Scientists at the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS are developing a novel modeling methodology for evaluating bulk volume of tailing dumps based on electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), aerial photography, and electromagnetic profiling (using "EMS" tool for the frequency electromagnetic induction sensing method). The accuracy of the modeling data can be improved through their integration with geochemical testing results and joint interpretation.
By using the novel methodology, scientists from IPGG SB RAS have investigated different technogenic bodies, among them the Beloklyuchevsky tailings dump, the Komsomolsk hydraulic fill area (tailing dump of gold-extraction factory) and the Talmovsky Sands abandoned mine tailings (contain wastes from the Salair Mining and Processing Plant (SMPP)).
According to the researchers, it has become possible to identify the areas of “leakage”, i.e. where compounds migrate out of tailing dumps within drainage streams and get discharged into the rivers or seeped into groundwater, or emanate in the atmosphere with air flows for tens of kilometers, thereby causing a high load on the environment. In addition, geoelectric models of waste dumps have been built and the volumes of waste containing potentially valuable and toxic elements such as gold, silver, and arsenic evaluated.
ERT profile laid on the Beloklyuchevsky dump: photo taken from a quadcopter…
… and from the tailing dump surface.
The complex of modern methods of shallow geophysical surveying applied in the studies included: electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) with a multielectrode resistivity meter (Skala-48, IPGG SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia) aerial photography using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Numerical modeling and inversion of ERT data were performed using specialized software.
– Data on volumes and masses of wastes according to actual observations, the results of ERT measurements and geochemical testing can be further used to calculate resources of valuable and toxic elements (for example, precious and non-ferrous metals or toxic lead, arsenic, etc.) contained in mine tailing dumps, – noted scientists from IPGG SB RAS.
The relevance of solving the problem of industrial pollution is determined by the social significance of the natural environment protecting. Further work in this direction is related to the compilation of a register of such objects, the calculation of economic feasibility and environmental damage. Accurate information is needed to select a future strategy and select technologies for processing and / or reburial of facilities.
For reference
Yuri Karin, researcher from the Laboratory of Electromagnetic Fields IPGG SB RAS, made a presentation on results of his research work at the geophysical seminar of IPGG SB RAS based on the abstract of his dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences (PhD Tech Sci) in specialty 1.6.9 ‒ Geophysics (scientific supervisor: Nataliya Yurkevich, PhD).
Published by IPGG press service
Photos courtesy of Y. G. Karin