Aboveground mining waste storage as an ecosphere pollution source and waste exploitability in Russia’s Far East

This research is connected with mineral processing waste accumulated in the last century, stored in tailings dumps (manmade deposits) and adversely affecting ecosphere. The article validates manageability of these challenges toward implementation of the national policy in the sphere of ecological improvement in the Far East district of the Russian Federation. Huge volumes of milled sulfide ore waste in permanent contact with atmospheric oxygen and with water for many decades (more than 50–60 years) persistently produce acid and highly saline solutions and heavily pollute environment. In this respect, the studies were aimed to assess integrated effect of manmade deposits on ecosphere and to validate their manageability to ensure environmental safety within the influence zone of such manmade objects in terms of closed Khrustalny Mining and Processing Plant in Primorye and Solnechny MPP in the Khabarovsk Krai. The research used physicochemical and biological methods, mathematical modeling, systematization, scientific prediction, GIS technologies, etc. The review of the problem connected with mine waste appraisal and treatment includes international experience. The notion of a manmade deposit is refined as accumulation of milled valuable mineral material resulted from mining and processing, stored on ground surface in dumps and tailings ponds occupying considerable land fund areas and being a source of environmental pollution with compounds of heavy metals and arsenic. The principal distinguishing features and peculiarities of the manmade deposits in the study region are analyzed. Waste in tailings dumps of the closed plants feature extreme physiochemical parameters and high concentrations of heavy metals and arsenic. The integrated assessment of the environmental impact of manmade deposits is given. Background and maximum allowable concentrations in soil are exceeded from 2 to 39 times and from 1.5 to 45–200 times and more. Practical usability of manmade deposits is proved. This waste contains commercial reserves of Sn, Cu, Pb and Zn, as well as holds In, Bi, Ag and Au. The propositions on ecological safety of manmade deposits are offered.

Keywords: manmade deposits, mineral mining and processing waste, tailings dump, toxic waste, reclamation, bioremediation, closed mining and processing plant.
For citation:

Krupskaya L. T., Zvereva V. P., Sklyarova G. F., Orlov A. M. Aboveground mining waste storage as an ecosphere pollution source and waste exploitability in Russia’s Far East. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(2):5-21. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2021-2-05-21.

Acknowledgements:

The study was carried out at the Pacific National University and supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Grant No. 15-17-10016.

Issue number: 2
Year: 2021
Page number: 5-21
ISBN: 0236-1493
UDK: 504.062.2
DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2021-2-0-5-21
Article receipt date: 30.01.2020
Date of review receipt: 24.04.2020
Date of the editorial board′s decision on the article′s publishing: 10.01.2021
About authors:

L.T. Krupskaya1, Dr. Sci. (Biol.), Professor, Pacific National University, 680035, Khabarovsk, Russia; Chief Researcher, e-mail: ecologiya2010@yandex.ru,
V.P. Zvereva, Dr. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Chief Researcher, Far Eastern Geological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022, Vladivostok, Russia,
G.F. Sklyarova, Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Senior Researcher, Mining Institute, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 680000, Khabarovsk, Russia,
A.M. Orlov1, Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Leading Researcher,
1 Far Eastern Research Institute of Forestry, 680020, Khabarovsk, Russia. 

 

For contacts:

L.T. Krupskaya, e-mail: ecologiya2010@yandex.ru.

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