Hydrogeological environment monitoring in in-situ leaching of metals

In in-situ metal leaching, the processes of storage creation, large area of undermining, saturation of rocks with reactant solutions, washing of leached mass, etc., in case of procedural violations, can damage the environment. Therefore, during pretreatment and in-situ leaching of ore, the systematic monitoring of the natural environment is carried out, includingthe hydrogeological environment. The objective of the research is the environmental monitoring in the course of in-situ metal leaching and the minimization of unwanted consequences of the technology. The integrated mine water monitoring results are generalized with the assessment of emergency pollution of the environment. It is emphasized that it is necessary to ensure stability of in-situ leach stopes in the influence zones of leached-out blocks and leach solutions. The in-situ metal leaching performance in a test leaching block is generalized. The technical and ecologo-economic benefits of in-situ leaching are illustrated. The calculation of profit from inclusion of low-grade metal reserves in production is implemented. The conclusion is drawn that it is required to abide by the operating practice of leaching and to monitor and control spreading halos of processing mediums. As compared with other studies on this topic, this article features a more complete quantitative assessment of parameters. 

Golik V. I. Hydrogeological environment monitoring in in-situ leaching of metals. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(12-2):84-97. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_122_0_84.

V.I. Golik, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Professor, Moscow Polytechnic University, 107023, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: v.i.golik@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1181-8452.

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