Alexander Makarov

Alexander has established geotechnical engineering departments for mining companies, trained geotechnical specialists, prepared training documents. Alexander’s long list of achievements includes pillar recovery feasibility with caving considering the geotechnical environment at the Zhezkazgan deposit in Kazakhstan. Alexander introduced an innovative method of pillar recovery in mined-out areas at Zhezkazgan that resulted in 20 Mt of ore recovery using this method.

Alexander also proposed a method and software to estimate the Safety Factor of the Pillars and redistribution of stress following pillar recovery. He was involved in development of a methodology for comprehensive monitoring of mined out areas that accounted for the condition of pillars, rock mass, seismic activity and surface subsidence. He developed a methodology of the back-estimation of ore mass strength in pillars based on rock pressure factual impact and followed up with training programs to instruct on the estimation of pillars stability for the purpose of remnant mining.

During his career Alexander has published more than 120 scientific papers in his areas of expertise.