Izindlela Zokumba Zamaminerali Angavamile
Amaminerali angavamile—avame ukubizwa ngokuthi amaminerali abalulekile—adlala indima ebalulekile kwezobuchwepheshe besimanje. Izinsimbi namaminerali afana ne-lithium, i-cobalt, i-nickel, izakhi zomhlaba ezingavamile (ama-REE), i-tantalum, i-niobium, i-gallium, ne-germanium yizinto ezibalulekile zamabhethri ezimoto zikagesi, ama-wind turbine, amaphaneli elanga, amadivayisi kagesi, kanye nemboni yezokuvikela. Ukwanda kwesidingo somhlaba wonke kwenza ukumbiwa kwamaminerali angavamile kube yinto ehlelekile futhi eyinselele, njengoba amadiphozithi amaningi ehlakazekile, esezingeni eliphansi, noma atholakala ezindaweni ezibucayi. Lesi sihloko sixoxa ngezindlela ezivamile zokumbiwa kwamaminerali angavamile, okuhlanganisa nokucabangela ubuchwepheshe, ezomnotho, kanye nezemvelo.
1. Izici Zezimbiwa Ezingavamile
Akuwona wonke amaminerali omhlaba angavamile atholakala "kuma-ore acebile" atholakala kalula. Amadiphozithi amaningi e-REE, i-lithium, noma i-cobalt asezingeni eliphansi, adinga inani elikhulu lokumba kanye nezinqubo zokucubungula eziyinkimbinkimbi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, amaminerali omhlaba angavamile avame ukuhlotshaniswa nokungcola noma amanye amaminerali anenani eliphansi, okwandisa izindleko zokuhlukanisa. Isibonelo, amaminerali omhlaba angavamile avame ukuhlotshaniswa ne-monazite noma i-bastnasite, engaqukatha izakhi zomsebe njenge-thorium ne-uranium emazingeni abalulekile. Lokhu kwandisa isidingo sokuphathwa kwemfucuza okuqinile.
Lezi zici zinquma ukukhetha indlela yokumba: ukuthi ngabe ukumbiwa kwemigodi evulekile, ukumbiwa kwemigodi ngaphansi komhlaba, ukuhlanzwa kwendawo, ukumbiwa kwemigodi egeleza amanzi, noma ngisho nokukhishwa emiseleni yemigodi emidala kanye nemfucuza kufaneleka kakhulu.
2. Ukumba Okuvulekile
Ukumba imigodi evulekile kuyindlela evame kakhulu yokumba imigodi emikhulu eduze kobuso. Le ndlela isetshenziswa kabanzi kuma-nickel laterite, amanye ama-cobalt deposits, kanye nama-ore athile angajulile kakhulu.
Izinzuzo zokumba imigodi evulekile:
– Ukukhiqiza okuphezulu kanye nezindleko eziphansi ngethani.
– Imisebenzi kulula ukuyiqapha nokuyilawula.
– Kufanelekela amadiphozithi amakhulu, asezingeni eliphansi adinga isikali esikhulu sokukhiqiza.
Inselele:
– Imithelela yemvelo ibonakala kakhulu: izinguquko endaweni, ukugawulwa kwamahlathi, uthuli, umsindo, kanye namathuba okuphuma kwamanzi emayini ene-asidi uma amatshe equkethe ama-sulfide.
– Izidingo zendawo enkulu zendawo yokugcina imfucuza kanye nendawo yokugcina imfucuza.
– Kudinga uhlelo oluqinile lokuvuselela kanye nohlelo lokuvala imayini kusukela ekuqaleni.
Empeleni, ukumbiwa kwemigodi evulekile yamaminerali omhlaba ongavamile kuvame ukuhlanganiswa nezinqubo zokuzuza (ukuchoboza, ukugaya, ukuhlukaniswa kwamandla adonsela phansi/ukugoba kwamagnetic) ngaphambi kokungena esigabeni sokucwengisisa amakhemikhali.
3. Ukumba Ngaphansi Komhlaba
Uma idiphozithi ijule kakhulu noma indawo engaphezulu idinga ukuvikelwa (isibonelo, eduze kwezindawo zokuhlala noma izindawo zokulondolozwa), ukumba ngaphansi komhlaba kuyindlela engcono. Le ndlela ivame kakhulu kumadiphozithi emithambo yegazi, noma amadiphozithi asezingeni eliphezulu kodwa amancane, okuhlanganisa neminye imithombo ye-tantalum, i-niobium, ne-cobalt edwaleni eliqinile.
Amasu ayinhloko:
– Sika bese ugcwalisa: kufanelekile ezindaweni eziqinile, ezisezingeni eliphezulu, nezinomumo ongavamile.
– Isikhala kanye nensika: yezindawo ezisicaba kanye namatshe aqinile asekelayo.
– Ukuma noma ukugoba amabhlogo ngaphansi kwezinga eliphansi: kwezindawo ezinkulu ezigciniwe, kuye ngokuthi idwala lisebenza kahle kangakanani.
Izinzuzo:
– Indawo engaphansi komhlaba incane kunemigodi evulekile.
– Ingabe ingakwazi ukumba amadiphozithi asezingeni eliphezulu ngokukhetha okwengeziwe?
Ukushoda:
– Izindleko eziphakeme, imisebenzi eyinkimbinkimbi kakhulu, kudinga umoya ohlanzekile nokuphepha okuqinile.
– Izingozi ze-Geotechnical njengokuwa kwamatshe nokuqhuma kwegesi (ngaphansi kwezimo ezithile).
– Ukukhiqiza ngeyunithi yesikhathi ngokuvamile kuphansi.
4. Ukuhlanzwa Kwangaphakathi Kwendawo (ISL) kanye Nokuhlanzwa Kwama-Heap
Amanye amaminerali angavamile angakhishwa ngaphandle kokukhipha i-ore yonke ngendlela evamile. Ukukhipha i-in-situ kuhilela ukufaka isixazululo se-leach embhedeni we-ore ngaphansi komhlaba, bese kupompa isixazululo esicebile ngensimbi phezulu ukuze sicutshungulwe. Le ndlela yaziwa kakhulu nge-uranium, kodwa lo mqondo usetshenziswa noma ucwaningwa kwezinye izinhlobo eziningana zamadiphozithi.
Okwamanje, ukuhlanzwa kwenqwaba kuhilela ukufaka i-ore echotshoziwe embhedeni ongangenwa amanzi bese uthela isisombululo samakhemikhali phezu kwayo ukuze kuncibilikiswe izinsimbi ezithile. I-lithium evela kuma-ore athile nezinsimbi ingatholakala kusetshenziswa indlela efanayo, kuye ngokuthi i-mineralogy yazo ingakanani.
Izinzuzo:
– Kunciphisa isidingo sokumba okukhulu kanye nokusetshenziswa kwemishini esindayo.
– Izindleko ezingaba khona eziphansi zamadiphozithi athile.
Ubungozi:
– Ukulawulwa kwamanzi kubalulekile; kukhona ingozi yokuvuza kwesisombululo emanzini angaphansi komhlaba.
– Ukusebenza kahle kuncike kakhulu ekungeneni kwamatshe kanye nokusabela kwamaminerali.
– Ukuqapha nokuvala imvelo kumele kube bukhali ukuze kuvinjelwe ukukhishwa kwezinto ezingcolisayo.
5. Ukumbiwa kweLithium kusuka eBrine (Salute naseSalt Lake)
Ku-lithium, indlela ebaluleke kakhulu ukukhipha emanzini anosawoti ezitsheni ezivalekile njenge-salars zaseNingizimu Melika. Ngokuvamile, amanzi anosawoti afakwa emachibini anomswakama, lapho amanzi ekhishwa khona ukushisa kwelanga, okwandisa ukugcwala kwe-lithium futhi ekugcineni abe yinhlanganisela ethile ngaphambi kokuhluzwa abe yi-lithium carbonate noma i-lithium hydroxide.
Izinzuzo:
– Izindleko zokusebenza zingaba ziphansi uma izimo zezulu zivuma (zishisa futhi zomile).
– Akudingi ukumbiwa kwamatshe amakhulu njengokumbiwa kwemigodi evulekile.
Izinselele ezinkulu:
– Ukusetshenziswa kwamanzi kanye nomthelela ekubalweni kwamanzi endawo, okuhlanganisa nezindawo zemvelo kanye nezidingo zomphakathi.
– Isikhathi eside sokucubungula (izinyanga kuya eminyakeni) ngoba kuncike ekuhwamukeni.
– Ukwehlukahlukana kwamakhemikhali okusebenzisa amanzi angcolile kungenza kube nzima ukuhlanzwa (isib. isilinganiso esiphezulu se-Mg/Li).
Ubuchwepheshe be-Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) buyathuthukiswa njengamanje, obuhilela ukukhipha i-lithium ngqo kusetshenziswa ama-adsorbents athile, ama-membrane, noma izinyibilikisi. I-DLE inamandla okusheshisa ukukhiqizwa nokunciphisa ukuthembela emachibini okuhwamuka, kodwa idinga ukutshalwa kwezimali okuphezulu kanye nobunzima bezobuchwepheshe.
6. Ukumbiwa Kwemigodi Enezimbobo Ezingaphansi Komhlaba kanye Nezindawo Zokumba
Amaminerali afana ne-monazite (isithwali sezinto zomhlaba ezingavamile), i-zircon, noma i-cassiterite ngezinye izikhathi atholakala ezindaweni zokugcina isihlabathi/i-beach sand (izindawo zokugcina). Izindlela zokumba zifaka phakathi ukumba, ukumba okungajulile, kanye nokuhlukaniswa kwamandla adonsela phansi.
Izinzuzo:
– Itshe le-ore “likhululekile” emadwaleni aqinile ngakho-ke ukuchotshozwa kuncane kakhulu.
– Ukuhlukaniswa kwamandla adonsela phansi okusebenzayo ngenxa yokwehluka kobuningi bamaminerali.
Ukushoda:
– Izwela kakhulu emiphumeleni yenhlabathi, ukukhukhuleka kwamanzi, kanye nezinguquko ekugelezeni kogu noma komfula.
– Izinkinga ezingaba khona ze-radioactivity ku-monazite zidinga ukuphathwa okukhethekile.
7. Ukukhishwa kwe-Silingings, i-Mining Waste, kanye ne-Durban Mining
Ngenxa yokuthi amaminerali omhlaba angavamile ayigugu futhi awatholakali kalula, izindlela ezingavamile ziyathandwa: ukukhipha izinsimbi ezingcolisweni zemayini endala, i-slag yokuncibilikisa, noma imfucuza kagesi (i-e-waste). Ngobuchwepheshe, lokhu akuyona "i-mining" yakudala, kodwa kuvame ukuwela ngaphansi kwesigaba se-secondary mining.
I-Manfaat:
– Kunciphisa isidingo sokuvula izimayini ezintsha.
– Ukubuyisela umhlaba owawukade uvubukuliwe ngokunciphisa umthamo wezindawo ezisele.
– Ukusekela umnotho ojikelezayo.
Inselele:
– Izinto ziyahlukahluka kakhulu futhi zingaxutshwa nezinto ezingcolisayo.
– Kudinga ubuchwepheshe obuthuthukisiwe bokuhlukanisa (i-hydrometallurgy, i-pyrometallurgy, noma i-bioleaching).
– Izimvume nezindinganiso zemvelo zihlala ziqinile.
8. I-Bioleaching kanye ne-Hydrometallurgy Yesimanje
Kwamaminerali amaningi angavamile, isihluthulelo asigcini nje ngendlela yokumba kodwa futhi nangendlela yokukhipha amakhemikhali. I-Bioleaching isebenzisa amabhaktheriya ukuncibilikisa izinsimbi ezivela kumaminerali e-sulfide, kuyilapho i-hydrometallurgy isebenzisa izinyibilikisi ze-acid/base, ukukhishwa kwe-solvent, ukushintshana kwama-ion, kanye nokuchithwa kwemvula okukhethayo.
Isibonelo, endabeni yamaminerali omhlaba ongavamile (ama-REE), uma ukugxila sekukhiqizwe, inqubo yokuhlukanisa izakhi ngezakhi idinga uchungechunge olude lokukhishwa kwe-solvent. Yingakho uchungechunge lwenani lamaminerali omhlaba ongavamile luvame ukunqunywa kakhulu ngamandla okucwenga kunokukhiqizwa kwe-ore nje.
9. Izici Zokuphepha Nezemvelo
Ukumbiwa kwamaminerali angavamile kumele kuqashelwe:
– Ukuphathwa kwemisila: ukuvimbela ukwehluleka kwedamu lemisila nokulawula ukugeleza kwamanzi emayini ene-asidi.
– Ukulawulwa kothuli namakhemikhali: ikakhulukazi ngesikhathi sokuchoboza, ukugaya kanye nokukhuhla.
– Ukuphathwa kwezinto ezingcolile: okuhlanganisa namathuba okuba khona kwemisebe kwezinye izikhala ze-REE.
– Ukuvuselelwa nokuvalwa: ukuqina kwemithambeka, ukuvuselelwa kwezitshalo, kanye nokuqapha ikhwalithi yamanzi isikhathi eside.
– Ukuzibandakanya komphakathi: ukubonisana nomphakathi, ukucaca, kanye nokwabelana ngokufanele ngezinzuzo zomnotho.
Isiphetho
Izindlela zokumba amaminerali omhlaba ongavamile ziyahlukahluka kakhulu futhi zithonywa uhlobo lwediphozithi, ukujula, ibanga le-ore, izimo zejiyoloji, kanye nemingcele yezemvelo neyezenhlalo. Ukumba imigodi evulekile kudlula zonke izilinganiso ezinkulu kanye namadiphozithi angajulile, kuyilapho ukumba ngaphansi komhlaba kunikeza ukukhetha kanye nendawo encane ebusweni, kuyilapho i-ISL, ukuhlanzwa kwenqwaba, kanye nokukhishwa kosawoti kunikeza ezinye izixazululo ezihlukile ezimweni ezithile. Esikhathini esizayo, inhlanganisela yezinto ezintsha—njenge-DLE ye-lithium, ukubuyiselwa kwe-tailings, kanye nokumba emadolobheni—kuzoba kubaluleke kakhulu ukuhlangabezana nesidingo somhlaba wonke ngemiphumela elawulekayo. Ngokuhlela ngokucophelela, ubuchwepheshe obufanele, kanye nokulawulwa okuqinile kwemvelo, ukumba imigodi omhlaba ongavamile kungaba okuzinzile futhi kusekele ukuguquka kwamandla kanye nentuthuko yezobuchwepheshe.
