Reducing the Negative Technogenic Impact of the Mining Enterprise on the Environment through Management of the Water Balance

Abstract

In terms of anthropogenic impact of mining and processing enterprises, the adjacent territories are contaminated by upstream tailings dams. The contamination is developed by active seepage of liquid waste through the body of the dams. The authors have analyzed water balance at the Kachkanar Mining and Processing Plant tailings dump (Russia, Ural Region). The company develops vanadium-containing titanium-magnetite iron ores with low ore (15%). This, along with high productivity, has determined the formation of a large number of tailings and significant amount of wastewater. The purpose of the studies is to substantiate the need to manage the seepage discharge process by means of enclosing dams to ensure environmentally safe operation of the tailings dump. The research objectives included field measurements of seepage volumes, their evaluation by computational methods and analysis of anthropogenic geochemical load on natural waters. The obtained results show an increase in seepage discharge volume from 41.91 million m3 (in 2017) to 81.44 million m3 (in 2026) as the height of the dams increases. These losses will lead to water shortages in the enterprise’s water recycling system. Calculation of pollutants in wastewater with the exception of natural component showed the leading role of technogenic factor in the content of Ti (up to 84%), V (up to 96%), Co (up to 86%) and Mo (up to 93%). Increasing the volume of seepage discharge will lead to an increase in natural water pollution within the area. Ecologically efficient management of the enterprise’s water balance is ensured by the use of tailings thickening technology and implementation of closed water supply systems.

Creation of Backfill Materials Based on Industrial Waste

“…Methods for monitoring that kind of vibrations were considered in [15]. Other significant problems and challenges for the mining regions are related to excessive mineral extraction, proper management of sulfide-bearing waste [16], and control of groundwater balance [17].…”

Renewable-Resource Technologies in Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises Providing Environmental Safety

“…Minerals 2021, 11, 1145 2 of 15 and causing direct [6,7] and indirect [8,9] risks to the safety of mining activities. These issues are especially important for countries trying to decrease the injury rates, thanks to the successful implementation of innovative labor safety technologies [10,11].…”

Evaluation of the Performance of Mining Processes after the Strategic Innovation for Sustainable Development

“…The contamination of territories is developed by active seepage of liquid waste of mining (waste management). Menshikova et al (2020) commented particularly important is to evaluate water balance in the mining processes and a significant amount of wastewater (water management). The results of performance indicators are to substantiate the need to manage the seepage discharge process by means of enclosing dams to ensure environmentally safe operation of the tailings dump [10].…”

“…Menshikova et al (2020) commented particularly important is to evaluate water balance in the mining processes and a significant amount of wastewater (water management). The results of performance indicators are to substantiate the need to manage the seepage discharge process by means of enclosing dams to ensure environmentally safe operation of the tailings dump [10]. The growing availability of information and data analysis capabilities provides new opportunities for improving the performance of mining operations.…”