Moscow State Mining University (Moscow, Russia):

Bocharov V. A., Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, phone: +7 (499) 230-24-46

Chanturiya E. L., Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

National University of Science and Technology "MISIS" (Moscow, Russia):

Khachatryan L. S., Leading Engineer, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Ignatkina V. A., Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

This article describes the research of technological sample of old tailings, which have the following content: 0.55% of Cu, 0.72% of Zn, 28.18% of S, 1.3 g/t of Au and 13.5 g/t of Ag. Copper minerals contain 70% of primary sulphides, 19% of secondary sulphides and 11% of oxidized compounds. At the same time, zinc includes 70% of sulphides and ~30% of sulphates. The bulk mass of gold is allocated in open (43%) and closed (39%) joints with sulphides. The detailed combined gravitation-flotation process flowsheet is developed together with new reagent modes of flotation, which guarantee the obtaining of conditioned marketable products from old tailings. Operations of slime removal and washing are the integral part of developed process flowsheet. High capacity of anthropogenic tailings to disintegration is proved due to the big initial content of prepared grade in these tailings and less strength connection between minerals. Changing of physical-chemical properties of minerals in the conditions of long-term storage causes the reasonability of carrying out of flotation of pyrite-containing old tailings in alkalescent medium, which is possible during the usage of new compositions of sulfhydryl collectors.
The researches were carried out with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation (contract No. 16.515.11.5037) and grants of Russian Foundation for Basic Researches No. 13-05-00245а and No. 11-05-00765а.

1. Bocharov V. A., Ignatkina V. A., Chanturiya E. L. Tsvetnye Metally – Non-ferrous metals, 2011, No. 12, pp. 20–26.
2. Ignatkina V. A., Bocharov V. A. Gornyi Zhurnal – Mining Journal, 2007, No. 12, pp. 78–84.
3. V. A. Bocharov, V. A. Ignatkina, L. S. Khachatryan. Sposob obogashcheniya tekhnogennogo mineralnogo syrya tsvetnykh metallov (Method of concentration of anthropogenic mineral raw materials of non-ferrous metals). Patent RF, No. 2480290 С1. April 27, 2013. Bulletin No. 12.