FIELD: mining, underground mining of mineral salt deposits containing ancient microorganisms in viable state. SUBSTANCE: ecologically safe method of mineral salt deposits mining includes construction of underground mine workings and structures ensuring regular extraction of mineral salts and their concentration. Mineral salts are extracted with use of underground mine workings with simultaneous their concentration at underground concentration plant with production of sterilized concentrate, filling of worked out space and sterilization of return currents of ventilation air. Concentration plant may be used in form of concentration plant operating on principle of thermal leaching of useful component. Produced concentrate may be dried on underground drying unit, for instance, in microwave oven and supplied to surface in airtight shells. Ventilation air prior to its supply to ground surface may be humidified to relative humidity reaching or exceeding values of critical relative humidity of air for the least hydroscopic salt component forming mineral and passed through dust-moisture settling workings at temperature unfavorable for self-revival of ancient microorganisms. Steam source for ventilation air humidification may be used in form of steam formed in drying of mineral salt concentrate. Installed along the route of passage of return current of ventilation air and mineral salt concentrate may be continuously functioning short-wave ultraviolet radiation sources and/or gamma-ray sources. A part of return current ventilation air may be supplied to fresh current of ventilation air with help of underground fan. During construction of underground mine workings and structures ensuring beginning of regular extraction of mineral salts and their concentration, mineral salts extracted from mines may be stored at ground surface in isolated storehouses for subsequent their lowering into mine, concentration and/or filling of worked out spaces. During the same period, wet dust cleaning of ventilation air return currents and their radiation with ultra-violet and gamma rays may be performed at temperature unfavorable for self-revival of ancient microorganisms with location of salt solutions formed in dust suppression in stores for subsequent lowering into mine and for needs of production processes. EFFECT: efficient protection of people from microorganisms found in natural mineral salts in of anabiosis and capable of revival by prevention of their getting to ground surface, neutralization and elimination. 10 cl, 1 dwg
