Practice of underground leaching of uranium in blocks

With a relatively good condition of the mineral resource base, there is a problem of providing the metallurgical production of Russia with raw materials. The urgency of the problem increases, because the conjuncture of metal-containing raw materials promotes selective extraction of it, transferring the accompanying ore components to the category of inactive or to waste. One of the directions of preserving and strengthening the potential of extractive industries is the diversification of mining industries into metal leaching technologies. To achieve this, it is of interest to systematize and detail the experience of the pioneer practice of applying technologies with metal leaching in underground blocks. The main condition for the efficiency of leaching metals from ores is to ensure access of leaching solutions to the grains of ore minerals. The options used differed in the method of breaking and crushing the ore mass and supporting the processes of infiltration of solutions through the ore in the store. The disadvantages of the pioneer versions of underground block leaching technologies were tried to minimize by intensifying the process of extracting metals into solution. The results of the development of experimental blocks with reserves, both off-balance sheet and balance-sheet ores, found in most cases a high yield of oversized and excessive for leaching the fineness of the broken ore separations. It is concluded that in order to expand the range of application of underground leaching technologies, traditional methods of ore preparation for the extraction of metals at the site of occurrence need to be modernized, first of all, in providing the necessary granulometric composition, uniform density of ore placement in the store, creating conditions for filtering streams of leaching solutions and preventing production losses. solutions.

Golik V. I., Marinin M. A. Practice of underground leaching of uranium in blocks. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2022;(6—1):5—20. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2022_61_0_5.

The research was carried out at the expense of the grant for the state assignment in the field of scientific activity for 2021 No. FSRW-2020—0014.

Golik V. I., Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1181-8452, North Caucasus Mining and Metallurgical Institute (State Technological University), 362021, Vladikavkaz, Nikolaeva, 44, Russia, e-mail: v.i.golik@mail.ru;
Marinin M. A., Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-55759343, Saint Petersburg Mining University, 199106, Saint Petersburg, 21st Line, 2, Russia, e-mail: marinin_ma@pers.spmi.ru;

Marinin Mikhail Anatolyevich, e-mail: marinin_ma@pers.spmi.ru.

1. Arkhipov G. I. Mineral resources of the mining industry of the Far East. Strategic Assessment of Development Opportunities. Khabarovsk. Mining Institute FEB RAS. 2017, 820 p. [In Russ].

2. Dmitrak Yu. V., Kamnev E. N. JSC «Leading design and survey and research institute of industrial technology» a 65-year-long path. Journal of Mining Institute, 2016, no. 3, pp. 6—12. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2016.03.01.

3. Dmitrak Yu. V., Tsidayev B. S., Dzaparov V. Kh., Kharebov G. Kh. Mineral and raw materials base of colored metallurgy of Russia. Vektor of Geosciences. 2019, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 9—18. [In Russ].

4. Fomin S. I., Ivanov V. V., Semenov A. S., Ovsyannikov M. P. Incremental openpit mining of steeply dipping ore deposits. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2020, vol. 15 (11), pp. 1306—1311.

5. Komashchenko V. I., Vasilyev P. V., Maslennikov S. A. Dependable raw materials base for underground mining the KMA deposits. News of the Tula state university. Sciences of Earth. 2016, no. 2, pp. 101—114. [In Russ].

6. Puchkov L. A. Forecast of mineral-energetic consumption in the erisis-free development of economics. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2014, no. 7, pp. 45—48. [In Russ].

7. Haifeng Wang, Yaqun He, Chenlong Duan, Yuemin Zhao, Youjun Tao, Cuiling Ye Development of Mineral Processing Engineering Education in China University of Mining and Technology. Advances in Computer Science and Engineering. 2012, vol. 141, рр. 77—83.

8. Brigida V. S., Kozhiev Kh. Kh., Saryan A. A., Dzhioeva A. K. Time-space prob-lems in geoecology: An inter-disciplinary approach. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2020;(4):20—32. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2020-4-0—20—32.

9. Chanturiya V. A., Vaysberg L. A., Kozlov A. P. Promising trends in investigations aimed at all-round utilization of mineral raw materials. Mineral Processing Journal. 2014, no. 2, pp. 3—9. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.17580/or.2014.02.01.

10. Ghorbani Y., Franzidis J.-P., Petersen J. Heap Leaching Technology Current State, Innovations and Future Directions: A review. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 2016, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 73—119. DOI:10.1080/08827508.2015.1115990.

11. Matthews T. Dilution and ore loss projections: Strategies and considerations. SME Annual Conference and Expo and CMA 117th National Western Mining ConferenceMining: Navigating the Global Waters. Denver. United States, 2015, pp. 529—532.

12. Fedotov P. K., Senchenko A. E., Fedotov K. V., Burdonov A. E. Studies of enrichment of sulfide and oxidized ores of gold deposits of the Aldan shield. Journal of Mining Institute. 2020, vol. 242, pp. 218—227. [In Russ]. DOI:10.31897/ PMI.2020.2.218.

13. Alekseyev V. S., Banshchikova T. S. Rebellious gold extraction from gravity concentrates and placer tailings by chemical reagents. Journal of Mining Science. 2017, no. 4, pp. 159—164. [In Russ]. DOI:10.3365/KJMM.2019.57.4.245.

14. Wu J., Ahn J., Lee J. Comparative Leaching Study on Conichalcite and Chalcopyrite Under Different Leaching Systems. Korean Journal of Metals and Materials. 2019, vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 245—250. DOI:10.3365/KJMM.2019.57.4.245.

15. Ivanik S. A., Ilyukhin D. A. Flotation extraction of elemental sulfur from goldbearing cakes. Journal of Mining Institute. 2020, vol. 242, pp. 202—208. [In Russ]. DOI:10.31897/PMI.2020.2.202.

16. Bosikov I. I., Klyuyev R. V. System analysis methods for natural and industrial system of mining and metallurgical complex. Vladikavkaz, North Ossetian State University named after K. L. Khetagurov. 2015, 124 p. [In Russ].

17. Zhmurova V. V., Nemchinova N. V. Experience of integrated use of gold-bearing raw material in the production of precious metals. Journal of Mining Institute. 2018, vol. 233, pp. 506—511. [In Russ]. DOI:10.31897/PMI.2018.5.506.

18. Lyashenko V. I. Environmental protection technologies for development of mineral deposits of complicated structure. Mine surveying bulletin. 2015, no. 1, pp. 10—15. [In Russ].

19. Dzhonek-Koval’ska I., Ponomarenko T. V., Marinina O. A. Problems of interaction with stakeholders during implementation of long-term mining projects. Journal of Mining Institute. 2018, vol. 232, pp. 428—437. [In Russ]. DOI:10.31897/ PMI.2018.4.428.

20. Khulelidze K. K., Kondratyev Yu. I., Betrozov Z. S., Zaalishvili V. B. Evaluation of original and techogenic deposits of the republic of North Ossetia-Alania as possible objects of application of underground and heap leaching technology. Sustainable development of mountain territories. 2016, no. 1, pp. 46—49. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.21177/1998-4502-2016-8-1—46—51.

21. Isheyskiy V. A., Yakubovskiy M. M. Determination of strength reduction factor in blasted rocks versus the distance from the blast center. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2016, no. 12, pp. 55—59. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2016.12.12.

22. Soe K. M., Ruan R., Tszya Ya., Tan Ts., Van Ch., Shi Ts., Chzhong Ch., Sun Kh. Influence of jarosite precipitation on iron balance in heap bioleaching at Monywa copper mine. Journal of Mining Institute. 2021, vol. 247, pp. 1—12. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.31897/ PMI.2021.1.2.

23. Abdykirova G. Zh., Bekturganov N. S., Dyusenova S. B., Tanekeyeva M. Sh., Sukurov B. M. Study of the possibility of extracting gold from stale tailings of a gold recovery plant. Mineral Processing Journal. 2015, no. 3, pp. 46–50. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.17580/or.2015.03.08.

24. Krotkov V. V., Lobanov D. P., Nesterov Yu. V., Abdulmanov I. G. Miningchemical technology of uranium extraction. Moscow: GEOS, 2001, 368 p. [In Russ].

25. Meretukov M. A. Underground leaching of copper ores. Part 2. Non-ferrous metals Journal. 2018, no. 4, pp. 41—43. [In Russ]. DOI: 17580/tsm.2018.04.04.

26. Fedoseyev I. V., Barkan M. Sh. Extraction of platinum and non-ferrous metals from old tails of Norilsk concentration plant. Non-ferrous metals Journal. 2014, no. 5, pp. 33—38. [In Russ].

27. Briggs D. Recovery of copper by solution mining methods. Tucson: Arizona Geological Survey. 2015. 10 p.

28. Shumilova L. V., Yurgenon G. A. Role of chemistry and microbiology in mining: current situation and long-run objectives. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(3—1):40—55. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_31_0_40.

29. Lobanov V. G., Timofeev E. I. Development and introduction of contemporary technology of gold cyanide leaching from gravitational concentrates. Metallurgist. 2017, vol. 61, no. 5—6, pp. 491—497. DOI:10.1007/s11015-017-0522-9.

30. Sinclair L., Thompson J. In situ leaching of copper: Challenges and future prospects. Hydrometallurgy. 2015, vol. 157, pp. 306—324. DOI: 10.1016/J. HYDROMET.2015.08.022.

31. Petrova T. A., Rudzisha E., Alekseenko A. V., Bech J., Pashkevich M. A. Rehabilitation of Disturbed Lands with Industrial Wastewater Sludge. Minerals. 2022, vol. 12 (3), pp. 1—19. DOI: 10.3390/MIN12030376.

32. Golik V. I., Dmitrak Y. V., Komashchenko V. I., Kachurin N. M. Management of hardening mixtures properties when stowing mining sites of ore deposits. Journal of Mining Institute. 2020. Vol. 243, pp. 285—292. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.31897/PMI.2020.3.285.

33. Thenepalli T., Chilakala R., Habte L., Tuean L. Q., Kim C. S. A Brief Note on the Heap Leaching Technologies for the Recovery of Valuable Metals. Sustainability. 2019, vol. 11(12), 3347. DOI: 10.390/SU11123347.

34. Robertson S. W., Van Staden P. J., Cherkaev A., Petersen J. Properties governing the flow of solution through crushed ore for heap leaching. Hydrometallurgy. 2022, vol. 208, pp. 1—17. DOI:10.10165/J.HYDROMET.2021.105811.

35. Miao X., Narsilio G. A., Wu A., Yang B. A. 3D dual pore-system leaching model. Part 1: Study on fluid flow. Hydrometallurgy. 2017, vol. 167, pp. 173—182. DOI:10.1016/J.HYDROMET.2016.11.015.

36. Kondakova V. N., Pomortseva A. A., Pospehov G. B. The Comparison of the Russian and Foreign Mining Wastes Classification Systems. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 2021, vol. 666 (5), 052001. DOI: 10.1088/1755— 1315/666/5/052001.