Vernadsky State Geological Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia:

Yu. N. Malyshev, Director, Academician of RAS
V. M. Ryakhovsky, Principal Researcher, Doctor of Geological-Mineralogical Sciences
V. F. Bannikov, Principal Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia:
S. K. Ryakhovskaya, Senior Lecturer, Candidate of Geological-Mineralogical Sciences

In recent years, Russian scientists and practitioners show increased concern in processing and utilization of old mining waste. The reason of the concern is the immense amount of the accumulated waste (above 80 Bt); moreover, the accumulated waste content of unrecovered useful components is higher than currently operating natural deposits have. A rational waste processing technology should be based on the detailed research of the mineralogy and geochemistry of representative samples of waste. This article describes such research in terms of tungsten–molybdenum tailings at Dzhidinsk Mining and Processing Integrated Works, Republic of Buryatia, operating in 1934–96. The research was undertaken by the State Geological Museum, Moscow, using advanced laboratory equipment. The research findings have showed features of occurrence of useful mineral components in mining waste and allowed developing actions on complete metal recovery of from waste. The principles of construction of tungsten-bearing product processing flow sheet are formulated. It has been proved that the mineralogy and geochemistry research is an efficient tool of improvement of mining waste processing technology.
The study was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Agreement No. 14.604.21.0128.

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