Published on: 2026-11-07
Source: Russian Peoples’ Friendship University – Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia –
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Waste recycling activities at abandoned accumulation sites are not included in any federal programs, but the demand for secondary mineral resources is growing, noted Natalia Yurkevich, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Rational Nature Management at the Institute of Ecology of RUDN University. She presented a study on resource security mechanisms at an organized RUDN round table during the international exhibition “Security Sphere: Systems, Technologies, Solutions.”
Abandoned waste accumulation sites have a negative impact on soil and water resources. In particular, waste extends beyond the site boundaries — drainage migrates outside the technogenic system. As a result, the soil composition changes on and around the storage area — oxidation is activated, leaching occurs. A similar situation is observed with water resources: for example, in the Trans-Baikal Territory, significant anomalies have been detected in surface and groundwater samples in the area of the Shakhtaminsk tailings storage — excessive levels of cadmium, arsenic, molybdenum, and lead.
“Since there are no archival data on storage volumes and no information on the resources of valuable and toxic components within them, a comprehensive approach using geophysical, geochemical, and econometric methods is necessary to develop recommendations for handling such facilities,” she stated.
At the same time, the resources of metals and metalloids (elements with properties between metals and non-metals) in abandoned waste storage sites are significant. Specialists from RUDN University studied abandoned mining and ore processing waste sites in the Kemerovo region, Transbaikal Territory, and the Republic of Tuva. For example, three abandoned sites in the Kemerovo region, with a total mass of 7 million tons, contain 27,000 tons of zinc, 50 tons of indium, 33 tons of mercury, 22 tons of selenium, 9.6 tons of arsenic, and 8.4 tons of antimony.
Was built simulation model, allowing an economic assessment of environmental damage: its total estimate amounted to 458 million rubles. Of these, 293,845,000 rubles is the cost estimate of damage caused to water bodies, 164,337,000 rubles is the cost estimate of damage caused to soils. The cost of land reclamation (with landscaping) was estimated at 717 million rubles.
“Carrying out restoration work requires huge investments, but the expected profit far exceeds their cost. The work may be of interest to private investors, as well as to government bodies dealing with environmental issues. The optimal option is to implement the project within the framework of public-private partnership,” she noted Natalia Yurkevich.
Therefore, RUDN scientists recommend transitioning in the mining industry from the linear model “extraction — use — disposal” to circular economy. For this, in particular, it is necessary to consider enrichment tailings (waste) not as irreversible losses or an environmental burden, but as valuable technogenic deposits, ready to be reintegrated into economic circulation. This allows for simultaneously addressing the most acute environmental problems of the regions and guaranteeing the long-term resource security of the state.
In addition, it is necessary to switch to principle of cascading use.
“Justified the need for multistage waste processing: from the extraction of valuable by-products and rare earth metals at the initial stage to the use of inert residue in the production of construction materials and backfill mixtures in subsequent stages. In addition, the study mentions the necessity minimization primary use natural raw materials. A closed loop in mining demonstrated the possibility of reducing the need for developing new natural deposits by recycling the already extracted volume of raw materials,” she explained Natalia Yurkevich.
Processing mining waste is the only viable way to reduce the accumulated environmental damage, prevention of pollution of water and land resources, as well as the elimination of tailings storage facilities. The extraction of metals and minerals from anthropogenic sources is economically efficient, since the raw material has already been mined and crushed, which significantly reduces capital expenditures compared to traditional mining.
The study proposed mechanisms for ensuring resource security — to reduce import dependence and strengthen the mineral resource base:
- State accounting and incentives. Creation of a unified digital registry man-made deposits with a clear assessment of their reserves, as well as the introduction of tax incentives for enterprises implementing technologies for deep processing of tailings.
- Technological modernization and cooperation. Development and implementation of domestic combined physico-chemical and biotechnological methods of enriching poor technogenic raw materials, as well as the creation of inter-industry clusters linking mining complexes with enterprises in the construction and chemical industries.
- Improvement of the regulatory framework. Simplification of procedures involvement of mineral extraction waste in industrial circulation and the legislative establishment of ownership rights to man-made formations.
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