Characterisation and technological procedures for recycling and reusing of the Rudnik mine flotation tailings–R E A S O N I N G is a project carried out in conjunction with the PRIZMA programme of the National Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia. The project examines tailings originating from multiple years of extraction at the active Rudnik mine. The primary aims of the project are to both characterize and develop precious metals and other elements from these tailings as well as analyze their potential as a recycled raw material.
Through a vertical profile based on depth, the research is to be carried out under work packages to measure and track changes in the tailings’ physical-chemical make-up, correlating their magnetic susceptibility to heavy-metal content to define enrichment zones. Sourced from the site, the research shall determine the tailings’ mineral-association, variation and trend distribution in pore-water composition as well as heavy metals and accompanying elements. Moreover, through theoretical geochemical modeling, the research investigates the distribution of stable-mineral association and element distribution as well as the theoretically optimal pathway for element extraction. In addition, the research also examines the electrochemical separation of elements from synthetic and leached solutions. Finally, the research targets the creation of technological procedures for the complex valorization of useful components from the tailing material.
The project team encompasses researchers representing rich backgrounds in geology, mineral industry, technology and chemistry from six separate Serbian institutions as well as one international institution. REASONING shall contribute to the study of the element distribution, extraction procedures and better utilization of the tailings from the Rudnik mine through their re-use. The results of this project aim to be a standard not only for future research but for the complex valorization of tailings in Serbia as well.