PIERWIASTKI UŻYTECZNE W SOLANKACH DOPŁYWAJĄCYCH DO WYROBISK KOPALŃ RUD MIEDZI NA MONOKLINIE PRZEDSUDECKIEJ

Abstract

USEFUL ELEMENTS IN BRINE FLOWING INTO THE COPPER ORE MINES OF THE FORE-SUDETIC MONOCLINEAbstract. Technologies that are currently available and still being improved are based on ion-exchange resins or membrane filters and allow carrying out effective recovery of a wide range of significantly low concentrated elements out of the water solution. They also make it possible to lower the discharge of unwanted substances into the environment during, e.g., dewatering of mine sites. It was the reason why KGHM Cuprum Ltd Research & Development Centre undertook research in order to determine the potential of waters inflowing into the excavations of the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. mines as a source of useful elements, including the rare earth elements. The paper presents the preliminary results of studies on contents of selected useful elements in the waters inflowing into the excavations of the Sieroszowice and Rudna mining areas (northern zone). They indicate that, due to higher concentrations, the analyzed waters might be used as a potential source of lithium, boron, rubidium, cesium and some other elements. In the study area, a zoning effect in the distribution of useful elements has been noticed. Ten zones with elevated contents of mainly lithium and boron have been distinguished there, and they were selected for further studies focused, among others, on the determination of the occurrence of rare earth elements