Analysis of the current state of the slag dumps in the mining and metallurgical sector of «Kazakhmys Corporation» LLP and its impact on the environment

This article presents research on the accumulation of industrial waste, in particular mining and metallurgical waste. Problems and challenges of accumulation and processing of waste from the mining and metallurgical industry. The characteristics of copper smelting slag dumps according to the data of the Statistics Committee for 2023 are given. The composition of slag heaps has been studied, and the impact of slag heaps on the environment has been considered. The environmental risks associated with slag heaps have been studied and considered. The negative anthropogenic impact of slag dumps of the Balkhash copper smelter and its chemical composition on atmospheric pollution is considered. soils, reservoirs. The conducted research has made it possible to develop a set of environmental protection measures aimed at minimizing the negative impact of slag heaps on the environment. In the course of the work, priority areas were identified to reduce the anthropogenic load from accumulated mining and metallurgical waste. The revealed data indicate the need to switch to an integrated slag dump management system that combines modern processing methods with the principles of sustainable development. Of particular importance is the creation of closed technological cycles that minimize environmental damage while maximizing resource conservation.

Keywords: waste from the mining and metallurgical sector, slag dump, heavy metals, environmental impact, environmental protection and protection, technosphere safety.
For citation:

Makhimova A. M., Kolesnikov A. S., Shapalov Sh. K., Ivakhniyuk G. K., Abdreshov Sh. A. Analysis of the current state of the slag dumps in the mining and metallurgical sector of «Kazakhmys Corporation» LLP and its impact on the environment. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2026;(1):71-84. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_1_0_71.

Acknowledgements:
Issue number: 1
Year: 2026
Page number: 71-84
ISBN: 0236-1493
UDK: 628.511
DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_1_0_71
Article receipt date: 20.05.2025
Date of review receipt: 29.09.2025
Date of the editorial board′s decision on the article′s publishing: 10.12.2025
About authors:

A.M. Makhimova1, PhD Student, e-mail: almira_88s@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4607-8175,
A.S. Kolesnikov1, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, e-mail: kas164@yandex.kz, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8060-6234,
Sh.K. Shapalov1, PhD, Professor, e-mail: shermahan_1984@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3015-5965,
G.K. Ivakhniyuk, Dr. Sci. (Chem.), Professor, Saint-Petersburg State Institute of Technology, 190013, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, e-mail: fireside@inbox.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3983-2328,
Sh.A. Abdreshov, PhD, Associate Professor, ALT Mukhamedzhan Tynyshpayev University, 050012, Almaty, Kazakhstan, e-mail: a_shamil-80@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-3385-2181,
1 M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University, 160012, Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

 

For contacts:

A.S. Kolesnikov, e-mail: kas164@yandex.kz.

Bibliography:

1. Tulepova B. M., Saparbekov K. B. Ecological problems of industrial regions of Kazakhstan. Eurasian Journal of Ecology. 2020, vol. 65, no. 2, pp. 45—53. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.26577/EJE.2020.v65.i2.05.

2. Donaev A., Kolesnikov A., Shapalov Sh., Sarapargalieva B., Ivahnuk G. Studies of waste from the mining and metallurgical industry, with the determination of its impact on the life of the population. News of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Series of Geology and Technical Sciences. 2022, vol. 4, pp. 55—68.

3. Sapargaliyeva B. O., Bychkov A. Yu., Alferyeva Ya. O., Syrlybekkyzy S., Altybaeva Zh. K., Nurshakhanova L. K., Seidaliyeva L. K., Suleimenova B. S., Zhidebayeva A. E. Thermodynamic modeling of the formation of the main minerals of cement clinker and zinc fumes in the processing of toxic technogenic waste of the metallurgical industry. Rasayan Journal of Chemistry. 2022, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 2181—2187.

4. Abdrakhmanov K. Zh. Otkhody gorno-metallurgicheskogo kompleksa Kazakhstana: problemy i resheniya [Waste of the mining and metallurgical complex of Kazakhstan: problems and solutions], Almaty, 2019, 234 p. 

5. Volokitina I. E., Volokitin A. V., Kolesnikova O. G. Effect of deformation by high-pressure torsion in a combined matrix on the properties of brass. Metallurgist. 2023, vol. 66, no. 11—12, pp. 1601—1606.

6. Filin A. E., Kurnosov I. Yu., Kolesnikova L. A., Ovchinnikova T. I., Kolesnikov A. S. Description of the methodology for conducting an experiment on dust deposition of mining and metallurgical production. Ugol'. 2022, no. 9, pp. 67—72. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.18796/0041-5790-2022-9-67-72.

7. Serikbaev B. E., Zolkin A. L., Kenzhibaeva G. S., Isaev G. I., Botabaev N. E., Shapalov Sh. K., Iztleuov G. M., Suigenbayeva A. Zh., Kutzhanova A. N., Asylbekova D. D., Ashirbaev Kh. A., Alchinbaeva O. Z., Kolesnikova V. A. Processing of non-ferrous metallurgy waste slag for its complex recovery as a secondary mineral raw material. Refractories and Industrial Ceramics. 2021, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 375—380.

8. Yessengaliev D., Mukhametkhan M., Mukhametkhan Y., Zhabalova G., Kelamanov B., Kolesnikova O., Shyngysbayev B., Aikozova L., Kaskataeva K., Kuatbay Y. Studies of the possibility of improving the quality of iron ores and processing of technogenic composite iron-containing waste of metallurgical production. Journal of Composites Science. 2023, vol. 7, no. 12, article 501. DOI: 10.3390/jcs7120501.

9. Kulikova E. Yu., Balovtsev S. V., Skopintseva O. V. Complex estimation of geotechnical risks in mine and underground construction. Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories. 2023, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 7—16. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.21177/1998-4502-2023-15-1-7-16.

10. Sadykova G. K. Utilizatsiya zoloshlakovykh otkhodov TES Kazakhstana [Utilization of ash and slag waste from thermal power plants in Kazakhstan], Karaganda, Izd-vo KarGTU, 2022, 187 p. 

11. Muratov B., Shapalov S., Syrlybekkyzy S., Volokitina I., Zhunisbekova D., Takibayeva G., Nurbaeva F., Aubakirova T., Nurshakhanova L., Koishina A. Physico-chemical study of the possibility of utilization of coal ash by processing as secondary raw materials to obtain a composite cement clinker. Journal of Composites Science. 2023, vol. 7, no. 6, article 234. DOI: 10.3390/jcs7060234.

12. Bedov A. I., Gabitov A. I., Domarova E. V., Kolesnikov A. S. Investigation of the stress-strain state of domical masonry vaults. Construction Materials and Products. 2023, vol. 6, no. 6, article 6.

13. Ivakhnyuk G. K., Averyanova N. A., Taldykin Yu. A. Processing of chemical industry waste. Chemistry and Technology. 2020, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 112—125. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.15372/khim20200312.

14. Abzhalov R., Sataev M., Koshkarbayeva S., Sagitova G., Smailov B., Azimov A., Serikbaeva B., Fediuk R., Amran M. Studies of the application of electrically conductive composite copper films to cotton fabrics. Journal of Composites Science. 2022, vol. 6, no. 11, article 349. DOI: 10.3390/jcs6110349.

15. Filin A., Kolbina I., Seidaliyev A., Koibakova S., Mankesheva O. Comparison of the quality of gas equipment at metallurgical and coke-chemical enterprises and production plants. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies. 2024, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 2999—3008. DOI: 10.15244/pjoes/177442.

16. Mustafin A. S. Ispol'zovanie promyshlennykh otkhodov v stroitel'nykh materialakh [Use of industrial waste in building materials], Nur-Sultan, KazATU, 2021, 156 p. 

17. Zhangabay N., Suleimenov U., Utelbayeva A., Buganova S. Experimental research of the stress-strain state of prestressed cylindrical shells taking into account temperature effects. Case Studies in Construction Materials. 2022, vol. 18, no. 2, article e01776. DOI: 10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01776.

18. Klyuev S. V., Slobodchikova N. A., Saidumov M. S., Abumuslimov A. S., Mezhidov D. A., Khezhev T. A. Application of ash and slag waste from coal combustion in the construction of the earth bed of roads. Construction Materials and Products. 2024, vol. 7, no. 6, article 3.

19. Mamyrbekova A., Kassymova M. K., Mamyrbekova A. Effect of pH on the electroreduction of Cadmium(II) and Lead(II) ions on electrodes in the presence of surfactants. Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 2019, vol. 93, no. 3, pp. 442—446. DOI: 10.1134/S0036024419030129.

20. Dyusembayeva N. K. Hygienic and ecological aspects of Balkhash city. Gigiena truda i meditsinskaya ekologiya. 2015, no. 4 (49). [In Russ].

21. Kuanyshbaev T., Uyisimbayeva G. U., Zhakenova S. R. Hygienic aspects of the environment and public health in Balkhash city. Meditsina i ekologiya. 2009, no. 3 (52). [In Russ].

22. Saparbaev M. K., Iskakov N. T. Structural features of industrial development of Kazakhstan. Ekonomika i statistika. 2021, no. 4 (112), pp. 78—85. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.26577/ES.2021.v112.i4.08.

23. Abdikarimova K. Current state of Kazakhstan and development of industrial policy in the regions. The Eurasian Scientific Journal. 2017, no. 5 (42). [In Russ].

24. Ermakova Zh. A. Industrial policy as a key factor in the transition of the regional economy to a higher technological structure. Ekonomika regiona. 2005, no. 3, pp. 128—132. [In Russ].

25. Wagner T. P. Historical industrial waste: Global lessons for remediation. Journal of Environmental Management. 2023, vol. 325, article 116415. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116415.

26. Naizabekov A. B., Latypova M. A., Fedorova T. D., Mamitova A. D. Current trends to obtain metals and alloys with ultrafine-grained structure. Progress in Physics of Metals. 2022, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 629—657.

27. Konkabaeva A. E., Ishmuratova M. Yu. Otsenka nakopleniya tyazhelykh metallov v pochve, vode i rasteniyakh promyshlennykh regionov Karagandinskoy oblasti [Assessment of heavy metal accumulation in soil, water, and plants in industrial regions of Karaganda Oblast], Karaganda, 2016, 112 p.

28. Kassymova M. K., Nauryzbaev M. K., Mamyrbekova Aigul, Zhylysbayeva G. N., Mamyrbekova Aizhan Effect of surfactants on the reduction of Cadmium(II) ions on Cadmium electrode.Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 2019, vol. 93, no. 5, pp. 980—985. DOI: 10.1134/S0036024419050170.

29. Kocherov Y., Kolesnikov A., Makulbekova G., Mamitova A., Ramatullaeva L., Medeshev B., Kolesnikova O. Investigation of the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of expanded ceramsite granules made on the basis of coal mining waste. Journal of Composites Science. 2024, vol. 8, no. 8, article 306. DOI: 10.3390/jcs8080306.

30. Chandrangsu P., Rensing C., Helmann J. D. Metal homeostasis and resistance in bacteria. Nature Reviews Microbiology. 2017, vol. 15, pp. 338—350. DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro.2017.15. 

Подписка на рассылку

Подпишитесь на рассылку, чтобы получать важную информацию для авторов и рецензентов.