EXPERIENCE OF METAL LEACHING IN UNDERGROUND BLOCKS OF ORE DEPOSITS IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS
Relevance of the paper. A growing demand for non-ferrous metals is a reason for searching for ways of making up the deficit in minerals; therefore, research aimed at its strengthening are currently important and promising. Objective. A priority for developing mining operations is the introduction of the best available technologies to increase the value of the Russian mining industry in the global market. The paper is aimed at systemizing data on practical steps taken to convert to advanced systems of mining, including metal leaching in underground blocks of ore deposits in the North Caucasus. Methods Applied. To systemize historical data on practical steps taken to recover metals by applying technologies with ore leaching in underground blocks and building a learning curve of such advanced technology. Originality. By providing a rationale for efficiency of leaching technologies in the North Caucasus, we form a new data bank to use available opportunities of introducing into production stocks deemed to be off-grade for a conventional technology. Findings. The paper contains a historical background in learning technologies of mining non-ferrous metals in the largest Caucasian deposits in Russia. It provides detailed information about the attempts to mine balance reserves of the complete Kakadur deposit for the first time in the world. The authors analyzed the systems of mining with leaching in options of ore crushing and natural permeability of solutions applied at Beshtaugorsk and Bykogorsk uranium deposits. They stated information about experimental mining of metals from mine water discharges as a product of underground block leaching. A chronology of the underground block leaching is interpreted in a table. The conditions for the underground block leaching are stated and efficiency of the technology under study is assessed. Practical Relevance. Getting acquainted with experience of leaching technologies is a prerequisite to an overall improvement of operation performance of companies.