Sergo Ordzhonikidze Russian State Geological Prospecting University, Moscow, Russia:

O. S. Bryukhovetskiy, Head of Chair, Professor, Doctor of Engineer ing Sciences, bos.rggru@mail.ru

Institute of Mining, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Khabarovsk, Russia:
A. G. Sekisov, Chief Researcher, Doctor of Engineering Sciences
A. V. Rasskazova, Senior Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Transbaikal State University, Chita, Russia:

A. Yu. Lavrov, Dean, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

The key problems of in-situ leaching of precious metals and dispersed gold from complex ore deposits are considered in the article. It is proposed to prepare such ores for leaching by injection of the vapors of chemical solutions superheated by explosive gases into open cracks. This process is implemented by section-wise blasting of explosive charges containing axial plastic thin-walled tubes filled with various-composition chemical solutions. When mixing with gases generated in phase transformation of explosives during, chemical interaction takes place between agents and a set of highly active oxygen-containing compounds, including their radicals and radical forms, appears. Blasting enlarges the contact surfaces of ore–solution interface, as well as increases concentration gradients of chemicals and dissolved metals in the pellicular and pore water–permeating leaching solution system, which intensifies diffusion mass-exchange processes. Test leaching of copper, silver and gold from rebellious sulfide ore of the Udokan deposit (bornite–chalcocite paragenesis) by active solution produced in a lab-scale photo-electrochemical reactor were conducted on a coarse sample. The copper content of the sample was 17.82 %, silver—140.5 g/t, gold—0.28 g/t. Leaching of copper and associated disperse gold by active chloride complexes with hydrated hypochlorous acid (HClO)·nH₂O ensures recovery of more than 82 % of copper, 61.3 % of silver and 64.3 % of gold in pregnant solution. These results are comparable with the product of the traditional flow chart of ore extraction–flotation–hydrometallurgical processing of the flotation concentrate. Modeling of leaching of gold and copper by mineral material from the mineral material prepared by explosion-injection of active chloride-peroxide solutions was carried out. The model material was agglomerated tailings of Darasun factory. Gold recovery after leaching from the material treated by the explosion injection of active chloride-peroxide solutions in the pulsation and static mode made over 80% for three days. The subsequent leaching of copper by sulfuric acid provided its total recovery of 78% within 5 days.

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