Research on possibilities for monitoring stability of adjacent slopes to transport routes

Development of human society also implies modernization, respectively extension a road and railway transport structures. From this perspective, in order to achieve performance in the field of traffic safety, actions are also required to monitor the slopes, tailings dumps (active or greened) adjacent to transport routes where there are uncertainties regarding their stability. Ignoring stability and landslides can lead to loss of life, as well as significant material damage. Thus, the paper mainly addresses the issue of monitoring the slopes adjacent to road and rail transport routes where there are uncertainties regarding the control of landslides, as well as possibility of alerting before this occurs. From the multitude of possible solutions to be applied in the field, an equipment was developed and realized, which was experienced in real working conditions, and the results confirm validity of assumptions and certify the operation.

Research on the negative effects of the “Valea Arsului” tailings dumps on the environment

As a result of the exploitation of coal in the mines from the Jiu Valley, significant quantities of tailings result from the mining works, but also from the coal preparation processes. They are stored in piles of different sizes, placed on the ground horizontally or between mountains, piles called tailings dumps. For the construction of tailings dumps the first requirement was the removal of the vegetal layer from the soil surface, a requirement that was often not observed so that the environment was affected. This paper aims to show how the environment around the Vulcan coal mine was affected in 2020..

Photosynthesis Traits of Pioneer Broadleaves Species from Tailing Dumps in Călimani Mountains (Eastern Carpathians)

The reforestation and stable ecological restoration of tailings dumps resulting from surface mining activities in the Călimani Mountains represent an ongoing environmental challenge. To assess the suitability of different tree species for restoration efforts, photosynthetic traits were monitored in four broadleaf pioneer species—green alder (Alnus alnobetula (Ehrh.) K. Koch), aspen (Populus tremula L.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), and goat willow (Salix caprea L.)—that naturally colonized the tailings dumps. Green alder and birch had the highest photosynthetic rate, followed by aspen and goat willow. Water use efficiency parameters (WUE and iWUE) were the highest for green alder and the lowest for birch, with intermediary values for aspen and goat willow. Green alder also exhibited the highest carboxylation efficiency, followed by birch. During the growing season, net assimilation and carboxylation efficiency exhibited a maximum in late July and a minimum in late June. The key limitation parameters of the photosynthetic process derived from the FvCB model (Vcmax and Jmax) were the highest for green alder and exhibited a maximum in late July, regardless of the species. Based on photosynthetic traits, the green alder—a woody N2-fixing shrub—is the most well-adapted and photosynthetically efficient species that naturally colonized the tailings dumps in the Călimani Mountains.

Study of Reducing the Damage and Reuse of Waste Tanks in the Certej Mining Area

The Certej area is an area of gold mining activities with a history of several hundred years. The only activity with a significant share in the area was the mining activity, which provided the population of Certeju de Sus commune and its surroundings with the means necessary for a decent living. In the case of tailings dumps, the soil suffers a combined impact - by removing large areas of land from the natural circuit and by generating acidic water. The geology and morphology of the region, characterized by the existence of surfaces with different slopes, are natural causes that attribute different levels of vulnerability to land at the onset of degradation processes by erosion, landslides and excess moisture. All these bring limitations in the use of land on the main uses: agricultural, forestry, construction, etc. The paper aims to provide solutions for the reuse of these lands, their use by recultivation, the search for plant species adaptable to soil conditions. A relatively small number of species were determined on the tailings dumps in the studied area, the spontaneous vegetation is visibly stressed by the existing conditions. As such, the method of ecological reconstruction of freshly deposited tailings dumps by the method of forest recultivation is proposed.

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF INVOLVING ORE PROCESSING WASTE FROM THE TYRNYAUZ DEPOSIT INTO INDUSTRIAL OPERATION

The problem of involving stale ore processing waste from the Tyrnyauz deposit into industrial operation is considered. The world experience of involving technogenic mineral formations in industrial exploitation is summarized, and the main directions of industrial use of technogenic raw materials are determined. The possible ecological impact of tailings dumps located in high-altitude areas on the ecology of the mining region is considered. The data on the formation, operation and composition of the tailings dumps of the Tyrnyauz Tung-sten-Molybdenum Combine (TVMK) are summarized. The problems are formulated and the prospects for the liquidation of tailings dumps by involving man-made raw materials in indus-trial operation are justified.

Harm and benefit of Khibiny mining waste

The article is focused on the assessment of the impact of mining waste on the environment. Mining waste (MW) is understood as mine (mining) dumps and dumps of processing plants (tailings dumps). The article also suggests considering MW as technogenic deposits of rare earth and precious metals, the development of which will allow solving many environmental, social and economic problems and using natural resources in a sustainable manner. The objects under study are located on the Kola Peninsula, within the Khibiny mountain range, and are the production assets of the Apatit Mining Complex. This enterprise develops the so-called deposits of the Khibiny Tundra, it also owns apatite-nepheline processing plants.

Technology for increasing safety of operation of pit-run and motor roads and prevention of dusting of tailings dumps by treatment them by natural bischofite water solutions

The ore mined in open pits, the depth of which often exceeds 200 m, is taken out of them as a ruie by dump trucks having capacity of up to 300 t. Provision of safety of pit-run motor transport and uninterrupted open pit operation, particuiariy in wintertime is an important task. Pecuiiarities of pit-run motor roads running presented. Existing methods of preventing winter siipperiness at motor roads considered, their possibilities and drawbacks highlighted. A technology elaborated to prevent the winter slipperiness and dusting of pit-run motor roads by treatment them by natural bischofite (MgCl2•6H2O) water solutions (RPB). The RPB has a density of 1250 kg/m3, freezing temperature -35 °С and is attributed to the substance of 4th class of danger. Dependence of rocks mass freezing temperature on the content of water RPB in it determined. Testing results of industrial technology of prevention winter slipperiness and dusting of motor roads in the open pits of Krivbas, Ukraine presented. The technology includes preliminary preventive treatment of the roads by a water solution of natural bischofite. Recommendations on its concentration, necessary for roads surface treatment were given, depending on the air temperature at various open pit depth and time of treatment commencement after receiving weather forecast. It was recommended to treat the pit-run motor roads by reagent of water RPB on the surface at air temperature down to -3 °С at the depth of more than 100 m - lower -3 °С, at the depth of more than 200 m - lower -5 °С. Recommendations elaborated to prevent dusting of motor roads, dumps and tailings dumps of mining and concentration plants by application natural bischofite water solutions, which effectively fasten the dusting surfaces preventing blowing-off the dust from them.

Investigation of the radiation situation near the tailings dumps of the Stepnogorsk Hydrometallurgical Plant

The article discusses issues related to the production waste of Stepnogorsk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (SМMС). The greatest danger to the environment is represented by radionuclides. Soil types and their resistance and ability to accumulate radionuclides are considered. It is also noted that harmful radioisotopes spread through the soil and atmosphere and the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of these substances decreases from the source of their storage and this is due to the fact that different soils have different conductivity of these harmful substances. The article also identifies opportunities to reduce the impact of SМMС wastes on soil and vegetation, as well as the atmosphere near a dangerous source of radiation infection.