Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Moscow, Russia:

V. Zh. Arens, Honorary Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

Transbaikal State University, Chita, Russia:
L. V. Shumilova, Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, shumilovalv@mail.ru

The article offers the comprehensive information on the use of physicochemical and microbiological methods in mining at the present time. The presented data are refl ective of the positive dynamics in the application of the physicochemical geotechnology (biological, heap, in-situ, injection and cuvette leaching, and hydraulic borehole mining). The experience of physicochemical recovery of useful components from natural mineral bodies and mining and processing waste is reviewed. The authors discuss the challenges of the mineral mining industry in the 21st century. The objectives are formulated for the further advance in the physicochemical geotechnology towards enhancement of mining efficiency, acceleration of development period at new mineral fields as well as reduction in capital and operating expenditures. The prospects for the application of the physicochemical geotechnology and microbiological methods in mining are examined.

1. Arens V. Zh., Chernyak A. S. Future of mining is connected with successes of chemistry and microbiology. Vestnik Zabaykalskogo tsentra Rossiyskoy akademii estestvennykh nauk. 2008. No. 1. pp. 13–18.
2. Mashkovtsev G. A. Geological and industrial types of deposits, suitable for geotechnology methods mastering. Geotechnological methods of mastering of solid mineral deposits : collection of reports of scientific and practical conference with international participation. Moscow : VIMS, 2015.
3. Solodov I. N. Geotechnologies – the main vector of development of uranium mining industry. Geotechnological methods of mastering of solid mineral deposits : collection of reports of scientific and practical conference with international participation. Moscow : VIMS, 2016.
4. Fazlullin M. I. Physical and chemical geotechnology and prospect of its development on placer deposits of noble and non-ferrous metals in Russia. Geotechnological methods of mastering of solid mineral deposits : collection of reports of scientific and practical conference with international participation. Moscow : VIMS, 2016.
5. Bulaev A. G. Biotechnology: state and prospects of development. Geotechnological methods of mastering of solid mineral deposits : collection of reports of scientifi c and practical conference with international participation. Moscow : VIMS, 2016.
6. Arens V. Zh., Gridin O. M., Kreynin E. V., Nebera V. P., Fazlullin M. I. et al. Physical and chemical geotechnology. Moscow : Gornaya kniga, 2010. 575 p.
7. Koroleva E. B., Zhigiley O. N., Kryazhev A. M., Sergienko O. I., Sokornova T. V. The best accessible technologies : experience and prospects. Saint Petersburg, 2011. 123 p.
8. Lund J. W., Boyd T. L. Direct Utilization of Geothermal Energy 2015 Worldwide Review. Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2015. Melbourne : International Geothermal Association, 2015. 31 p. Available at: https://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/db/WGC/papers/WGC/2015/01000.pdf (accessed: 19.04.2017).
9. Uranium 2014: Resources, Production and Demand : Report. OECD, 2014. 508 p. Available at: http://www.oecd-nea.org/ndd/pubs/2014/7209-uranium-2014.pdf (accessed: 19.04.2017).
10. Uranium Production Cost Study : Special Report. Ux Consulting, 2017. Available at: https://www.uxc.com/p/products/pdf/Flier-UPCS.pdf (accessed: 14.04.2017).
11. Shumilova L. Scientific explanation of innovation technology of gold excavation : development, approbation in Transbaikalian region conditions. Saarbrücken : Palmarium Academic Publishing, 2014. 372 p.
12. Shumilova L. V. Technosphere safety of rock ore complexes (heap leaching of metals). Chita : Izdatelstvo Zabaykalskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, 2015. 357 p.
13. Shumilova L. V., Reznik Yu. N. Combined methods of cuvet and heap leaching of refractory goldbearing raw materials based on directional photoelectrochemical impacts. Chita : Izdatelstvo Zabaykalskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, 2012. 406 p.
14. Aksyutin O. E., Kazaryan V. A., Ishkov A. G., Khloptsov V. G., Teplov M. K. et al. Construction and exploitation of reservoirs in permafrost sedimentary rocks. Izhevsk : Institut kompyuternykh issledovaniy, 2013. 432 p.
15. Khalezov B. D. Heap leaching of copper and copper-zinc ores (domestic experience). Ekaterinburg : RIO UrO RAN, 2013. 332 p.
16. Yu. S. Shevchenko, G. Yu. Popova, A. Yu. Lavrov, A. G. Sekisov. Method of heap-hole leaching of gold from technogenic mineral formations or sand of non-deep placers. Patent RF, No. 2553811. Published: 20.06.2015. Bulletin No. 17.
17. Dressing technology for copper and copper-zinc ores in the Urals. Ed.: V. A. Chanturiya, I. V. Shadrunova. Moscow: Nauka, 2016. 387 p.
18. Britan I. V., Gostyukhin P. D., Alliluev V. N., Leyzerovich S. G. Technology of well hydraulic output of rich iron ores in the KMA. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2004. No. 1. pp. 62–64.
19. Orekhova N. N., Shadrunova I. V., Volkova N. А. Comprehensive waste treatment technologies for copper industry. Innovative Processing for Sustainable Growth : Proceedings of the XXVI International Mineral Processing Congress – IMPC 2012. New Delhi, 2012. pp. 3998–4010.
20. Kondrateva T. F., Bulaev A. G., Muravev M. I. Microorganisms in sulfi de ore processing biogeotechnologies. Moscow : Nauka, 2015. 211 p.
21. Zheng Zhihong, Krylova L. N., Sun Zhan Xue. Investigation of regimes of iron (II) oxidation by immobilized biomass in sulfuric acid medium. Biotekhnologiya. 2015. No. 1. pp. 61–69.
22. Bragin V., Baksheyeva I., Sviridova M. Transformation Mechanism of Ore Matter in the Weathering. International Journal of Nonferrous Metallurgy. 2012. Vol. 1, No. 3. pp. 65–68.
23. Arens V. Zh., Gridin O. M., Derbunovich N. N., Khcheyan G. Kh. Experience acquired in underground leaching of nodular phosphorites. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2016. No. 6. pp. 73–77. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2016.06.06
24. Anoshina L. M., Arens V. Zh., Barybin V. N., Gridin O. M., Fedorova N. S. et al. Method of extracting sodium and potassium chlorides from sylvinite salt liquor. Patent USSR, No. 1265146. Applied: 21.12.1984. Published: 23.10.1986. Bulletin No. 39.