VAPOR-GAS TRANSFER OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS UNDER LOW-TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS (FIELD AND LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS)

Abstract

: The article presents the results of a study of the elemental composition of condensates collected at the Ursk sulfide waste heaps (Kemerovo region). The composition of the vapor-gas phase under ambient conditions was compared with the composition obtained in laboratory experiments by heating the waste material to 60°C. Element con-centrations in condensates collected at the waste heaps significantly exceed background values. In the adjacent territory at a distance of 100 and 200 m the metal content does not reach the background. In the condensates of laboratory experiments, many chemical elements were determined, including Au, Zr, Cs, U, Tl. A high positive correlation between the compositions of condensates and the compositions of aqueous extracts extracted from parallel samples was established. This suggests that the sources of elements in condensed gas-vapor streams are secondary sulfates formed during the oxidation of sulfides. The most mobile elements during transport in the vapor – gas phase are alkaline (Li, Cs, Na, K), alkaline earth (Ca, Sr), chalcofilic metals Hg, Zn, Cu, and metalloids As, Sb, Se.