Scholarly record

INFLUENCE OF COPPER-SULPHIDE ORES MINING AND PROCESSING ON ENVIRONMENT

Anastasiya Kostryukova

Abstract

Mining and processing activities are accompanied by air pollution. The paper assesses air and soil quality on the territory of copper-sulphide ores mining and processing plant in 2010пїЅ2013. The mining enterprise consists of a quarry, reclamation plant with a tailing pond, experimental-production facility for heap leaching and an underground mine under construction. The deposit has six ore shoots. Three of them are now excavated by surface mining, the underground mining techniques will be used for the others. Processing includes preparation work such as breaking and classifying mined rock, and hydrometallurgical processes performed by heap leaching with cyanide and other toxic agents being used. Poor technology and ineffective environmental efforts contribute to polluting the environment with toxic compounds. Air quality was monitored. Air samples were gathered monthly in nine sites for three years from 2010 to 2012. The samples were tested on HCN, CO, NO2, SO2 content. Air Pollution Index (API) and Complex Air Pollution Index (CAPI) were measured. The measured values showed identical results, which allowed to assess the air pollution level as high. Soil samples both from the industrial site and nearby were gathered. Twelve sampling sites were selected. To assess soil pollution As, Hg, Cu, Zn, Ni, Mn, Co, Cr, Pb content was analysed. Metal content in soil was stated as heavy. Mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and chrome (Cr) are the major pollutants.

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