Metal leaching from low-grade raw materials in North Ossetia–Alania

The article describes the studies into recoverability of metal production potential by using raw materials which are assumed as substandard for the traditional technologies. The problem of recovery potential of the mining industries–former flagships in the mineral sector is discussed. The aim of the research is to justify the expediency of metal leaching from the substandard metal-bearing raw materials. The research uses the methods of generalization and systematization of the experience gained in metal leaching from ore and tailings, the analysis of the leaching technologies and prediction of their applicability in a specific region. The results of reform and development strategy in the region are described. It is shown that the modern ore processing technologies are unprofitable in case of raw materials with substandard content of metals. The feasibility of profitable mineral extraction by chemical oxidation and transition of metals to readily soluble compounds is validated. The figures of the advanced technologybased recovery of metals from industrial effluents in blocks and in disintegrator are given. The mixed-type technology is proposed for mineral production including high-grade ore processing on a plant scale and metal leaching from low-grade ore and from tailings in activators. The technologies of metal leaching from substandard ore and processing tailings are yet a dead area in recovery of lost potential of mining companies in the Northern Caucasus. The specifics of metal leaching from hard sulfide-bearing ore of the region and the features of the regional mineral deposits are found. The application conditions are refined for each type of leaching.

Golik V. I., Alekseev I. A. Metal leaching from low-grade raw materials in North Ossetia–Alania. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2023;(5-1):135-144. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/ 0236_1493_2023_51_0_135.

V.I. Golik, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Moscow Polytechnic University, 107023, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: v.i.golik@mail.ru,
I.A. Alekseev, Cand. Sci. (Jurid.), Assistant Professor, Professor, Rector,North Caucasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (State Technological University), 362021, Vladikavkaz, Russia.

V.I. Golik, e-mail: v.i.golik@mail.ru.

1. Komashchenko V. I. Ecological and economic feasibility of utilization of mining waste for the purpose of their processing. News of the Tula state university. Sciences of Earth. 2015, no. 4, pp. 23—30. [In Russ].

2. Golik V. I., Doolin A. N., Komissarova M. A., Doolin R. A. Evaluating the effectiveness of utilization of mining waste. International Business Management. 2015, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 1119—1123. DOI: 10.3923/ibm.2015.1119.1123.

3. Bahrani N., Hadjigeorgiou J. Influence of Stope Excavation on Drift Convergence and Support Behavior: Insights from 3D Continuum and Discontinuum. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2018, vol. 51, no. 8, pp. 2395—2413. DOI: 10.1007/s00603-018-1482-5.

4. Kondratyev Yu. I., Vyskrebenets A. S., Betrozov Z. S., Dzeranova K. B. Energy costs reduction on underground electrochemical metal leaching from ores. Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories. 2017, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 419—426. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.21177/1998-45022017-9-4-419-426.

5. Kulikova A. A., Khabarova E. I., Sergeeva Yu. A. Prospects for pressure-driven membrane technologies in mining. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021, no. 2, pp. 22—32. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2021-2-0-22-32.

6. Pukhova V. P., Voropanova L. A. Wastewater treatment of mining and processing plants using the natural products. Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories. 2019, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 134—141. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.21177/1998-4502-2019-11-2-134-141.

7. Evdokimov S. I., Gerasimenko T. E., Dmitrak Yu. V. Elimination of accumulated environmental damage. Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories. 2019, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 238—248. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.21177/1998-4502-201911-2-238-248.

8. Oryngozhin E. S., Fedorov E. V., Alisheva Zh. N., Mitishova N. A. Insitu leaching technology for uranium deposits. Eurasian Mining. 2021, no. 2, pp. 31—35. DOI: 10.17580/em. 2021.02.07.

9. Sánchez F., Hartlieb P. Innovation in the mining industry: Technological trends and a case study of the challenges of disruptive innovation. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. 2020, vol. 37, no. 5, pp. 1385—1399. DOI: 10.1007/s42461-020-00262-1.

10. Lyashenko V. I., Andreev B. N., Kucha P. M. Technological development of in-situ block leaching of metals from hard ore. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2018, no. 3, pp. 46—60. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2018-3-0-46-60.

11. Zavyalov S. S., Mamonov R. S. Mixed-type dry pretreatment technology for gold-bearing ore. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021, no. 11-1, pp. 338−345. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/ 0236_1493_2021_111_0_338.

12. Surin S. D. Prospects for the physicochemical geotechnology in Russia. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021, no. 3-1, pp. 6—16. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_31_0_6.

13. Mashkovtsev G. A. Mineral resource base of solid minerals, suitable for development by methods of physico-chemical geotechnology. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021, no. 3-1, pp. 384—394. [In Russ].

14. Bunin I. Zh., Ryazantseva M. V., Samusev A. L., Khabarova I. A. Composite physicochemical and energy action on geomaterials and aqueous slurries: theory and practice. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2017, no. 11, pp. 77—83. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2017.11.14.

15. Golik V. I. Extraction of metals from tailings of enrichment by combined activation methods. Obogashchenie Rud. 2010, no. 5, pp. 38—40. [In Russ].

16. Golik V. I., Razorenov Y. I., Polukhin O. N. Metal extraction from ore benefication codas by means of lixiviation in a disintegrator. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research. 2015, vol. 10, no. 17, pp. 38105—38109.

17. Ermolovich O. V., Ermolovich E. A. Composite laying materials with the addition of mechanically activated enrichment waste. News of the Tula state university. Sciences of Earth. 2016, no. 3, pp. 24—30. [In Russ].

18. Kulikova A. A., Kovaleva A. M. Use of tailings of enrichment for laying of the developed space of mines. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021, no. 2-1, pp. 144—154. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2021-21-0-144-154.

19. Sharipzyanova G. H., Eremeeva Zh. V., Saenko A. A. Structure and properties of mechanoactivated Samarium titanate powder. Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories. 2022, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 134—141. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.21177/1998-4502-2022-14-1-134-141.

20. Golik V. I., Klyuev R. V., Martyushev N. V., Brigida V., Efremenkov E. A., Sorokova S. N., Mengxu Q. Tailings utilization and zinc extraction based on mechanochemical activation. Materials. 2023, vol. 16, no. 2, article 726. DOI: 10.3390/ma16020726.

21. Bosikov I. I., Klyuev R. V., Khetagurov V. N. Analysis and comprehensive evaluation of gas-dynamic processes in coal mines using the methods of the theory of probability and math statistics analysis. Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories. 2022, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 461—467. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.21177/1998-4502-2022-14-3-461-467. 

22. Chanturia V. A. Scientific substantiation and development of innovative processes of complex processing of mineral raw materials. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2017, no. 11, pp. 7—13. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2017.11.01.

23. Duisebaeva T. S., Vershkov A. F., Duisebaev B. O., Kamberov I. M., Dyusembaev S. A. Prospects for extracting gold and associated precious metals from spent and active blocks of uranium deposits. Aktual'nye problemy uranovoy promyshlennosti: Sbornik trudov IX Mezhdunarodnoy nauchno-prakticheskoy konferentsii [Actual problems of the uranium industry: Proceedings of IX International Scientific and Practical Conference], Part 1, Almaty, 2019, 256 p. [In Russ].

24. Hoummady E., Golfier F., Cathelineau M., Neto J., Lefevre E. A study of uranium-ore agglomeration parameters and their implications during heap leaching. Minerals Engineering. 2018, vol. 127, pp. 22—31. DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2018.07.012.

25. Kuhar L. L., Bunney K., Jackson M., Oram J., Rao A. Assessment of amenability of sandstonehosted uranium deposit for in-situ recovery. Hydrometallurgy. 2018, vol. 179, pp. 157—166. DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2018.06.003.