Abstract
<jats:p>Relevance. Conditions of sylvite mining at the Verkhnekamskoye salt deposit are characterized with a dusty environment and pronounced folding of the seams, which makes accurate mining operations withing the seam boundaries difficult thus increasing the chances of excessive dilution with the host rock. Objectives: A method of marking the sylvinite seam using its natural radioactive emissions was investigated to improve positioning accuracy of the continuous miners. Methods. The main research method is based on measuring the potassium-40 isotope content in sylvinite. Results. The paper discusses the experience of marking the sylvinite layer using a scintillation detector. Laboratory and full-scale testing of the detector was carried out in conditions of an operating mine. A relationship between the KCl content and the level of γ-radiation was established, which made it possible to determine the boundaries of productive seams and host rocks. Conclusions. It was established that marking the sylvinite layer using the selected method proved to be efficient and can be introduced into the navigation system of continuous miners, which, in combination, will help not only to control progressing along the specified coordinates, but also to ensure complete extraction of the productive seams.</jats:p>