Classification of Low-Grade Copper-Nickel Ore and Mining Waste by Ecological Hazard and Hydrometallurgical Processabilit

  • PDF / 194,307 Bytes
  • 8 Pages / 612 x 792 pts (letter) Page_size
  • 21 Downloads / 229 Views

DOWNLOAD

REPORT


______________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MINERAL DRESSING

_________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Classification of Low-Grade Copper–Nickel Ore and Mining Waste by Ecological Hazard and Hydrometallurgical Processability A. V. Svetlova*, P. V. Pripachkinb, V. A. Masloboeva, and D. V. Makarova a

Institute for Problems of Industrial Ecology of the North, Kola Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, 184209 Russia *e-mail: [email protected] b Geological Institute, Kola Science Center, Apatity, 184209 Russia Received November 7, 2019 Revised February 11, 2020 Accepted April 10, 2020

Abstract—The authors range low-grade copper–nickel ore and mining waste represented by overburden dumps, mill tailings and slag in the territory of the Murmansk Region by the criterion of potential ecological hazard. The determinants of mobility of heavy metals formed in oxidation of sulphides are the content of barren minerals (silicate matrix), pH of pore solutions and exposure to atmospheric weathering (acid rains). The criteria of natural copper–nickel ore and mining waste processability are determined. Keywords: Russia’s Arctic zone, mineral mining sector, acidogenic potential, neutralization potential, mining waste, sulphide ore, geotechnologies. DOI: 10.1134/S1062739120026757

INTRODUCTION

The country’s largest enterprises of mineral mining sector are located in the Murmansk Region, Russia’s Arctic zone [1]. An important technological, economic and environmental task for mining and metallurgical enterprises of Russia’s Arctic zone is increasing the completeness of nonferrous and noble metal recovery from sulphide ores. Extensive processing of the mining waste and simultaneous reduction of the environmental load must be also undertaken [2]. It is necessary to use low-grade sulphide copper-nickel ore and mining waste due to a decline in reserves of high-grade free-milling ore. Mineral deportment features, high dispersity, changes in physical and physicochemical surface properties are natural barriers to the development of nonferrous metal recovery technologies which meet the efficiency and feasibility requirements. Сombination of processing and hydrometallurgical technologies, different energy effects and new collectors allow increasing composite use of minerals and providing effective environmental protection [2–7]. This paper aims at classifying the deposits of low-grade copper–nickel ore and mining waste in the Murmansk Region territory by potential ecological hazard and geotechnical processability. 1. OBJECTS OF STUDY

Cut-off grade ores of copper-nickel deposits of Monchegorsk stratified mafite–ultramafite pluton (Monchepluton) located in Monchegorsk District of the Murmansk Region are considered as natural objects of study. They include a bottom deposit of the Nittis-