Destruction of rocks and artificial composites is carried out in various ways. One of the most common methods is the impact fracture. The conical pick of JCB HM380 hydraulic breaker was used as the impact tool. The experimental study of rock fracture was carried out on an artificial composite—concrete. The depth of penetration of the pick into concrete was used as the test parameter. The model was based on the model of Professor V. B. Sokolinsky. The model developed in this work takes into account the degree of bluntness of the tool insingle and multiple impact. The system was considered as a two-component system due to the high stiffness of the pick–granite contact (as against the hammer piston–pick stiffness). The wave processes in the pick were disregarded because of the small length of the pick. The pick penetration depth in rocks was calculated theoretically, using the developed mathematical model, at each impact of the pick, and then was compared with the experimental data. The fracture tests also used JCB HM380 breaker and concrete. The penetration depth was determined from the step-frame analysis of video filming of the process. It is found that the pick blunting causes a monotonic increase in the rock resistance to the pick penetration, both in single and multiple impact, while the depth of the tool penetration and the blow time decrease (as compared with the initial state of the tool, by 28% and 20%, respectively).

Deep sea solid mineral resources (SMR) of the World Ocean, such as ferromanganese nodules (FMN), cobalt-manganese crusts (CMC) and the depth polymetallic sulphides (DPS) should become an alternative source of mineral resources in the near future. Reliable and productive complexes are necessary for the implementation of deep-sea mining on an industrial scale, which will be able to develop deposit with a minimum ecosystem load. So, the main problems in technological solutions are the collection or separation of SMR at the bottom and lifting them to the surface. As a technical solution, it is proposed to use a special construction draghead device for FMN and CMC collecting and separating from the bottom. The distinctive feature of the device is a vertical axis of rotation of the drive engine and the working body, which can be represented by a faceplate or a crown, the working element with the engine are concentrically inscribed in the casing with the catcher, which enclose the loosening zone, protecting surrounding water area from the turbulent mud and separated fractions. Nodules and crusts lifting using the draghead is carried out in the form of slurry through a pipeline.

The results of tests for resistance to abrasive wear on highly abrasive hard rock white electrocorundum are presented. The main material of fast-wearing elements of mining and processing equipment-110G13L steel (Gadfield steel) in comparison with other 9 grades of steel and cast iron, including specially developed wear-resistant foreign steels such as Hardox and Miiluks, is analyzed. The studies were carried out using an experimental stand for studying the material wearing process. On the stand the sample was fixed in a holding device and, after being brought into contact with the abrasive, it was rotated under a constant load. As a result of the experiments, it was confirmed that the order of placement of the tested materials in terms of increasing wear resistance coincides with their placement in terms of increasing hardness. At the same time, the wear resistance of the most resistant material – U8A steel after quenching – is about 4 times higher than this indicator for the least resistant components – low-carbon steel 25L, including gray and high-strength cast iron SCH21, VCH35. The wear resistance of 110G13L steel, as well as 65G, U8 steels in the hardened state, is from 1.5 to 2 times higher than that of foreign steels M400, H450, M500, H500. The results of the conducted studies allow us to evaluate the analyzed materials on the basis of their wear resistance and hardness indicators on the feasibility of using them in the manufacture of fast-wearing parts of mining equipment. Based on the research data, it seems promising to develop new ways to increase the wear resistance of domestic steel, including 110G13L steel traditionally used in mining.