Ore saturation with process solutions in in-situ and heap leaching

The article presents the estimation method for the rate of ore saturation with leaching solution to be used at the mine planning and design stage. One of the known factors to influence efficiency of useful component leaching is the velocity and behavior of the agent solution flow in ore. The abundant lab-scale tests used more than 300 samples of lithological and facial varieties sampled on three producing horizons in order to reveal their saturation rates. The tests allowed determining the geotechnical parameter of the flow velocity change versus the flow permeation depth and having the dimension of water perviousness. Furthermore, it is proved that this parameters changes with changing permeability. It is shown that permeability of lithological varieties of rocks at a certain local depth of permeation of leaching solutions has weaker influence on rock saturation rate with the leaching agent than the forces of capillary pressure. The solution flow velocities are calculated as functions of local depth of the leaching agent permeation for lithological varieties of producing horizons in specific occurrence conditions—from finely grained glauconite sandstone to weathered zone of crystalline basement. The calculation results are meant for the prediction of the solution permeation times in perpendicular and in parallel to bedding.

Markelov S. V., Drobadenko V. P., Vilmis A. L., Salakhov I. N. Ore saturation with process solutions in in-situ and heap leaching. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(3-1):307—317. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_31_0_307.

Markelov S. V.¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Professor of department geotechnological methods and physical processes of mining operations;
Drobadenko V. P.¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Professor of department geotechnological methods and physical processes of mining operations;
Vilmis A. L.¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), associate Professor of department geotechnological methods and physical processes of mining operations;
Salakhov I. N.¹, post-graduate student of department geotechnological methods and physical processes of mining operations;
¹ Sergo Ordzhonikidze Russian State University for Geological Prospecting, Moscow, Russia.

1. Markelov S. V. Dinamika massoobmennyh processov podzemnogo vyshchelachivaniya urana iz slozhnostrukturnyh rud s uchetom faktora anomal’nosti produktivnyh rastvorov [Dynamics of mass-exchange processes of underground leaching of uranium from complexstructured ores taking into account the anomaly factor of productive solutions]. dissertaciya na soiskanie uchenoj stepeni doktora tekhnicheskih nauk. Rossijskij gosudarstvennyj geologorazvedochnyj universitet im. Sergo Ordzhonikidze. Moscow, 2002. [In Russ]

2. Maluhin N. G., Markelov S. V., Alikulov Sh. Sh., Kazakov T. A., Narziev A. S. Justification of the rational application of the technology of underground leaching of clay uranium ores. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2011. no. 10. pp. 91—94. [In Russ]

3. Rogov E. I., Rogov A. E. Prospects for the development of the theory and practical application of geotechnologies. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2012. no. 7. pp. 136—142. [In Russ]

4. Markelov S. V., Vil’mis A. L., Salahov I. N. Lokal’noe dvizhenie tekhnologicheskih rastvorov pri nasyshchenii rudnyh kuskov v processe vyshchelachivaniya [Local motion of technological solutions during saturation of ore pieces during leaching]. V knige: Novye idei v naukah o Zemle. Materialy XIV Mezhdunarodnoj nauchno-prakticheskoj konferencii: v 7 tomah. 2019. pp. 56—58. [In Russ]

5. Lobanov D. P., Maluhin N. G., Markelov S. V., Nebera V. P., Saj Dzho Najng U, Ivchenko S. N. Theoretical substantiation of the process of formation of productive solutions in a pore-crack ore massif. Izvestiya vysshih uchebnyh zavedenij. Geologiya i razvedka. 2006. no. 2. pp. 45—48. [In Russ]

6. Rajabboyev I. M., Buronov A. B., Turobov S. N., Saidov A. A., Eshnazarova N. Z., Kodirov A. U. The influence of hydrogeological parameters of ore-bearing horizons in the development of deposits of sandstone (infiltration) type. Academy. 2020. no.1 (52).

7. Alikulov S. S. The research of intensification of the technological processes of in situ leaching of uranium. European science review. 2018. no. 3—4.

8. Alenichev V. Geoinformational supporting of geotechnologies. VII International Scientific Conference “Problems of Complex Development of Georesources” volume 56, 2018, France.

9. Golik V. I., Luk’yanov V. G., Stradanchenko S. G., Maslennikov S. A. Experimental substantiation of the parameters of underground metal leaching. Izvestiya TPU. 2015. no.11. [In Russ]

10. Golik V. I., Komashchenko V. I., Razorenov Yu. I., Valiev N. G. Experience of underground leaching of metals from balance reserves of ores. Izvestiya UGGU. 2017. no.2 (46). [In Russ]

11. Ovsejchuk V. A., Zozulya A. M. Reduction of technological losses of uranium during underground leaching due to dissolution of uranyl hydroxide. Vestnik ZabGU. 2019. no.4. [In Russ]

12. Sharipov K. T., Sharafutdinov U. Z., Saparov A. B. Current state of the uranium extraction at the NMMC. Austrian Journal of Technical and Natural Sciences. 2016. no. 7—8.

13. Medvedev V. V. Improving the efficiency of underground leaching of uranium ores by regulating the parameters of drilling and blasting operations in the process of ore preparation of the block. Vestnik ZabGU. 2016. no.11. [In Russ]