Link for citation: Vasileva  A.A., Boduen  A.Ya. Mineralogical features and processing of copper zinc-containing concentrates (Uchalinsky mining and processing plant). Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Аssets Engineering, 2023, vol. 334, no. 3, рр. 61-72. In Rus.

Relevance. Copper-pyrite ores of Russia are the basis of the mineral resource base of the country's metallurgical industry, primarily providing copper and zinc, and metals such as Pb, Au, Ag, etc. Today, about 25 % of the total balance reserves of zinc of the country is in the composition of copper pyrite ores, the role of the main component in which is performed by copper. The result of the flotation enrichment of copper pyrite ores is the production of substandard copper concentrates (Cu content ⁓15–20 %, Zn content ≥5 %). The pyrometallurgical processing of such materials into blister copper is characterized by high costs, as well as irretrievable losses of valuable components. Today, the issues of studying the characteristics of raw materials and deposits, developing technologies for processing copper- and zinc-containing materials, as well as analyzing existing and promising processing options are relevant and, as a result, can have positive effect both in terms of the complexity of using raw materials, improving the quality of the resulting products and the degree of their extraction, and, consequently, from an economic point of view. The aim: analysis of the characteristics of copper zinc-bearing ores, in particular, the ores of the Uchalinsky and Verkhneuralsky copper ore regions enriched at the Uchalinsky mining and processing plant, mineralogical assessment of the concentrates of the Uchalinsky mining and processing plant, followed by the selection of promising options for processing low-grade copper concentrates based on hydrometallurgical processing methods. Methods. The analysis of data on the main types of copper deposits, the characteristics of copper pyrite ores in Russia, as well as more detailed data on ores enriched at the mining and processing plant was carried out on the basis of a review of domestic and foreign literary and information sources. Also, an analysis of the concentrate and middlings of the Uchalinsky mining and processing plant was carried out. Due to the information obtained through the combination of the above methods, an assessment was made and information on possible options for improving the processing technologies of the studied raw materials was presented. Results. Thanks to the study and development of more integrated approaches in processing materials with a low content of useful components and complex raw materials, in particular, studied in this work, in the future it will be possible to achieve improved technological performance from both an economic and environmental point of view. In this paper, the raw materials and products used and obtained, respectively, at the Uchalinsky mining and processing plant, the Republic of Bashkiria, will be considered in more detail.