Experience of metal deposits combined development for South African enterprises

Purpose.To solve technological and ecological problems of South Africa and other countries using the experience of Russian, Kazakh and Ukrainian miners in mining metals by the combination of traditional and new technologies. The ultimate aim of environmental protection concept is waste-free minerals mining with full utilization of the components produced from mined raw materials. Methods. The technology based on leaching metals from ores is used as an alternative to the traditional technology of metal production, i.e. in-situ extracting metals from ores. Findings. A brief review of the state of metal production in the world is presented. The environmental trends of mining engineering humanization in technologically advanced countries are defined. The experience of underground leaching of uranium is described. The results of pioneer experiments on the extraction of metals using combined mechanic and chemical treatment in the disintegrator are provided. Economic-mathematical models have been developed in order to determine efficiency of using combined technologies and simulate results of metal extraction. Originality. The effectiveness of combining technologies of mining deposits was assessed by comparative analysis of completeness of the valuable component extraction using traditional and combined methods of mining. The comparative analysis on two criteria allows to determine the optimal value of profits and choose the best way of metal beneficiation. Practical implications. The experience of combining technologies can be used at enterprises of South Africa. The economic and mathematical models for determining effectiveness of combined technology and simulating results of metal extraction are developed for a specific case study. Recommendations for using the experience of stripped minerals leaching are given.