Prospects for development of Sadon deposits by in-situ leaching

The problem of restoring the lost mining potential is of particular relevance for North Ossetia-Alania. For the first time, for solving the problem of the Sadon lead-zinc complex, in connection with depletion of reserves and decreasing grade of extracted polymetallic ores, the feasibility of exploiting the whole deposit by in-situ leaching (ISL) method was investigated. Commercial mineralization of the East Dzhimidon ore zone was characterized in relation to the technological features of the ore preparation for leaching. A comprehensive assessment of the compliance of the ores and the parameters of their position with the requirements of in-situ leaching protocols was given. An audit of the lead and zinc reserves of the Dzhimidon ore field was implemented, taking into account the increase in the reserves eligible for processing due to decreasing the cut-off grades. The theory for effective rock rupture provision to facilitate the subsequent metal was considered. The study was focused on priority separation of intact grains of the useful component from barren rock minerals, with selective energy consumption for breaking interatomic bonds along the intergrowth surfaces only. A criterion of ore blasting preparation (for ISL) was determined, namely, ensuring the level of energy impact, sufficient for breaking weakened intergranular bonds but insufficient for rupture of individual grains. For the first time, a mechanism for expanding mineral resource base through decreasing cut-off grades due to shifting from common underground mining methods to in-situ leaching was demonstrated. The priority of ensuring the quality of ore crushing for leaching through optimization of the blast energy parameters was shown. The ISL performance will be determined taking into account geological parameters of the deposits and ensuring the size of ore grain to be leached.