Prospects for using combined (traditional and physical-chemical) mining technologies in the development of large gold-copper ore deposits

Abstract

The article deals with the problems of development of large gold-copper ore deposits, which have prospects for the development of mining and processing complexes based on them, which produce refined metals as final products. The article substantiates the feasibility of using combined traditional and physical-chemical geotechnologies in the development of these deposits, including geotechnologies in mining, using innovative processes of activation of heap and underground leaching of copper, fine and dispersed gold from complex ores. At the initial stage of development of the large deposits of complex ores, in parallel with traditional schemes open-pit mining and ore processing at the processing plant, it is advisable to use the activation heap leaching of valuable components from poor and refractory ores and flotation tailings from ordinary and rich ore. At the second stage, when switching to the underground method of field development, it is proposed to use blockhole leaching with explosion-injection ore preparation with combination with it. The proposed schemes for combined development of complex gold-copper ore and copper-ore deposits with precious metal mineralization are based on data obtained during many years of experimental research and pilot tests.