Abstract
Problem Statement. Prospective development of nuclear power is associated with an ever greater scale of radioactive ore mining. That is why research in this area is of relevance. Objectives. To systematize the achievements in uranium mining for promoting further progress in mining of this mineral and other metals. Methods Applied. Summarization and critical overview of the achievements of global importance highlighting their scientific and practical relevance. Originality of this publication lies in the fact that it contains a lot of information that has not been made public before for bureaucratic reasons. Findings. The authors of this paper define key implementation areas for the technical solutions; describe the technique to control the properties of the solidifying agent by applying high energy in disintegrators; describe the results of trial underground leaching of commercial ores; give reference to major mining achievements of Tselinny Mining and Processing Works; provide more details about the method of enhancing the binding capacity of cement additives through activation in a disintegrator and how the method could be advanced to be applicable for metals leaching from low-grade metal containing material with the recovery rate reaching 70% of the initial tailings concentration; define the concept of sustainable subsoil management; provide details about the use of vibrating conveyors for transporting solidifying agents for distances of up to 2,000 m. Practical Relevance. Due to breakthroughs in uranium mining achieved by nuclear power industry, the advanced processes may find application in metal mining (from breakable ores, in the first place). Raising the output in the mining of low-grade reserves by combining conventional mining technology with metal leaching can potentially provide a boost to the mining sector in the market economy environment.
Keywords
Radioactive ores, achievements of global importance, disintegrator, underground leaching of commercial ores, vibrating conveyors for solidifying agents.
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