HIGH SELECTIVE OIL SHALE MINING

Several extraction technologies have been used for mining oil shale in Estonia. The quality and properties of the raw material for fuel and oil depend directly on the initial geological properties of the mineral resource. In case of kukersite oil shale in Estonia the calorific value, oil yield and limestone content vary. The paper considers possibilities for selective mining of kukersite oil shale based on tests and theoretical studies. Analyses show that selective and high selective mining extraction methods have a potential for increasing oil shale yield and decreasing losses.