Physical aspects of the application of nuclear techniques in mining exploitation

The paper discusses the results of investigations made to date in mines on the physical parameters of the continuous media by means of measurement methods derived from nuclear physics. As an example, experimental global and local characteristics of movement of the inhomogeneous fluids in mining pipe lines expressed as a function of the mean density, local distribution of concentration of the solids, their acceleration, and intergranular shipping velocities, are presented. The experimental determination of the coefficient of compressibility of the deposited back fill is described. Measurements can be performed by means of the commercial soil density and moisture gauges with small adjustments. The latter examples are taken from mining hydrology. It was shown that underground waters in mines indicate high variations in the stable isotope composition (2H, 18O). In some cases this can be used to distinguish between static and dynamic water resources. (author)