Assessment of eco-hazard of copper-nickel ore mining and processing waste

The authors examine oxidation of sulfide minerals in mine waste and the associated ecological problems. The highest environmental hazard is produced by fine-dispersed mill tailings, especially where sulfide content is comparable with nonmetal content of low-chemical activity. In terms of some production waste accumulations in Murmansk Region, it is shown that the eco-hazard source can be not only fine but also coarse particle waste (Allarechensky mine waste) and ore concentration waste with low sulfide content but highly chemical-active nonmetals (Pechenga ore field).