Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Utilization of extracted wastes and drained waters from uranium mines to backfill Saghand underground uranium mine aiming at reducing environmental hazards

Document Type : Scientific Note

Authors

M.R. Nikgoftar 1
M. Ataei 1
R. Kakaie 1
M.R. Rezvanianzadeh 2

1 Faculty of Mining, Petrozeum Geophysics Engineering, Shahrood University Technology, P.O.Box: 36199-95161, Shahrood – Iran

2 Reactor and Nuclear Safety Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 14155-1339, Tehran – Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2020.1133
Abstract
In uranium mines, the excavated waste has a lower grade than the threshold grade and is dumped on the surface as waste material. Due to erosion and rainfall over time, it is very likely that part of the uranium content is washed out of waste dump and leaked into surface and subsurface water resources and cause severe environmental hazards. The excavated waste during mining, as well as water collected during the drainage process of underground excavations, can be reused in the preparation of concrete fillers. In this study, samples of concrete backfill material were prepared by using waste material excavated from Saghand open pit and underground mines. Based on conducted testing and analyses, it was found that a large proportion of deposed waste and drained water can be used to prepare concrete fillers to fill stopes in Saghand underground mine. This process leads to a major reduction in mining costs, increased safety of mining operations, and significant improvements in reducing environmental pollutions.

Highlights

1.             M.R. Nikgoftar, Presentation of the mixing plan for hydraulic concrete filler in underground uranium mine, Shahrood university technology, (Iran, 2017).

 

2.             S. Dehghan, Numerical analysis and modeling of the behavior of cement pillars in stope and pillar method mining, Science and Research branch of Islamic Azad University, (Iran, 2012).

 

3.             J. Petrolito, R.M. Anderson, Review of binder materials used in stabilized backfill, CIM Bulletin, (2005).

 

4.             S. Saw, M. Villaescusa, Characterization of cemented rock fill materials for the Cosmos, Nickel mine, (Western Australia, 2013).

 

5.             M. Ataei, Underground mining methods, Shahrood university technology, (Iran, 2007).

 

6.             M. Bronkhorst, G. Alain, D. Gregory, Technical report, Cigar Lake Operation, (Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, 2015).

 

7.             D. Leslie, G. Alain, D. Gregory, Technical Report, McArthure River Operation, (Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, 2016).

 

8.             M.R. Nikgoftar, Detailed design of Saghand underground mine, 27+28 block, (Iran, 2007).

 

9.             Instructions for filling underground mining stopes, Publication of mining engineering, Ministry of industry and mines, (Iran, 2009).

 

10.          E. De Souza, J. Archibald, A. Dirige, Economics and perspective of underground backfill practices in Canadian mining, 105th Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. (Montreal, CIM, 2003).

 

11.          T. Grice, Underground mining fill development in Australia, Proceedings of the 7th International Mining and Metallurgy, (Montreal, Que, 1998).

 

12.          X. Feng, N. Zhang, L. Gong, Application of a backfilling method in coal mining to realize an ecologically sensitive “Black Gold” Industry, Energies, (2015).

 

13.          A. Mortazavi, Stability analysis and geomechanical design of the main excavations in saghand underground mine, Emka Co, (Iran, 2006).

Keywords

Cut-off grade
Uranium mines waste
Environmental pollution
Concrete fillers
1.             M.R. Nikgoftar, Presentation of the mixing plan for hydraulic concrete filler in underground uranium mine, Shahrood university technology, (Iran, 2017).
 
2.             S. Dehghan, Numerical analysis and modeling of the behavior of cement pillars in stope and pillar method mining, Science and Research branch of Islamic Azad University, (Iran, 2012).
 
3.             J. Petrolito, R.M. Anderson, Review of binder materials used in stabilized backfill, CIM Bulletin, (2005).
 
4.             S. Saw, M. Villaescusa, Characterization of cemented rock fill materials for the Cosmos, Nickel mine, (Western Australia, 2013).
 
5.             M. Ataei, Underground mining methods, Shahrood university technology, (Iran, 2007).
 
6.             M. Bronkhorst, G. Alain, D. Gregory, Technical report, Cigar Lake Operation, (Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, 2015).
 
7.             D. Leslie, G. Alain, D. Gregory, Technical Report, McArthure River Operation, (Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, 2016).
 
8.             M.R. Nikgoftar, Detailed design of Saghand underground mine, 27+28 block, (Iran, 2007).
 
9.             Instructions for filling underground mining stopes, Publication of mining engineering, Ministry of industry and mines, (Iran, 2009).
 
10.          E. De Souza, J. Archibald, A. Dirige, Economics and perspective of underground backfill practices in Canadian mining, 105th Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. (Montreal, CIM, 2003).
 
11.          T. Grice, Underground mining fill development in Australia, Proceedings of the 7th International Mining and Metallurgy, (Montreal, Que, 1998).
 
12.          X. Feng, N. Zhang, L. Gong, Application of a backfilling method in coal mining to realize an ecologically sensitive “Black Gold” Industry, Energies, (2015).
 
13.          A. Mortazavi, Stability analysis and geomechanical design of the main excavations in saghand underground mine, Emka Co, (Iran, 2006).

Home