Skip to main content
Log in

Mineralogical Examination of Gold Processing Plant Tailings

  • Mineral Dressing
  • Published:
Journal of Mining Science Aims and scope

Abstract

The results of the mineralogical examination of old sulphide and oxidized gold ore tailings of a mining and processing plant in the Krasnoyarsk Territory are presented. Secondary mineral forms of antimony, namely, antimony bloom Sb2O3 and tripuhyite FeSBO4, as well as iron are found. Gypsum in the waste is a newly formed phase, undetected in the initial ore, revealed in sulphide and mixed ore tailings and is absent in oxidized ore tailings. The key valuable component is gold represented by fine accretions in arsenopyrite, free gold size is not more than a few first microns.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Boltyrov, V.B., Seleznev, S.G., and Storozhenko, L.A., Environmental Effects of Long-Term Storage of Man-Made Objects “Dumps of the Allarechensk Deposit” (Pechenga District of the Murmansk Region), Izv. UGGU, 2015, no. 4 (40), pp. 27–34.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Masloboev, V.А., Seleznev, S.G., Makarov, D.V., and Svetlov, А.V., Assessment of Eco-Hazard of Copper-Nickel Ore Mining and Processing Waste, J. Min. Sci., 2014, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 138–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Edraki, M., Baumgartl, T., Manlapig, E., Bradshaw, D., Franks, D.M., and Moran, Ch.J., Designing Mine Tailings for Better Environmental, Social and Economic Outcomes: A Review of Alternative Approaches, J. Cleaner Production, 2014, vol. 84, pp. 411–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Carmo, F.F., Kamino, L.H.Y., do Carmo, F.F., et al., Fundão Tailings Dam Failures: the Environment Tragedy of the Largest Technological Disaster of Brazilian Mining in Global Context, Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, 2017, vol. 15, pp. 145–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Gurskaya, L.I, Snezhko, О.N., Vasil’ev, S.P., and Molchanov, А.V., Technogenic Deposits of Platinum Metals—A New Source of Valuable Production Raw Materials, Regional’naya geologiya i metallogeniya, 2016, no. 66, pp. 80–90.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Salinas-Rodríguez, E., Hernández-Ávila, J., Rivera-Landero, I., et al., Leaching of Silver Contained in Mining Tailings, using Sodium Thiosulfate: A Kinetic Study, Hydrometallurgy, 2016, vol. 160, pp. 6–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chernyshov, N.М., Technogenic Gold-Platinum Type of Deposits in Kursk Magnetic Anomaly (Central Russia), Vestn. VGU, Series: Geology, 2010, no. 1, pp. 175–191.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Tverdov, А.А., Zhura, А.V., and Sokolova, М.А., Problems of Comprehensive Use of Mineral Resources and Development of Technogenic Deposits, Ratsionalnoye osvoenie nedr, 2013, no. 5, pp. 16–20.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Movsesyan R.S., Mkrtchyan G.А., and Movsisyan А.I., Prospects for Commercial Development of Technogenic Mineral Resources in the Republic of Armenia, Izv. NAN RA, Nauki o Zemle, 2014, vol. 67, no. 1, pp. 30–39.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ezhov, A.I., Estimate of Technogenic Raw Materials in the Russian Federation (Solid Commercial Minerals), Gornye Nauki i Tekhnologii, 2016, no. 4, pp. 62–75.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ivannikov, S.I., Epov, D.G., Krysenko, G.F., et al., Comprehensive Approach to Gold Recovery from Man-Made Gold Mining Sites of the Russian Far East, Vestn. ONZ RAN, 2013, vol. 5, NZ1001, DOI: 10.2205/2013NZ000115.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Vasil’ev Е.А., Rudoy, G.N., and Savin, А.G., Prospects for Processing Old Tailings from Gaya GOK, Tsvet. Metally, 2014, no. 10, pp. 25–28.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bogdanovich, А.V., Vasil’ev А.М., Shneerson, Ya.М., and Pleshkov, М.А., Gold Recovery from Old Tailings of Sulfide Copper-Zinc Ores, Obogashch. Rud, 2013, no. 5, pp. 38–44.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Litvintsev, V.S., Resource Potential of Placer Mining Waste, J. Min. Sci., 2013, vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 118–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Mirzekhanov, G.S., Estimation Criteria of Resource Potential of Man-Made Gold Placers in the Russian Far East, Vestn. KRAUNTS. Nauki oZzemle, 2014, no. 1, pp. 139–150.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Aleksandrova, T.N., Aleksandrov, A.V., Litvinova, N.M., and Bogomyakov, R.V., Possibility of Developing Gold Mining Waste Using Ore Processing Technology, GIAB, 2013, no. 5, pp. 65–69.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Bortnikova, S.B., Gas’kova, O.L., and Bessonova, Е.P., Khimiya tekhnogennykh sistem (Chemistry of Man-Made Systems), Novosibirsk: Geo, 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bortnikova, S., Bessonova, E., and Gaskova, O., Geochemistry of Arsenic and Metals in Stored Tailings of a Co-Ni Arsenide-Ore, Khovu-Aksy Area, Russia, Appl. Geochem., 2012, vol. 27, no. 11, pp. 2238–2250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Craw, D., Geochemical Changes in Mine Tailings during a Transition to Pressure-Oxidation Process Discharge, Macraes Mine, New Zealand, J. Geochem. Exploration, 2003, vol. 80, no. 1, pp. 81–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Smuda, J., Dold, B., Spangenberg, J.E., Friese, K., Kobek, M.R., Bustos, C.A., Pfeifer, H.R., Element Cycling during the Transition from Alkaline to Acidic Environment in an Active Porphyry Copper Tailings Impoundment, Chuquicamata, Chile, J. Geochem. Exploration, 2014, vol. 140, pp. 23–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Lindsay, M.B.J., Moncur, M.C., Bain, J.G., et al., Geochemical and Mineralogical Aspects of Sulfide Mine Tailings, Appl. Geochem., 2015, vol. 57, pp. 157–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Jackson, L.M. and Parbhakar-Fox, A., Mineralogical and Geochemical Characterization of the Old Tailings Dam, Australia: Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Water Cover for Longterm AMD Control, Appl. Geochem., 2016, vol. 68, pp. 64–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research jointly with the Krasnoyarsk Territorial Foundation for Supporting Scientific and Technical Activity, and by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, projects nos. 18-45-242001 and V.46.1.1.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. I. Bragin.

Additional information

Russian Text © The Author(s), 2019, published in Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, 2019, No. 1, pp. 163–171.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bragin, V.I., Makarov, V.A., Usmanova, N.F. et al. Mineralogical Examination of Gold Processing Plant Tailings. J Min Sci 55, 149–156 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062739119015407

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062739119015407

Keywords

Navigation