Harm and benefit of Khibiny mining waste

Abstract

The article is focused on the assessment of the impact of mining waste on the environment. Mining waste (MW) is understood as mine (mining) dumps and dumps of processing plants (tailings dumps). The article also suggests considering MW as technogenic deposits of rare earth and precious metals, the development of which will allow solving many environmental, social and economic problems and using natural resources in a sustainable manner. The objects under study are located on the Kola Peninsula, within the Khibiny mountain range, and are the production assets of the Apatit Mining Complex. This enterprise develops the so-called deposits of the Khibiny Tundra, it also owns apatite-nepheline processing plants.