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Koltunov, B.H.; Reznik, V.Y.; Holovko, V.Y.; Meshcheriakov, L.H.; Kravchenko, V.V.
International Conference 'Uranium legacy of Soviet Union in Central Asia: problems and way forward' Proceedings2012
International Conference 'Uranium legacy of Soviet Union in Central Asia: problems and way forward' Proceedings2012
AbstractAbstract
[en] This article is devoted to experience in elimination of uranium mine dumps in Ukraine and decontamination / rehabilitation of contaminated territories. Due to operation of closed enterprises of the former USSR Ministry of Medium machine building that were engaged in extraction and processing of uranium-containing ores, there have been formed thousands of radioactive waste on the territory of Tajikistan. More than 115 million tons of radioactive waste are contained in poor ore dumps and overburdens, and 55.0 million tons are contained in tailings of hydrometallurgical plants. The current situation regarding ensuring radiation safety requirements of areas adjacent to mentioned facilities, which are located in Adrasman and Taboshar, is very unfavorable. This is due to the fact that many of them are open and are not protected from wind and water erosion. It results in the removal of radioactive elements that are present in the waste dumps and tailings beyond their placement. This is a direct threat to public health, since the permanent residence of citizens is located in the area of high radiation. According to ecologists, if no urgent measures for dumps and tailings rehabilitation are taken, a large-scale ecological catastrophe will be inevitable in Tajikistan and neighboring Central Asian countries in case of above mentioned natural disasters. Thus, as a result of Tajikistan uranium mining enterprises operation, there have been formed two types of waste. Namely, these are dumps of poor ores and overburdens, and tailings resulting from uranium extraction from conditioned ores at hydrometallurgical plants. Dumps of poor ores and overburdens, usually this is a hard and piece-forming material, are formed after preliminary radiometric sorting of mine ores where average uranium content is economically unprofitable for its extraction using existing technologies at hydrometallurgical plants. However, in their composition they contain a certain amount of ore material with a high content of uranium. It can be extracted by its additional separation that allows eliminating ore dumps which constitute a dangerous radiation object continuously releasing radioactive radon, dust, ablation of radioactive material by atmospheric condensation. The final product of radiometric separation of dumps is a conditioned ore, which can be used for the extraction of uranium by heap leaching method and building material of a 2 class for roads and industrial building construction. The small building faction is extracted during the processing of dumps and can be used instead of sand for re cultivation of tailings dumps. Currently, using the above mentioned technology of S E 'VostGok', Zhovti Vody, there has been implemented the next stage of transition to almost waste-free production of uranium ore. The Sorting complex 'Altait' was put into operation at Smolinska mine. It is a unique and world's only complex. It was designed by Ukrainian scientists jointly with Institute of S E 'NPK 'AiM VostGok' and was put into operation in 2008. The first stage of 'Ingul' complex was put into trial-industrial operation at Ingul mine in April 2012. Since that time 71 thousand tons of dump ores have been processed. Operation of the above complexes will enable to process dumps at Ingul and Smolinska mines in total volume of 1.0 million tons per year. All dumps can be re-cultivated in 10-12 years. At the same time 110 tons of natural uranium concentrate, 363 thousand tons of crushed stones, 84 thousand tons of sand fraction will be received.
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Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency (Tajikistan); International Science and Technology Center (Russian Federation); Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (Norway); [83 p.]; 2012; p. 146-150; International Conference 'Uranium legacy of Soviet Union in Central Asia: problems and way forward'; Dushanbe (Tajikistan); 20-22 Nov 2012; Also available from Tajik INIS Centre
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