Mining-induced seismicity at open pit mines in Kuzbass (Bachatsky earthquake on June 18, 2013)

The data on the world-strongest earthquake induced by hard mineral mining—Bachatsky earthquake (local magnitude 6.1) in Kuzbass on June 18, 2013—are reported. Seismic activation of the territory at the Bachatsky Open Pit Mine in 2012–2013 awoke three large earthquakes, sensibly affecting the Kuzbass towns. The authors have analyzed the results of experiments on temporal seismology nets in 2012 and the records of the after-shocks of the Bachatsky earthquake in 2013. The low energy seismic activity is revealed in rocks under the Bachatsky and Shestaki OPMs. It is found that small earthquakes cluster under the center of the open pit mine bottoms, and the larger earthquakes crowd under the pitwalls, and the depth of the earthquake sources is 3–4 km.