Small mammals of background areas in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia)

The dataset contains records of small mammals (Eulipotyphla and Rodentia) collected in the background (unpolluted) areas in the vicinity of Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia) and the territory of the Sultanovskoye deposit of copper-pyrite ores before the start of its development. Data were collected during the snowless periods in 2007 (18 sampling plots), 2008–2010 (13 plots annually), 2011 (30 plots) and 2012–2014 (19 plots annually). The capture of animals was carried out in different types of forests (pine, birch, mixed and floodplain), sparse birch stands, reed swamps, marshy and dry meadows, border areas, a household waste dump, areas of ruderal vegetation and a temporary camp. Our study of small mammals was conducted using trap lines (snap and live traps). During the study period, 709 specimens of small mammals were caught, which belonged to five species of shrews and 13 species of rodents. The dataset may be highly useful for studying regional fauna and the distribution of species in different habitats and could also be used as reference values for environmental monitoring and conservation activities. Our dataset contains new information on occurrences of small mammals. It includes the peculiarities of their habitat distribution in the background areas in the vicinity of the large copper smelter and the deposit of copper-pyrite ores before the start of its development (Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia). All occurrence records of 18 mammal species with georeferencing have been published in GBIF.

Pyritic deposits of North Caucasus. Prospects of minerality of Hudes deposit

Актуальность работы заключается в изучении и обосновании перспектив выявления новых рудных тел в слабо изученных частях рудного поля. Рассмотрены геологические особенности крупного Худесского медноколчеданного месторождения Северного Кавказа. Рудные залежи месторождения разведаны и локализованы только в восточной части рудного поля. Центральная часть и западный фланг поля практически не разведаны, хотя здесь сохраняется полный рудоносный разрез и выделена мощная Северная зона пиритизированных метасоматитов. Месторождение планируется Уральской горнорудной компанией в ближайшие годы ввести в промышленную разработку (ведется разработка технического проекта). Целью проведенных исследований являлось составление схемы разреза продуктивной части девонской вулканической постройки со стратиграфическими уровнями рудных залежей гидротермально-осадочных руд и установление прямых признаков скрытого оруденения. Методы работы. В процессе проведения полевых работ выполнено подробное описание этих крупнообломочных плотных пород, состоящих из обломков глыб вулканитов и кластогенно-гидротермального мелкообломочного цемента с редкими (1%) обломками массивных колчеданных руд и пиритизированных метасоматитов. Результатом работ явилось обоснование в качестве главного поискового признака наличия обломков массивных руд в секущих телах эксплозивных брекчий, указывающих на скрытое промышленное оруденение. Доказывается поствулканический характер этих рудоносных эксплозивных брекчий. Рекомендуется направление поисковых работ. Поисковые буровые скважины при прослеживании и выявлении стратиграфических рудных уровней нужно располагать по субмеридиональным профилям. В существующей штольне №19 следует пройти в северном направлении разведочные квершлаги с учётом секущего вертикального положения поствулканических тел эксплозивных брекчий. Учитывая связь нижнепермского вулканизма с золотоносным Северным разломом Тырныауз-Пшекишской тектонической зоны, близость и геологическое единство Чучкурского и Худесского месторождений, следует провести опробование эксплозивных брекчий на комплекс полиметаллов, включая золото. The relevance of the work is to study and substantiate the prospects for identifying new ore bodies in poorly studied parts of the ore field. The geological features of the large Khudessky copper-crusted deposit of the North Caucasus are considered. The ore deposits of the deposit have been explored and localized only in the eastern part of the ore field. The central part and the western flank of the field are practically not explored, although a complete ore-bearing section is preserved here and a powerful Northern zone of pyritizedmetasomatites is identified. The deposit is planned to be put into commercial development by the Ural Mining Company in the coming years (a technical project is being developed). The aim of the researchwas to draw up a section diagram of the productive part of the Devonian volcanic structure with stratigraphic levels of ore deposits of hydrothermal-sedimentary ores and to establish direct signs of hidden mineralization. Methods. In the course of field work, a detailed description of these large-block dense rocks consisting of fragments of blocks of volcanites and clastogenic-hydrothermal small-block cement with rare (1%) fragments of massive pyrite ores and pyritizedmetasomatites was performed. The results of the work were the substantiation as the main search sign of the presence of fragments of massive ores in the secant bodies of explosive breccias, indicating hidden industrial mineralization. The post-volcanic character of these ore-bearing explosive brecciasis proved. The direction of search operations isrecommended. Prospecting drilling wells should be located along submeridional profiles when tracing and identifying stratigraphic ore levels. In the existing tunnel No. 19, it is necessary to pass exploration quershlags in the northern direction, taking into account the secant vertical position of the post-volcanic bodies of explosive breccias. Taking into account the connection of the Lower Permian volcanism with the gold-bearing Northern fault of the Tyrnyauz-Przekish tectonic zone, the proximity and geological unity of the Chuchkur and Khudessky deposits, it is necessary to test explosive breccias for a complex of polymetals, including gold.

The Chemical Technology for Producing Precious Metals from Enrichment Rejects of Copper-Pyrite Ores

The chemical technology for recovery precious metals Au and Ag from mature flotation tailings of copper-pyrite ores by two-stage sintering with chlorine-ammonium reagents and leaching of bakes with water is developed. The chemical extraction of gold and silver is carried out, using NH4Cl and NH4NO3 reagents in the ratios of 1:1 at a temperature of 250 °C, and 2:1 at 200 °C. In accordance with the obtained results, a chemical technology of enrichment rejects of copper-pyrite ores processing and a scheme of primary apparatus chain for implementing this technology are proposed. The economic effect of the technology realization is calculated. This effect is 96.3 million rubles with a payback period of 8 years when processing enrichment rejects of copper-pyrite ores in amount of 109.5 thousand tons per year under the conditions of JSC “Uchaly Mining and Metallurgical Combine”.

STALE TAILINGS OF COPPER-CRUSTED ORES FLOTATION WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF GOLD AND SILVER SELECTIVE EXTRACTION: RESOURCE POTENTIAL ANALYSIS

The article analyzes the possibility and efficiency of processing stale tailings of flotation plants of the copper pyrite complex. The resource potential, material composition and technological capabilities of processing a number of technogenic objects are considered. The interrelation and influence of mineralogical and technological factors on the choice of tailings processing technology are analyzed. The results of chemical, mineral and phase analysis of stale flotation tailings of the studied pyrite ores are presented. According to the complex studies’ results, it is established that the stale flotation tailings of copper pyrite ores belong to a refractory type of geo-resources due to the high content of pyrite and low, at the level of ppm, gold and silver content, which are present mainly in the “resistant” minerals - chalcogenides, sulphides, their intergrowths. The article presents a factor analysis and conditions for the elemental composition of tailings formation: mineralogical, technological and environmental. The territorial accessibility and technological capability of the investigated technogenic formations are analyzed. In the course of experimental studies, the elemental composition of stale tailings has been revealed - the main components of which are: iron, sulfur, silicon and aluminum. According to the results of X-ray phase analysis, it has been found that the main ore mineral of the tailings is pyrite. At the same time, it is noted that the main share of gold in the stale flotation tailings is presented in the form of sulphides in the form of finely dispersed and isomorphic inclusions. The heterogeneous morphometric and mineral composition of sulphide aggregates, their difficult opening and high dispersion characterize stale tailings as a raw material that is difficult to float. The revealed features of the material composition of stale tails indicate the impossibility of extracting valuable components (gold and silver) from this resource using existing traditional technologies. It has been proved that it is possible to effectively extract precious metals from this category of raw materials only after their deep opening by chemical processing. The relevance of the research lies in the need to process gold-containing man-made waste in order to significantly expand the raw material base of mining enterprises, as well as to improve the ecological situation of the city-forming mining enterprises of the South Urals. The aim of the research is to study the material composition of stale tailings and develop a technology for selective extraction of gold and silver. The object of research is the stale flotation tailings of copper-pyrite enterprises of the Southern Urals. The subject is the mineral composition, the content of useful components of lying tailings and the technology of gold and silver selective extraction from them. Material and research methods. During the experiments, a set of physicochemical and chemical methods of analysis has been used: thermodynamic analysis, synchronous thermal analysis using a combined thermal analyzer of the Netzsch STA 449 F3 Jupiter brand, UV spectroscopy with an automated data processing system), qualitative chemical and assay analyzes

Cadmium and lead distribution in pyrite ores

The pyrite ores are strategic industrial resources which generally serve as raw material for producing sulfuric acid. However, during the mining and industrial processing activities, associated toxic elements of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) could be released into the surroundings, posing a significant threat to local environment and human health. In this study, the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurement (IRMM) sequential extraction scheme was used to investigate the geochemical fractionation of Cd and Pb in pyrite ores from a mining area located in Yunfu, western Guangdong, China. The results showed that most of Cd and Pb (>90%) were predominantly found in the geochemically mobile fractions, indicating that Cd and Pb were readily bioaccessible thus easily assimilated and accumulated by organisms. FESEM-EDS results showed that the studied pyrite ores were mainly composed of O, S, and Fe, while the XRD characterizations suggested that FeS2 and SiO2 were the major minerals. The high-resolution transmission electron microscope and element mapping characterization further confirmed that FeS2 was the main mineral of pyrite ores which contained relatively enriched toxic heavy metals (e.g., Pb and Cd). The findings highlight that an extremely large amount of geochemically mobile heavy metals can be released into the environmental media during the mining and utilization processes of pyrite ores based on IRMM sequential extraction protocol. Therefore, proper countermeasures against environmental risks of utilizing pyrite ores should be taken to mitigate the impacts on local ecosystem and human health.

Sulfates from the Pyrite Ore Deposits of the Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy): A Review

The occurrence of sulfate minerals associated with the pyrite ores of the southern Apuan Alps has been known since the 19th century but modern mineralogical studies started only in the last decade. Sulfate assemblages were identified in all the pyrite ore deposits from the studied area but the more impressive associations were discovered in the Fornovolasco and Monte Arsiccio mines. Their study allowed to improve the knowledge of the sulfate crystal-chemistry and to achieve a better understanding of the acid mine drainage (AMD) systems associated with pyrite oxidation. More than 20 different mineral species were identified and, among them, four sulfates (volaschioite, giacovazzoite, magnanelliite, and scordariite) have their type localities in the pyrite ore deposits of the Apuan Alps. A review of the mineralogical results of a ten-year-long study is given here.

Distribution of Gold and Associated Ore-Bearing Elements in Gold-Copper-Pyrite Ores of the Kyzylbulag Deposit (Lesser Caucasus, Azerbaijan)

The article presents the results of studies of the distribution of gold and associated ore elements in gold-copper pyrite ores of the Kyzylbulag deposit. It was established that the elemental composition of ores and host rocks of the deposit includes Cu, Pb, Au, Ag, Ni, As, Sb, Bi, and Mo, of which Au, Cu, Ag, and Zn are the more stable. The behavior of elements was also studied for the entire ore body, as a result of which they are divided by cluster analysis at R (5 %) - 0.1 into two groups: 1) Au, Cu and Ag; 2) Pb and Zn. The closest relationship in the first group was found between Au and Cu, Au and Ag, Ag and Cu; and in the second, between Pb and Zn. Acquired results confirm that gold and the copper are the major components of ore in the field expressed generally in the mineral paragenesis of chalcopyrite - native gold shown in the independent hydrothermal stage of ore deposition.

The study of the main soil types and their composition in the Tarnier deposit

In this paper, soil types found on the territory of the Tarnier deposit of copper pyrite ores are considered. The contents of rock-forming components in the main soil types are determined. The analysis of excesses of permissible concentrations in soils was performed.

Selenium in pyrite ores

Own Se minerals, first established in primary ores of VMS deposits of the Urals, are described. Instrumental neutron activation analysis of bulk ore samples, mineral monofractions and local methods of analysis: LA-ICP- MS, electron probe microanalysis and analytical electron microscopy were used. CSe in ores of the Urals to 977 g/t. Significant positive correlation of Se with Te, S, Fe, Co, Mo, Hg, Bi is characteristic. Selenium is con- centrated in the main sulfides, mainly in pyrite (73 g/t), chalcopyrite 49 g/t, pyrrhotite 48 g/t; in sphalerite usually <10 g/t. High Se content (up to 1–3 wt.%) occurs in the minor and rare minerals from massive sulfide ores (mainly compounds of Pb, Te, Bi): tetradymite, galena, tellurobismuthite, altaite, wittichenite. Own Se minerals in ores are represented by kawazulite, clausthalite, galena-clausthalite Pb(Se,S), micron inclusions composition (Ag, Cu)2(Se, S), (Ag, Pb)3(Te, Se)S, (Ag, Pb)2(S, Se).