Economic Geology
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Energy (miscellaneous)
Mineral resources as natural capital can be transformed into human, social and physical capital that guarantees the sustainable development of a country, exclusively through professional public management. Public management of a country's mineral resource potential is seen as an element of transnational governance which provides for the use of laws, rules and regulations within the jurisdictional and sectoral capabilities of the state, minimising its involvement as a producer of minerals. The features of the ideology of economic liberalism, which polarises the societies of mineral-producing countries and denies the role of the state as a market participant, have been studied. The analysis of the influence of the radical new order of neoliberal world ideology on the development of the extractive sector and state regulation has been presented.
The technogenic impact of mining on the environment is analyzed and the transition to geotechnology with stowing to reduce the impact of mining operations is proposed. The results of the research work devoted to the justification of parameters of the development of salt deposits with stowing and the definition of the influence of stowing on the dynamics of deformation of the underworked rock massif are presented. The relevance of research aimed at creating a safe and efficient technology for the transition from systems with natural maintenance of stoping space to systems with stowing has been substantiated. The results of studies on qualitative and quantitative assessment of the state of the rock massif (by the finite element method using FLAC3D software), worked out by combines, are given and the dynamics of the impact of mining operations on the rock mass and the change in the maximum stresses during the hardening of the stowing in the chambers are revealed. The numerical modeling method is used to analyze the conditions of change in the state of the underworked rock mass, to establish the mechanisms of its deformation at various stages of development. It is recommended to use this approach for geotechnical assessment of the rock mass state in conditions of using development systems of different classes.
Radial charts were commonly used in the industry to allow retrospective assessment of technological parameters. Today it is relevant to digitize the obtained data in order to simplify the automation of technological processes. Digitization of radial charts by means of standard methods is carried out with the help of human labor at significant time costs. The article proposes an automated method for digitizing radial charts using software, developed in the LabVIEW programming environment. The results of processing radial charts are displayed on the screen in numerical and graphical form, and can also be exported to a file (for example, to Notepad or MS Excel). The presented technique can be applied to images obtained on a color or black-and-white scanner, which minimizes geometric distortions, associated with the conversion of a paper document into electronic form, and ensures recognition quality of the clear plot line with an average relative error of up to 3 %. In case of ink fading or perspective photos of the diagram, the value of relative error can reach 8 %, as a result of which additional manual correction of the data will be required.
Determining formation pressure in the well extraction zones is a key task in monitoring the development of hydrocarbon fields. Direct measurements of formation pressure require prolonged well shutdowns, resulting in underproduction and the possibility of technical problems with the subsequent start-up of wells. The impossibility of simultaneous shutdown of all wells of the pool makes it difficult to assess the real energy state of the deposit. This article presents research aimed at developing an indirect method for determining the formation pressure without shutting down the wells for investigation, which enables to determine its value at any time. As a mathematical basis, two artificial intelligence methods are used – multidimensional regression analysis and a neural network. The technique based on the construction of multiple regression equations shows sufficient performance, but high sensitivity to the input data. This technique enables to study the process of formation pressure establishment during different periods of deposit development. Its application is expedient in case of regular actual determinations of indicators used as input data. The technique based on the artificial neural network enables to reliably determine formation pressure even with a minimal set of input data and is implemented as a specially designed software product. The relevant task of continuing the research is to evaluate promising prognostic features of artificial intelligence methods for assessing the energy state of deposits in hydrocarbon extraction zones.
Equipment with diesel engines is used in all mining enterprises. Monorail diesel transport is of great importance in coal mines, as it facilitates the heavy labor of workers when transporting materials and people, fixing mining workings, refueling and repairing equipment, which leads to an increase in the speed of tunneling operations. Reducing the concentration of harmful gases from diesel-hydraulic locomotives at the workplaces of coal mine locomotive drivers can be ensured by the use of additives to diesel fuel that reduce the volume of harmful gas emissions during the operation of diesel-hydraulic locomotives. Additive ester-based on vegetal oil in the amount of 5 mass % in a mixture with hydrotreated diesel fuel reduces the concentration of carbon monoxide by 19-60 %, nitrogen oxides by 17-98 %, depending on the operating mode of the engine, the smoke content of the exhaust gases is reduced to 71 %. There is an improvement in working conditions at the workplace of the driver of a diesel-hydraulic locomotive by the chemical factor due to the reduction of the class of working conditions from 3.1. to 2.
Theoretical and applied aspects of scenario analysis of investment projects of enterprises in the mineral resource sector of the economy are considered, its advantages and disadvantages are analyzed. Taking into account the organizational and economic features of mineral resources management, a number of new modifications of the scenario analysis method, aimed at solving an urgent problem - reducing the information uncertainty in assessing the expected efficiency and risk of investment projects, are proposed. The peculiarity of the proposed new modifications is the use of the interval-probabilistic approach in the implementation of the scenario analysis procedure. This approach is based on a moderately pessimistic system of preferences in obtaining point values of the investment project initial parameters. Fishburn estimates and the hierarchy analysis method were used to reduce subjective uncertainty. The maximum likelihood values in the sense of the maximum a priori probability are used as expected estimates. An additional indicator of risk assessment, which characterizes the probability of the event that the net present value of the project will take a value less than the specified one, is proposed. When analyzing one project, this indicator is more informative than the standard deviation. A statistical hypothesis was tested on the improvement of the validity of investment decisions developed using the modified scenario analysis method compared to the standard method.
A methodology has been developed and a procedure for selecting homogeneous groups has been implemented using a set of parameters characterizing the properties of formation fluids, layering conditions, geological and physical properties of formations at different levels of the hierarchy. An algorithm for identifying deposits for monitoring and justifying measures to improve the efficiency of development management is proposed. A justification for the selection of associative groups of long-term developed objects using the parameters of geological heterogeneity according to different tectonic-stratigraphic elements is presented. To reduce the degree of uncertainty in the evaluation of objects by the degree and nature of geological heterogeneity, the parameters reflecting the degree of uncertainty of the system using complex characteristics are proposed. For different deposit associations, a different influence of the features of the object structure on the degree of their division has been established. In the process of deposit drilling, as additional information about development objects is obtained, it is necessary to specify the nature of the distinguished groups of objects first of all based on the use of characteristics of geological heterogeneity. Comparison of various grouping options shows the need to take into account the geological heterogeneity of objects during their drilling. The identification of groups of objects using a limited number of parameters is approximate, but at the stage of drafting the first design documents, it is possible to solve certain tasks aimed at determining the strategy for the development of deposits
The paper presents the results of investigations on the influence of low bottomhole temperatures in the intervals of productive formations on the technological properties of solutions used for drilling and completion of wells in order to determine the possibility of increasing gas recovery coefficient at the field of the “Sila Sibiri” gas pipeline. The analysis of technological measures determining the quality of the productive horizon drilling-in was carried out. It was found out that the dispersion of bridging agent in the composition of the hydrocarbon-based drilling mud selected from the existing methods does not have significant influence on the change in the depth of filtrate penetration into the formation in conditions of low bottomhole temperatures. The main reason for the decrease in the near-bottomhole zone permeability was found out – the increase in plastic viscosity of the dispersion medium of the hydrocarbon-based drilling mud under the influence of low bottomhole temperatures. A destructor solution for efficient wellbore cleaning from hydrocarbon-based solution components in conditions of low bottomhole temperatures was developed. The paper presents the results of laboratory investigations of hydrocarbon-based drilling mud and the developed destructor solution, as well as its pilot field tests. The mechanism of interaction between the destructor solution and the filter cake of the hydrocarbon-based drilling mud ensuring the reduction of the skin factor in the conditions of the geological and hydrodynamic structure of Botuobinsky, Khamakinsky and Talakhsky horizons of the Chayandinskoye oil and gas condensate field has been scientifically substantiated.
In accordance with the Energy Strategy until 2035, the possibility of increasing the efficiency of energy use of secondary energy resources in the form of associated oil and waste gases has been substantiated by increasing the energy efficiency of the primary energy carrier to 90-95 % by means of cogeneration plants with a binary cycle of electricity generation and trigeneration systems with using the energy of the waste gas to cool the air flow at the inlet of gas turbine plants. The conditions for maintaining the rated power of the main generator with variations in the ambient temperature are shown. An effective topology of electrical complexes in a multi-connected power supply system of oil and gas enterprises according to the reliability condition is presented, which allows increasing the availability factor by 0.6 %, mean time between failures by 33 %, the probability of failure-free operation by 15 % and reducing the mean time of system recovery by 40 %. The article considers the use of parallel active filters to improve the quality of electricity and reduce voltage drops to 0.1 s when used in autonomous electrical complexes of oil and gas enterprises. The possibility of providing uninterrupted power supply when using thyristor systems for automatic reserve input has been proven. A comparative analysis was carried out to assess the effect of parallel active filters and thyristor systems of automatic transfer of reserve on the main indicators of the reliability of power supply systems of oil and gas enterprises.
The national strategic goal of the Russian Federation is to ensure the safety of critical technologies and sectors, which are important for the development of the country's oil and gas industry. The article deals with development of national technology for intelligent monitoring of the condition of industrial facilities for transport and storage of oil and gas. The concept of modern monitoring and safety control system is developed focusing on a comprehensive engineering control using integrated automated control systems to ensure the intelligent methodological support for import-substituting technologies. A set of approved algorithms for monitoring and control of the processes and condition of engineering systems is proposed using modular control robotic complexes. Original intelligent models were developed for safety monitoring and classification of technogenic events and conditions. As an example, algorithms for monitoring the intelligent safety criterion for the facilities and processes of pipeline transport of hydrocarbons are presented. The research considers the requirements of federal laws and the needs of the industry.
Modern trends in the global energy market linked to the Sustainable Development Goals often lead to the adoption of political decisions with little basis in fact. Stepping up the development of renewable energy sources is an economically questionable but necessary step in terms of its social and ecological effects. However, subsequent development of hydrogen infrastructure is, at the very least, a dangerous initiative. In connection with mentioned above, an attempt to examine hydrogen by conducting an integral assessment of its characteristics has been made in this article. As a result of the research conducted, the following conclusions concerning the potential of the widespread implementation of hydrogen in the power generation sector have been made: as a chemical element, it harms steel structures, which significantly impedes the selection of suitable materials; its physical and volume characteristics decrease the general efficiency of the energy system compared to similar hydrocarbon solutions; the hydrogen economy does not have the necessary foundation in terms of both physical infrastructure and market regulation mechanisms; the emergence of widely available hydrogen poses a danger for society due to its high combustibility. Following the results of the study, it was concluded that the existing pilot hydrogen projects are positive yet not scalable solutions for the power generation sector due to the lack of available technologies to construct large-scale and geographically distributed infrastructure and adequate international system of industry regulation. Thus, under current conditions, the risks of implementing such projects considerably exceed their potential ecological benefits.
В основу классификации 32 видов (или групп) симметрии кристаллов, т. е. в основу разделения их. на системы, или сингонии, могут быть положены различные принципы. Из этих принципов следующие два являются главными и наиболее естественными. Можно классифицировать виды (или группы) симметрии, т. е. определенные пространственные совокупности элементов симметрии как таковые, сами по себе, без отношения в комплексам возможных граней и ребер кристалла, которым эти виды симметрии свойственны. Назовем такие классификации «чисто геометрическими». Можно классифицировать виды симметрии, принимая во внимание свойства, тех комплексов возможных граней и ребер кристалла, иначе говоря — тех пространственных решеток, которым эти виды (группы) симметрии свойственны. Назовем такие классификации «кристаллографическими». Предлагаемые классификация, номенклатура и символика тесно связываются единым принципом, целиком основаны на генетическом признаке—на порождающих элементах симметрии.
Mineral resources as natural capital can be transformed into human, social and physical capital that guarantees the sustainable development of a country, exclusively through professional public management. Public management of a country's mineral resource potential is seen as an element of transnational governance which provides for the use of laws, rules and regulations within the jurisdictional and sectoral capabilities of the state, minimising its involvement as a producer of minerals. The features of the ideology of economic liberalism, which polarises the societies of mineral-producing countries and denies the role of the state as a market participant, have been studied. The analysis of the influence of the radical new order of neoliberal world ideology on the development of the extractive sector and state regulation has been presented.
The review to achieve technological sovereignty of the Russian fuel and energy complex (FEC) in the ongoing geopolitical situation is presented in the article. The main scope has been to identify the key technology development priorities, restrictions and internal resources to overcome these utilizing the developed by the author the innovative methodology that consists of novel approaches to calculate level of local content, digitalization, business continuity andinteractions with military-industrial complex. Some organizational changes have been proposed to intensify the development of hi-tech products for the FEC and related industries, including establishment of the state committee for science and technology and the project office of lead engineers for the critical missing technologies. Two successful examples to utilize the described in the paper methodology is presented: the first domestic hydraulic fracturing fleet and polycrystalline diamond compact cutter bit inserts.
The article presents an analytical review of the current state of the iron ore base of the ferrous metallurgy of Russia and the world, identifies the largest iron ore provinces and iron ore producers. The promising directions of development and improvement of the quality of the iron ore base of Russia and the features of the development of new deposits of rich iron ores are identified. Effective technologies for the development of rich iron ores deposits that ensure an increase in production volumes are proposed. The geomechanical justification of rational technological parameters that are easily adapted to changes in mining and geological conditions has been performed. Based on the results of field studies, the use of an elastic-plastic model with the Coulomb – Mohr strength criterion for modeling changes in the stress-strain state of an ore rock mass during mining operations is justified and recommendations for ensuring the stability of mine workings are developed. Effective engineering and technical solutions for the complex development and deep processing of rich iron ores with the production of fractionated sinter ore, which increases the efficiency of metallurgical processes, the production of high-grade iron oxide pigments and iron ore briquettes, which increase the competitiveness of iron ore companies and the full use of the resource potential of deposits, are presented.
The presented study is devoted to a comparative review of the mineral raw material base of platinum group metals (PGMs) and technologies of their processing in South Africa and Russia, the largest PGM producers. Mineralogical and geochemical classification and industrial value of iron-platinum and platinum-bearing deposits are presented in this work. The paper also reviews types of PGM ore body occurrences, ore processing methods (with a special focus on flotation processes), as well as difficulties encountered by enterprises at the processing stage, as they increase recovery of the valuable components. Data on mineralogical features of PGM deposits, including the distribution of elements in the ores, are provided. The main lines of research on mineralogical features and processing of raw materials of various genesis are identified and validated. Sulfide deposits are found to be of the highest industrial value in both countries. Such unconventional PGM sources, as black shale, dunites, chromite, low-sulfide, chromium and titanomagnetite ores, anthropogenic raw materials, etc. are considered. The main lines of research that would bring into processing non-conventional metal sources are substantiated. Analysis of new processing and metallurgical methods of PGM recovery from non-conventional and industrial raw materials is conducted; the review of existing processing technologies for platinum-bearing raw materials is carried out. Technologies that utilize modern equipment for ultrafine grinding are considered, as well as existing reagents for flotation recovery; evaluation of their selectivity in relation to platinum minerals is presented. Basing on the analysis of main technological processes of PGM ore treatment, the most efficient schemes are identified, i.e.,gravity and flotation treatment with subsequent metallurgical processing.
For hard rock massifs, structural disturbance is a key indicator of mining structure stability. The presence of intersecting structural elements in the massif reduces rock strength and leads to formation of potential collapse structures. In addition to that, disjunctive deformations that penetrate rock strata serve as channels for fluid migration and connect aquifers into a single system. It was established that the largest of them –faults of east-northeastern, northeastern and northwestern directions – form the kimberlite-bearing junction of the Udachnaya pipe. These faults represent zones of increased fracturing, brecciation and tectonic foliation, distinguished from adjacent areas by increased destruction of the rock mass. Specifics of tectonic fracture distribution within structural and lithological domains are determined by the presence of multidirectional prevailing systems of tectonic fracturing, as well as by differences in their quantitative characteristics. With some exceptions, the main systems form a diagonal network of fractures (northeastern – northwestern orientation), which is typical for larger structural forms – faults. Despite the differences in dip orientation of the systems, most of them correspond to identified directions, which is typical for both kimberlites and sedimentary strata. Overall disturbance of the massif, expressed in terms of elementary block volume, reaches its peak in the western ore body. For such type of deposits, friction properties of fracture structures have average values. Consideration of geological and structural data in the design and development of new levels of the deposit will allow to maintain the necessary balance between efficiency and safety of performed operations.
Technique for automated calculation of technological parameters for non-Newtonian liquids injection into a well during workover is presented. At the first stage the algorithm processes initial flow or viscosity curve in order to determine rheological parameters and coefficients included in equations of rheological models of non-Newtonian fluids. At the second stage, based on data from the previous stage, the program calculates well design and pump operation modes, permissible values of liquid flow rate and viscosity, to prevent possible hydraulic fracturing. Based on the results of calculations and dependencies, a decision is made on the necessity of changing the technological parameters of non-Newtonian liquid injection and/or its composition (components content, chemical base) in order to prevent the violation of the technological operation, such as unintentional formation of fractures due to hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing can lead to catastrophic absorptions and, consequently, to increased consumption of technological liquids pumped into the well during workover. Furthermore, there is an increased risk of uncontrolled gas breakthrough through highly conductive channels.
Microbiological remediation is a promising technology for the elimination of environmental contamination by oil and petroleum products, based on the use of the metabolic potential of microorganisms. The issue of environmental contamination by crude oil and its refined products is relevant in the Russian Federation since the oil industry is one of the leading sectors of the country. Mechanical and physico-chemical methods of treatment are widely used to clean oil-contaminated soils. However, the methods belonging to these groups have a number of significant drawbacks, which actualizes the development of new methods (mainly biological), since they are more environmentally friendly, cost-effective, less labor-intensive, and do not require the use of technical capacities. Various bio-based products based on strains and consortia of microorganisms have been developed that have proven effectiveness. They include certain genera of bacteria, microscopic fungi, and microalgae, substances or materials acting as sorbents of biological agents and designed to retain them in the soil and increase the efficiency of bioremediation, as well as some nutrients. Statistical data, the most effective methods, and technologies, as well as cases of using microorganisms to restore oil-contaminated soils in various climatic conditions are presented.
Determining formation pressure in the well extraction zones is a key task in monitoring the development of hydrocarbon fields. Direct measurements of formation pressure require prolonged well shutdowns, resulting in underproduction and the possibility of technical problems with the subsequent start-up of wells. The impossibility of simultaneous shutdown of all wells of the pool makes it difficult to assess the real energy state of the deposit. This article presents research aimed at developing an indirect method for determining the formation pressure without shutting down the wells for investigation, which enables to determine its value at any time. As a mathematical basis, two artificial intelligence methods are used – multidimensional regression analysis and a neural network. The technique based on the construction of multiple regression equations shows sufficient performance, but high sensitivity to the input data. This technique enables to study the process of formation pressure establishment during different periods of deposit development. Its application is expedient in case of regular actual determinations of indicators used as input data. The technique based on the artificial neural network enables to reliably determine formation pressure even with a minimal set of input data and is implemented as a specially designed software product. The relevant task of continuing the research is to evaluate promising prognostic features of artificial intelligence methods for assessing the energy state of deposits in hydrocarbon extraction zones.
The paper presents the analysis of the controversial discourse at the modern Russian television. The conflict situation described as a script is universal for most European cultures while the linguistics filling of this script depicts the national specific. The linguistic behavior of Russians in conflict situation is strict and emotional, with various speech strategies and tactics.
Mineral resources as natural capital can be transformed into human, social and physical capital that guarantees the sustainable development of a country, exclusively through professional public management. Public management of a country's mineral resource potential is seen as an element of transnational governance which provides for the use of laws, rules and regulations within the jurisdictional and sectoral capabilities of the state, minimising its involvement as a producer of minerals. The features of the ideology of economic liberalism, which polarises the societies of mineral-producing countries and denies the role of the state as a market participant, have been studied. The analysis of the influence of the radical new order of neoliberal world ideology on the development of the extractive sector and state regulation has been presented.
The use of the zonal-block model of the earth's crust for the construction of regional tectonic schemes and sections of the earth's crust based on a complex of geological and geophysical data makes it possible to consider the resulting maps and sections as tectonic models. The main elements of such models are blocks with an ancient continental base and interblock zones formed by complexes of island arcs, an accretionary prism, or oceanic crust. The developed geotectonic model of the Sea of Okhotsk region reflects the features of the deep structure, tectonics, and geodynamics. The Cimmerian Novosibirsk-Chukotka, Verkhoyansk-Kolyma, Kolyma-Omolon, and Amur folded regions and the Alpides of the Koryak-Kamchatka and Sakhalin-Sikhote-Alin folded regions are developed along the northern, western, and southern boundaries of the Sea of Okhotsk megablock with a continental crust type. From the east, the megablock is limited by oceanic basins and island arcs.
Technique for automated calculation of technological parameters for non-Newtonian liquids injection into a well during workover is presented. At the first stage the algorithm processes initial flow or viscosity curve in order to determine rheological parameters and coefficients included in equations of rheological models of non-Newtonian fluids. At the second stage, based on data from the previous stage, the program calculates well design and pump operation modes, permissible values of liquid flow rate and viscosity, to prevent possible hydraulic fracturing. Based on the results of calculations and dependencies, a decision is made on the necessity of changing the technological parameters of non-Newtonian liquid injection and/or its composition (components content, chemical base) in order to prevent the violation of the technological operation, such as unintentional formation of fractures due to hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing can lead to catastrophic absorptions and, consequently, to increased consumption of technological liquids pumped into the well during workover. Furthermore, there is an increased risk of uncontrolled gas breakthrough through highly conductive channels.
The importance of hydrocarbon resources and the oil and gas industry is currently difficult to overestimate. About one third of the world’s natural gas reserves are concentrated on the territory of the Russian Federation; in terms of oil reserves Russia is second only to five states, but even this is enough to develop and improve this branch of production. The Strategy for the Development of the Mineral Resource Base of the Russian Federation until 2035 outlines promising directions for economic modernization. They include rational use of the created mineral resource base by means of engaging hard-to-recover oil and gas reserves and undeveloped solid mineral deposits, reducing the negative impact of subsoil development on the environment, qualitative improvement of the information support system for subsoil use, monitoring and control over the development of the mineral resource base of the Russian Federation by developing information technologies. This requires, among other things, introduction of automated management and regulation systems in the field of geology and subsoil use, as well as systems for processing, interpretation, storage and provision of geological data to subsoil users.
In order to expand and popularize knowledge about the stone decoration of Saint Petersburg, we present new data on the mineralogy and petrography of the famous Thunder-Stone, the parts of which were the basis for the monument to Peter the Great – the legendary “Bronze Horseman”. In the course of studying geological documentation of the monument's granite base, we examined the mineral composition and internal structure of granite, as well as the fragments of a pegmatite vein and veinlets found in it. 25 single-mineral samples were collected from the available micro-scaled shear fractures within the pedestal surface and studied by electron microscopy, electron probe and X-ray phase analysis. It was established that K-Na feldspar in the granite composition was represented by microcline, whereas micas were represented by annite-siderophyllite and muscovite. Accessory minerals included monazite, xenotime, thorite, zircon, rutile, apatite, fluorite, Ti-, Nb-, Ta-bearing minerals, uranium phosphates. The presence of topaz is characteristic of pegmatites. The revealed structural and textural features of four granite boulders in the monument pedestal, as well as mineralogical and chemical composition of their rock-forming and accessory minerals, showed the similarity of this rock to Precambrian biotite-muscovite granites and topaz-containing pegmatites (stockscheiders) of the late formation phase of the Vyborg rapakivi granite massif. The research results are considered as the basis for further geological and mineralogical study of the Thunder-Stone origin and determining the place of its separation from the primary source.
The paper presents the results of investigations on the influence of low bottomhole temperatures in the intervals of productive formations on the technological properties of solutions used for drilling and completion of wells in order to determine the possibility of increasing gas recovery coefficient at the field of the “Sila Sibiri” gas pipeline. The analysis of technological measures determining the quality of the productive horizon drilling-in was carried out. It was found out that the dispersion of bridging agent in the composition of the hydrocarbon-based drilling mud selected from the existing methods does not have significant influence on the change in the depth of filtrate penetration into the formation in conditions of low bottomhole temperatures. The main reason for the decrease in the near-bottomhole zone permeability was found out – the increase in plastic viscosity of the dispersion medium of the hydrocarbon-based drilling mud under the influence of low bottomhole temperatures. A destructor solution for efficient wellbore cleaning from hydrocarbon-based solution components in conditions of low bottomhole temperatures was developed. The paper presents the results of laboratory investigations of hydrocarbon-based drilling mud and the developed destructor solution, as well as its pilot field tests. The mechanism of interaction between the destructor solution and the filter cake of the hydrocarbon-based drilling mud ensuring the reduction of the skin factor in the conditions of the geological and hydrodynamic structure of Botuobinsky, Khamakinsky and Talakhsky horizons of the Chayandinskoye oil and gas condensate field has been scientifically substantiated.
The presented study is devoted to a comparative review of the mineral raw material base of platinum group metals (PGMs) and technologies of their processing in South Africa and Russia, the largest PGM producers. Mineralogical and geochemical classification and industrial value of iron-platinum and platinum-bearing deposits are presented in this work. The paper also reviews types of PGM ore body occurrences, ore processing methods (with a special focus on flotation processes), as well as difficulties encountered by enterprises at the processing stage, as they increase recovery of the valuable components. Data on mineralogical features of PGM deposits, including the distribution of elements in the ores, are provided. The main lines of research on mineralogical features and processing of raw materials of various genesis are identified and validated. Sulfide deposits are found to be of the highest industrial value in both countries. Such unconventional PGM sources, as black shale, dunites, chromite, low-sulfide, chromium and titanomagnetite ores, anthropogenic raw materials, etc. are considered. The main lines of research that would bring into processing non-conventional metal sources are substantiated. Analysis of new processing and metallurgical methods of PGM recovery from non-conventional and industrial raw materials is conducted; the review of existing processing technologies for platinum-bearing raw materials is carried out. Technologies that utilize modern equipment for ultrafine grinding are considered, as well as existing reagents for flotation recovery; evaluation of their selectivity in relation to platinum minerals is presented. Basing on the analysis of main technological processes of PGM ore treatment, the most efficient schemes are identified, i.e.,gravity and flotation treatment with subsequent metallurgical processing.
In 2015, UN Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aimed at balancing initiatives by the world community and individual countries in the environmental, social, and economic spheres. The global sustainable development goals are to promote the well-being of the world population, preserve the planet’s resources, and maintain ecological security, which is vital in the age of the rapid industrial growth and ever-increasing anthropogenic pressure on the environment. For the successful achievement of sustainability goals in the manufacturing sector, integrated measures should be undertaken for monitoring and assessing the technogenic impact of industrial facilities. Additionally, it is necessary to develop environmentally-friendly technologies in the fields of gas and water treatment, land reclamation, and waste disposal. Therefore, fundamental and applied research in these related spheres is of particular importance. Currently, environmental monitoring of all components of the environment, along with anthropogenic objects and processes, receives considerable attention, which is determined by the vector of development in science and technology. In this regard, the latest innovations in green technology in this area are becoming increasingly significant.
The article critically analysesthe hypotheses about the formation, age, and sources of material of large Timan titanium deposits, which were previously considered ancient buried placers formed along the weathering crusts of the Riphean shales. We discuss an alternative hydrothermal-metamorphic hypothesis about the formation of these deposits and the source of ore material. It is established that the incoming zircon of different ages (570-3200 Ma), as well as two other geochronometers, rutile and monazite, underwent a thermal effect common for all varieties as a result of a hydrothermal process about 600 Ma ago. According to modern concepts, the closing temperature of the U-Pb system in rutile exceeds 500 °С, which suggests high-temperature conditions for the hydrothermal processing of rutile during the formation of the considered deposits in the Riphean.
