Influence of Temperature and Water Content on Elastic Properties of Hard Rocks in Thaw/Freeze State Transition

Elastic properties of enclosing rock mass around Botuobinskaya pipe diamond deposit are studied using the standard STO 05282612-001-2913. The Standard is based on an original procedure for determination of static elastic properties of materials under change in temperature or moisture content, which is inprovided by Russian and international standard but is of practical value in mine planning and design in the permafrost zone. A sample is subjected to multiple loading in the range of low irreversible strains, which improves measurement accuracy and enables physically correct estimation of temperature and water content influence on change of properties in a material in transition from thawed to frozen state. Based on the findings, the mechanisms of change in elastic properties of hard rocks are determined in a wide temperature range. It is emphasized that the change in elastic properties exhibits essentially nonlinear dependence on water content.