Experience of trial percolation in heap leaching pile of sandy–clayey rocks

Permeability is one of the key parameters in the heap leaching pile design. Control and adjustment of this parameter contribute to expert maintenance of operational characteristics of the process. This article describes the practice of the field-scale trial percolation in the conditions of a heap leaching pile of sandy–clayey rocks based on the interval percolation method proposed by V. M. Nasber and adapted to the pile conditions. The method allows assessing the change in permeability in depth and in plan of a heap leaching site. The studies show that the piling technology has an influence on formation of zones with either decreased permeability (less than 0.1 m/day) or increased permeability (higher than 100 m/day). The research proves the requirement to carry out piling with regard to natural segregation of materials being piled. The distribution of the coarse size particles in horizontal layers of a pile increases the rate of percolation insignificantly. The vertical zoning of the coarse-size particles accelerates the rate of percolation, governs the flow direction of leach solution and reduces the contact time of the leach solution with ore agglomerates, which results in the incomplete leaching of a useful component. The controllable segregation and agglomeration promotes efficient recovery of metals. The adopted piling flow charts must ensure uniform percolation at the preset sprinkler density and without formation of zones of higher or lower permeability.

Marinin M. A., Pospehov G. B., Sushkova V. I., Pomortseva A. A., Moseykin V. V. Experience of trial percolation in heap leaching pile of sandy–clayey rocks. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2024;(8):51-62. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2024_8_0_51.

M.A. Marinin¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, e-mail: marinin_ma@pers.spmi.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5575-9343,
G.B. Pospehov¹, Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Assistant Professor, e-mail: pospehov@spmi.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9090-5150,
V.I. Sushkova¹, Graduate Student, e-mail: s235054@stud.spmi.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4247-6499,
A.A. Pomortseva, Leading Specialist, Limited Liability Company «Gazprom invest», 196210, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, e-mail: a.a.pomortseva@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7911-7011,
V.V. Moseykin, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, NUST MISIS, 119049, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: moseykin@inbox.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2286-1480,
¹ Empress Catherine II Saint-Petersburg Mining University, 199106, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

M.A. Marinin, e-mail: marinin_ma@pers.spmi.ru.

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