Makarov, VV, Ksendzenko, LS, Opanasiuk, NA & Golosov, AM 2017, 'Zonal failure structure near the deep openings', in J Wesseloo (ed.), Deep Mining 2017: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Deep and High Stress Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 423-432, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1704_30_Makarov (https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1704_30_Makarov/) Abstract: Rock mass failure at high depth near deep openings often has a zonal character (Makarov et al. 2016). The mechanism of this phenomenon consists in the periodical character realisation of stresses in surrounding rock mass and development of tensile macrocracks at the places (zones) of maximum tangential stresses (Guzev & Makarov 2007). A mathematical model of the highly stressed rock massifs is developed on the base of the defective media mechanics and non-equilibrium thermodynamics principals (Makarov et al. 2013). To determine the mathematical model parameters of the rock mass zone destruction in the great depths conditions, we proposed a method founded on the experiments with the rock samples. Relationships between the width of cracking zones and rock massif strength property have been obtained. Keywords: rock massif, opening, zonal failure, mathematical model