Hydraulic borehole mining method possible application at Middle Larba alluvial gold field

• Published in: E3S Web of Conferences
• Main Author: Rochev Vikror
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; French
• Published: EDP Sciences 2018
• Subjects: Southern Yakutia; Hydraulic borehole mining; Alluvial gold; Gold-bearing area; Thickness of a seam; Ore occurrences; Concentration; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Yakutia; Siberia
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20185601025; https://doaj.org/article/0db9acd4cb7c44a5ac20b343b87ac54c

Gold on placer deposits is mainly extracted in two ways: open and underground. But the open method of mining has a great negative impact on the environment, and the mine method is characterized by high labor intensity, capital and operating costs. As an alternative to these methods of development of alluvial gold, the hydraulic borehole mining method can be used. The use of a well as a hydro-mining creates favorable opportunities for ensuring nature protection and safe operation. When applying the method, the well does not have hydraulic extractions: stripping, this allows preserving the cultural layer of the soil in its integrity; explosive, loading works and use of motor transport, excluding dustiness and gas pollution of the atmosphere; the hard and harmful work for people's health is eliminated. The method of well drilling requires further serious scientific, technical and developmental studies to increase its reliability and expand the field of application. Alluvial deposits of gold are the most favorable objects for hydraulic borehole mining under their mining and geological conditions. Recently, new gold placers have been identified and are being surveyed at a depth of more than 40 m. With a high content of metal in them, these placers are very promising for mining by the hydraulic borehole mining method. The reserves of gold in these fields reach several tens of tons. Against the backdrop of a reduction in inventories for open and underwater mining, large technical difficulties, significant capital investments and operating costs for underground mining of thawed buried placers, the advantages for gold mining by the hydraulic borehole mining method are increasing. Based on mentioned above, the study of the application of the hydraulic borehole mining method in the conditions of Siberia and the Far East is a timely scientific task.