Substantiation of Technology for Extraction of Rare Metals from Mining Wastes Using the Example of Mature Tailings at the Orlovsky Mining and Processing Plant (East Transbaikal)

The paper represents the results of the first stage of experimental research involving material composition analysis of ores from the Orlovskoye lithium and tantalum deposit, as well as the Spokoininskoye tungsten deposit processed at the Orlovsky Mining and Processing Plant (MPP). The average content of chemical elements in the tailing dumps of the Orlovsky MPP is determined with the study of W, Rb and Li, Sc, Ta and Nb, U and Th distribution in the processing tailings performed. Alternative local technologies for chemical digestion (decomposition) of mineral raw materials containing rare and non-ferrous metals are described. The basic technology for the extraction of rare metals and tungsten from mining wastes is substantiated and developed. A combined technological scheme for an alternative variant developed by the authors is described. The presented scheme including the following main operations: enrichment, chemical digestion, three stages of leaching by various chemical solvents (water, mineral acids, acidic solution containing fluorine ions), liquid extraction, regeneration, sedimentation, purification, evaporation, and strengthening. At the conclusion, tasks involved in the second stage of experimental research are outlined.