Modeling of thermal conditions for ore stockpile in heap leaching of gold in cold climates

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-1-102-108

Читать на русскоя языкеM.V. Kaimonov , A.I. Matveev, D.V. Hosoev
Institute of Mining of the North named after N.V. Chersky of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №1 / 2025 p. 102-108

Abstract: The paper presents the results of research, which primary practical goal is wide implementation of the heap leaching technology in areas with harsh climatic conditions, i.e. presence of permafrost and long winter periods. The main limiting factor for applying the method in regions with cold climate is that the leaching efficiency of any type of gold-bearing ores considerably depends on the temperature conditions of the ore stockpiled and the leaching solution, which in turn determines the seasonal nature (only in the Summer months) of gold mining operations utilizing the heap leaching technology. Appropriate physical properties need to be set for all the materials available in the area to be modeled. The boundary conditions also have to be defined for all heat transfer conditions used in the model. Modeling of the leaching solution filtration in the Frost.Thermo software suite is based on the extensively tested equation for groundwater filtration derived from the Darcy law. Solution of the thermal conductivity equation in the 3D formulation is carried out numerically using the explicit method of finite differences. According to the results of computer modeling in the Frost 3D software suite, emergency failure of the thermal insulation coating on the stockpile surface leads to freezing of the rocks in the stockpile down to a considerable depth. Calculations of the thermal conditions of the ore stockpile have been carried out for different conditions of its surface thermal insulation. The most optimal method to thermally insulate the walls of the stockpile is to cover the slopes (walls) of its lower tier with a 1-meter thick snow layer, while the slopes (walls) of the upper tiers should be insulated with a film having an air interlayer of 3 cm.

Keywords: heap leaching, permafrost zone, ore stockpile, thermal insulation, freezing depth, thermal conditions, 3D modeling

Acknowledgments: The work was carried out under a research project using the equipment of the Shared Research Center of the Yakutsk Federal Research Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The research results were obtained as part of the Program for Integrated Scientific Research in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) aimed at the development of productive forces and social sphere for 2021-2024 (Project No. 4, Phase 2, EGISU NIOCTR No. AAAA-B-17-217060520052-0).

For citation: Kaimonov M.V., Matveev A.I., Hosoev D.V. Modeling of thermal conditions for ore stockpile in heap leaching of gold in cold climates. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(1):102–108. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-1-102-108

Article info

Received: 13.11.2024

Revised: 09.01.2025

Accepted: 10.01.2025

Information about the authors

Mikhail V. Kaimonov – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, Institute of Mining of the North named after N.V. Chersky, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2506-8349; e-mail: gtf@igds.ysn.ru

Andrey I. Matveev – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), leading researcher, Institute of Mining of the North named after N.V. Chersky, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4298-5990; e-mail: andrei.mati@mail.yandex.ru

Dorzho V. Hosoev – Junior Research Fellow, Institute of Mining of the North named after N.V. Chersky, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation; e-mail: hosoev70@mail.ru

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