Conditions of leaching non-ferrous metals from non-commercial reserves

The relevance. Traditional technologies of underground development of ore deposits are characterized by irretrievable losses of non-commercial reserves in the ground. The alternative to traditional technologies is the technology of metals leaching in underground conditions without extracting the earth's surface, allowing production of non-commercial reserves. The aim of the study is to prove technical and economic feasibility of leaching metals from sub-standard metal-bearing minerals while solving the problems related to this. Method of the study problem is based on the analysis of the results of the industrial-experimental leaching non-commercial ores, and commercial ones on rocky fields with the investigation of metal extraction in product solution due to the technological exposure of a re+ agent solution on metal ores. Results. The authors have proposed the algorithm of combining the alternative technologies of underground mining with the development of a compensation space for crushing non-commercial ores by excavating commercial ones; justified the principle of combining the technologies of mine treatment in traditional way and underground one with selective extraction of a part of commercial ores and formation of the compensation space required for fragmentation, where the non-commercial ore is removed with further leaching. The paper introduces the detailed understanding of the main processes of a new technology: blasting, draw, irrigation and intensification of leaching, and demonstrates the benefits of engaging non-commercial ores in manufacture by a new technology, including the utilization of mineral resources, strengthening the resource base, reducing the burden on the environment. Conclusions. Combination of technologies which allows extracting a part of commercial ores for factory processing and averaging the content of non-commercial ores to the acceptable value within leaching, meets the interests of resource and nature preservation and it is a promising direction of strengthening the raw material base of mining industry, revitalizing the economy and addressing the environ-mental and social problems.