Prospects for studying the cryogenic state of ore piles in heap leaching using geophysical methods

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-4S-68-72

Читать на русскоя языкеN.D. Prudetskii , I.I. Savvinov, L.L. Fedorova, K.O. Sokolov, D.V. Hosoev
N.V. Chersky Mining Institute of the North of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №4S / 2025 p. 68-72

Abstract: The article discusses the use of geophysical methods, such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical tomography, to study the structure and cryogenic state of the rocks in ore piles during heap leaching of useful components. Methodologies are presented for conducting field geophysical studies using each of the methods. The results of the work performed are presented using one of the geophysical profiles as an example, and interpretations of the ground-penetrating radar and geoelectric sections are shown. Two different types of wave field patterns are identified on the ground-penetrating radar section, which are associated with the structural features of the ore pile. The geoelectric section shows layers with different values of specific electrical resistivity, which characterize the cryogenic state of the rock in the ore pile during the geophysical survey. As a result of GPR survey of the rocks in the ore pile, it was established that the dry ore, the dry frozen ore, and the frozen ore with the 10% moisture content have similar, barely distinguishable dielectric permeability values. The wet ore is characterized with a high dielectric permeability value of 7.4. This is more than twofold higher than other media selected for measurements. The velocities of electromagnetic wave propagation in the studied ore conditions have practically identical values. A significant difference in the velocity occurs only in wet ore, where it slows down to 0.110 m/ns.

Keywords: rock, ore pile, heap leaching, cryogenic processes, georadar, electrical prospecting, geomaterial, dry ore, dry frozen ore, frozen ore

Acknowledgments: The study was carried out within the State Assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Topic No. FWRS-2021-0020, № 122011800086-1, EGISU NIOCTR; Topic No.FWRS-2021-0021, EGISU NIOCTR, 122011800083-0) using instruments that belong to the Shared core facilities of the Federal Research Center, Yakutsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

For citation: Prudetskii N.D., Savvinov I.I., Fedorova L.L., Sokolov K.O., Hosoev D.V. Prospects for studying the cryogenic state of ore piles in heap leaching using geophysical methods. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(4S):68–72. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-4S-68-72

Article info

Received: 20.06.2025

Revised: 13.08.2025

Accepted: 20.08.2025

Information about the authors

Nikolai D. Prudetskii – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Researcher, N.V. Chersky Mining Institute of the North of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Innokenty I. Savvinov – Leading Engineer, N.V. Chersky Mining Institute of the North of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1256-2689

Larisa L. Fedorova – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Leading Researcher, N.V. Chersky Mining Institute of the North of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation

Kirill O. Sokolov – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, N.V. Chersky Mining Institute of the North of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4179-9619

Dorzho V. Hosoev – Junior Research, N.V. Chersky Mining Institute of the North of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russian Federation

References

1. Козловский Е.А. (ред.) Горная энциклопедия: в 5 т. М.: Советская энциклопедия; 1987. Т. 3. 592 с.

2. Кашуба С.Г., Лесков М.И. Кучное выщелачивание в российской практике – обзор опыта и анализ перспектив. Золото и технологии. 2014;(1):10–14. Режим доступа: https://zolteh.ru/technology_equipment/kuchnoe_vyshchelachivanie_v_rossiyskoy_praktike_obzor_opyta_i_analiz_perspektiv/ (дата обращения: 17.12.2024). Kashuba S.G., Leskov M.I. Heap leaching in the Russian practice: a review of experience and analysis of prospects. Zoloto i Tekhnologii. 2014;(1):10–14. (In Russ.) Available at: https://zolteh.ru/technology_equipment/kuchnoe_vyshchelachivanie_v_rossiyskoy_praktike_obzor_opyta_i_analiz_perspektiv/ (accessed: 17.12.2024).

3. Татаринов А.П., Гудков С.С., Дементьев В.Е. Основные аспекты технологии кучного выщелачивания из золотосодержащего сырья. Золотодобыча. 2001;(34):41–49. Режим доступа: https://zolotodb.ru/article/373 (дата обращения: 03.07.2025).Tatarinov A.P., Gudkov S.S., Dementiev V.E. Key aspects of the heap leaching technology for gold-bearing raw materials. Zolotodobycha. 2001;(34):41–49. (In Russ.) Available at: https://zolotodb.ru/article/373 (accessed: 03.07.2025).

4. Оленченко В.В., Осипова П.С., Калганов А.С., Чекрыжов А.В. Электротомография рудного штабеля при кучном выщелачивании золота. В кн.: Инженерная и рудная геофизика 2021: материалы 17-й науч.-практ. конф. и выставки, г. Геленджик, 26–30 апреля 2021 г. М.: ЕАГЕ ГЕОМОДЕЛЬ; 2021. С. 12. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.202152019

5. Maghsoudy S., Ardejani F.D., Molson J., Amini M., Ebrahimi L. Application of geo-electrical tomography in coupled hydromechanical – chemical investigations in heap leaching. Mine Water and the Environment. 2019;38(1):197–212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-018-0557-6

6. Сясько А.А., Гриб Н.Н., Имаев В.С., Гриб Г.В. Выбор оптимальной методики геофизического контроля целостности гидроизоляции площадок кучного выщелачивания. Известия высших учебных заведений. Горный журнал. 2018;(6):41–49. https://doi.org/10.21440/0536-1028-2018-6-41-49Sias’ko A.A., Grib N.N., Imaev V.S., Grib G.V. Selecting effective methodology of geophysical control over the heap leaching pad waterproofing integrity. Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedeniy. Gornyy Zhurnal. 2018;(6):41–49. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21440/0536-1028-2018-6-41-49

7. Юркевич Н.В., Бортникова С.Б., Оленченко В.В., Проворная И.В., Саева О.П. Оценка современного состояния хвостохранилища золоторудного производства: ценные и токсичные компоненты. Интерэкспо ГЕО-Сибирь. 2017;2(4):113–117.Yurkevich N.V., Bortnikova S.B., Olenchenko V.V., Provornaya I.V., Saeva O.P. The current state of gold mining tailings: valuable and toxic components. Interexpo GEO-Siberia. 2017;2(4):113–117. (In Russ.)

8. Великин С.А., Марченко Ю.Л., Бажин К.И. Геофизические исследования при изучении инженерно-геокриологического состояния вмещающих горных пород восточного борта карьера «Нюрбинский» (Западная Якутия). Вестник Камчатской региональной ассоциации учебно-научный центр. Серия: Науки о Земле. 2015;(3):35–46.Velikin S.A., Marchenko U.L., Bazhin K.I. Geophysical research during the study of engineering and geocryological state of host rocks in the eastern mine “Nyurba” (Western Yakutia). Bulletin of Kamchatka Regional Association “EducationalScientific Center”. Earth Sciences. 2015;(3):35–46. (In Russ.)