METHOD OF WORKING OF TAILINGS DUMP Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: mining, particularly, working of tailings dumps of concentration mills. SUBSTANCE: method includes leaching of useful components from preliminarily outlined sections of standard sands of tailings dumps which are separated into blocks of regular shape, for instance, hexagons, and holes are drilled in center and over perimeters of said hexagons down to contact with underlying substandard sands, hydraulic fracture is made under block of operation and filled with hardening composition (water glass, cement, resin) to form hydraulic seal of block from its bottom; sheet piling is provided over block perimeter to ensure block waterproofing from side of its perimeter. Leashing of metals is carried out by injection into central hole of chemical or microbiological solution, which moving over sands of tailings dump within said block reacts with minerals, enriches in useful components, rises over periphery holes to surface, and proceeds for processing to metallurgical plant or to extraction unit. EFFECT: reduced expenditures for production of metals by leaching of useful components from standard sands. 2 dwg