Sustainable development of mining processes based on mechanochemical leaching of ore

Abstract

Intensive development of the mining and metallurgical complex results in considerable volumes of waste materials, more than half of which are produced by mining enterprises. Modern mining and processing can provide non-waste production only if mineral extraction and grade recovery from natural and technogenic mineral materials are regarded as a single technological process and the Earth surface preservation becomes a priority in determining parameters of process integration. The research is aimed at improving of the technology of metal leaching in a disintegrator through complex application of metallic ore concentration tailings. A radical step of reducing mining waste hazards is their utilization through introducing technogenic reserves of metallic ore concentration tailings into production, thus creating a new raw material base for the mining industry. Substantiation of the concept of non-waste utilization of off-grade mineral materials depends on the amount of integration of chemical leaching and mechanochemical activation in the disintegrator and is achieved by means of modern information technologies.