Alteration of water-resistance properties of overburden under influence of sulfuric acid

Abstract

Integrated development of Volkov copper–iron–vanadium deposit is impossible without heap leaching of copper from old oxidized and complex ore stock pile. The current condition of the stock pile imposes risks of pollution on the Laya River water and on the topmost aquifer groundwater. The natural protection barrier between the groundwater and the old oxidized and mixed ore stock pile is rather good. Permeability of the upper layer of the stock pile, determined by the standard procedure in accordance with the construction norms and regulations, is classified with ambiguousness. For final decision-making after geological engineering survey, permeability characteristics of the upper layer were analyzed using different−concentration sulfuric acid solutions to simulate heap leaching conditions.