Spatial distribution of elements, environmental effects, and economic potential of technogenic waste materials of chromite slag from dumps of don mining and processing plant

Ruslan Zairovich Safarov, Zharas G. BERDENOV, Zhanat Shomanova, Yuriy Nossenko, Zhuldyz Bexeitova

2023

Full text Open access: Gold Metadata (CSL-JSON)
DOI 10.59957/jctm.v58i6.162
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

The effective utilization and secondary application of technogenic waste pose significant challenges within the present-day economy.In order to evaluate the environmental impact and economic viability, it is imperative to examine the elemental composition of technogenic materials and unveil the spatial distribution patterns of elements, components, and indices, such as the pollution coefficient.In this research endeavor, we conducted an elemental analysis and calculated various parameters, including the average overall content, hazard quotients, metal concentration coefficients, and comprehensive pollution coefficients.The ground samples collected from the chromite slag dumps at the Don mining and processing plant (located in Khromtau, Aktobe region, Kazakhstan) were subjected to this elemental analysis, which was carried out utilizing an XRF analyzer.Additionally, we employed GIS technology to create maps illustrating the spatial distribution of element concentrations and the total pollution coefficients.Based on the observed extent of soil contamination, it is evident that the area encompassing the studied slag dumps should be deemed an environmental disaster zone.The studied ground was of cobalt-chromium-nickel geochemical specialization.The calculated approximated volume of the accumulated waste mass was 227 974 266.54 m 3 .The calculated approximate weight of the accumulated waste was 229 897 484.97 tons, including 73 744 676.05 tons of iron, 1 227 882.47 tons of manganese, and 403 470.09 tons of chromium.The approximated cost of the waste based on the market prices of components can reach up to 2.8 trillion USD.The considerable concentration of valuable components in the waste mass suggests that the studied technogenic unit has potential as a secondary resource for the production of various technological goods.In addition, the recovery of valuable metals in the form of metal concentrates is also conceivable.