Mining Waste in the Southern Urals as a Source of Minerals

In the context of the depletion of natural resources, the issues of using man-made waste as a source of minerals are becoming especially relevant. The mining and processing industry is one of the leaders in the production of man-made waste.

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the enrichment of waste from mining and processing plants and tailings dumps of gold ore deposits in the Southern Urals with Au, Cu and Zn, which can be used for their re-extraction, and also to understand the need for the environmental and economic feasibility of their processing.

Analytical studies were carried out using X-ray fluorescence, atomic absorption and energy dispersive methods.

The dumps and tailings of pyrite mining and processing plants and slags of copper smelters of the Southern Urals contain increased concentrations of Au, Cu and Zn. The Zn content is comparable to its percentage content in currently mined ores. It was established that the tailings of the Ulyuk-Bar gold deposit contain increased contents of Au and Ag, which leads to their annual losses reaching 150 and 55 kg, respectively.

Our research confirms the urgency and significance of the problem of development and comprehensive use of the resource potential of man-made deposits, which requires further study and development of effective technologies.