Modeling the process of hydromechanical amber extraction

Abstract

The paper represents a process of hydromechanical amber extraction modeling to obtain input data and substantiate operation parameters of mining equipment to develop the improved hydromechanical technique of amber extraction. Intensification of amber mining process is possible when sandy deposit is saturated by water and air. Moreover, mechanical impact by means of vibration is added. Amber displacement within sandy deposit is considered. The deposit is characterized by environmental resistance when influence factors act on the process of amber surfacing. Amber concentration distribution over a deposit surface involving determination of floating periods of different amber fractions in terms of different operation modes as well as computer experiment concerning the amber grades and its distribution over amber- bearing deposit involved the use of computer environment Matlab. Adequate mathematical model to solve one-dimensional boundary problems for systems of parabolic and elliptic differential equations within partial first-order derivatives on one spatial variable and time has been developed. The model describes accurately the behaviour of different amber fractions within amber-bearing deposit in terms of vibration effect as well as water and air supply.