Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combinat, Navoi, Uzbekistan:

N. P. Snitka, Chief Engineer, info@ngmk.uz

Karimov Tashkent State Technical University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan:
R. Sh. Naimova, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

The article discusses feasibility of benefi cial use of open pit mining waste at the Muruntau gold deposit, Republic of Uzbekistan. The waste includes resources (low-grade ore stockpiles, overburden dumps) and area (place occupied by stockpiles and dumps, mined-out areas suitable for placement of temporal or permanent stockpiles and dumps). According to preliminary estimates, from 25 to 40% of rock mass in dumps and stockpiles formed during the early-stage operation of Muruntau open pit mine contain sufficient gold for economic extraction. The analysis of the mining waste utilization problem at Muruntau open pit mine allowed distinguishing between three groups of such waste with respect to profi tability: immediately economic for processing and gold extraction (round 14%); possible processing in the future (39%) and irreparable loss (61%). The party lines between the groups are nonconclusive and depend on the gold market situation as well as on the technology of extraction of raw materials from the waste. The spatial resource can also be used fruitfully. Based on the studies of expansion of Muruntau open pit mine limits, the mined-out areas suitable for temporal stockpiling of low-grade ore and for overburden dumping were found. Furthermore, areas to be vacant on the surface in the future owing to selective treatment of dumps were determined.

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