Efficiency of application of heap leaching technology at OAO Pokrovskiy Rudnik

Abstract

Gold is one of the main types of mineral raw materials, the application of which is very diverse. Gold mining largely determines the level of development of a state. The Russian Federation ranks third in the world in terms of undeveloped gold reserves and is currently increasing the volume of gold mining. Currently in Russia there is a positive trend towards the widespread use of alternative technologies of gold mining. These include extraction of gold from placer deposits, off-balance-sheet dumps, tailings of gold mining enterprises, as well as from some new deposits using highly efficient heap leaching technology, which has long been widely used in many foreign countries. Various methods of heap leaching have been developed for industrial application, which differ in the organization of main and auxiliary operations, designs of hydraulic structures and the nature of general technical measures. In the article the project of heap leaching plant operating at JSC "Pokrovsky GOK" is considered. The applied technology of gold extraction from solutions using ion-exchange resin Anionite AM-2B is described and possibilities of replacement of this technology by sorption of gold by coal-absorber are considered. Basic economic indicators for both variants are given.