gold, silver and platinum group metals.
Zapolyarny is considered the most dangerous mine in the Big Norilsk in terms of methane content. In addition, it is quite cold – the average temperature is plus five degrees – and heavily watered.
The mine depth has dropped to minus 20 horizon over the past seven-plus decades. When viewed from the surface, it is 450–480 meters down, and as the mine develops, it continues to deepen.
In the last issue of the History Spot photo project, we told that city buses once operated not only in Norilsk, but also in Igarka and Dudinka.
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Text: Svetlana Samohina, Photo: Nornickel Polar Division archive
