Tailings classification by hazard category

Dumping of tailings creates a risk of degradation to the ecosystem. Tailings mineralogy and geotechnical parameters will help to assess their environmental characteristics. The article presents a study of the mineralogical characterization of the tailings from a tailings dump in order to assess the impact on the environment. Samples for the investigation were collected from three tailing dumps of the following processing plants of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC): Gayskaya; Buribayevskaya; Uchalinskaya. The samples were analyzed using X-ray radiography method in the laboratory of the Platov South Russian State Polytechnic University. As a result of the studies, it was established that tailings contain potentially toxic elements that have a negative impact on the soil layer within a radius of at least 200 meters. Presence of secondary minerals in tailings formed as a result of sulfide oxidation has been proven. A classification of tailings by the degree of potential hazard is presented.