How are metals mined?

(A) Review of the history of metal mining in Xinjiang

The mining of metal minerals in Xinjiang can be traced back to the Bronze Age 2400 ~ 2600 years ago. The Nurasai copper mine in Nilek County is the object of this mining. There are more than a dozen ancient mining pits and shafts with a depth of 20 meters, which are distributed along the terraces on both sides of Nurasai River. You can see that charcoal and matte overlap many times. The thickness of matte is 1 ~ 5 cm, and the copper content is more than 60%. Ancient mining tunnels abound in Hongnahai Copper Mine in Zhaosu County, and slag accumulates on the grass in the valley. Pine trees at the northern foot of Wusun Mountain in Chabuchar County grow on the slag heap. Slag is widely distributed in pine trees in the north of Nilek Mountain, in which pine trees grow. As can be seen from the simple list above, in ancient times, the ancestors in Yili area had already participated in the mining and smelting of copper mines.

Gold mining in Xinjiang also has a history of 2000 years. According to historical records, the gold mining industry in the Tang Dynasty developed obviously, with Jinshan as the governor. There are still records of gold mining in Ming Dynasty, and the gold mining industry in Xinjiang was in its heyday in Qing Dynasty. During the Qianlong period, there were 12 placer gold mining points in Hotan. In the thirty-sixth year of Qianlong (65,438+07,765,438+0), Kuitun Gold Factory was established, and then more than 65,438+00 gold factories were established in Wusu, Manas, Hutubi, Changji, Urumqi and Turpan, and the gold mining industry continued until Guangxu. According to Xinjiang records, during the peak period of gold mining in Altai Mountain in Qing Dynasty, the annual gold mining was 50,000-60,000 taels, and it reached 654.38+2 million taels in the Republic of China. According to Records of Xinjiang, Hotan produced 22,000-32,000 gold during Guangxu period, and the gold mining industry declined during the Republic of China.

Gold mining in Altai area has experienced several ups and downs, and the maximum well depth can reach150m. Xicha River once mined 240 grams of "camel gold". It is said that there is also a gold nugget of 64 taels.

According to ancient records, there are more than a dozen copper mines in Kuqa (Kuqa) and Gu Mo (Baicheng), with veins stretching for more than a hundred miles. Copper is green and soft as fat, which is the top grade. Yanqi copper mine seedlings are 30 feet wide from top to bottom and 1 Xu Li long. In the Han Dynasty, Kuqa produced copper, and the government supervised the people. The provincial official money bureau makes money entirely from the copper of this mountain. Its quality is soft and beautiful. When I was one year old, I paid 65438+100000 Jin of copper, and ironmaking has been used by 30 countries. In the Qing dynasty, coins were taken out of the dripping copper mine from mining to refining and casting. "Chahe Banner" is said to be an important mint in Xinjiang in the Qing Dynasty (Figure 6-6- 1).

(2) Mining method

Modern metal mineral mining is divided into open-pit mining and underground mining according to the exposure and burial degree of ore bodies. Open-pit mining is suitable for exposed ore bodies. Generally, the larger ones are transported by mechanical mining, multifunctional loading or electric train. There are many underground mining mines, and the mining methods and methods are diverse, and the degree of mechanization is quite different. At present, underground metal mining in Xinjiang can be basically divided into three forms:

Adit mining: that is, using horizontal roadway to transport ore. Load the ore into the mine car, and push the mine car out of the ground directly through the tunnel where the rails are laid (Figure 6-6-2).

Inclined shaft mining: that is, using inclined shaft to transport ore. Load the mined ore into a mine car, push the mine car to the lower mouth of the inclined shaft (Shimen District) through an underground roadway paved with rails, and then pull the mine car with a wire rope through a hoist, and pull the mine car obliquely to the ground along the slope track of the inclined shaft (Figure 6-6-3).

Shaft mining: that is, using the shaft to transport ore. The mined ore is loaded into a mine car, which is transported to the lower mouth of the shaft (Shimen District) through the underground roadway where the rails are laid. The mine car (generally 2 cars) is pushed into the cage, and the mine car is vertically lifted to the ground by the ground winch wire rope (Figure 6-6-4).

(3) Mining method

In view of the diversity of mineralization, the difference of spatial state and the uncertainty of ore quality and surrounding rock conditions, the mining methods of metal mines are diversified. At present, the most widely used mining method is caving filling method, which has the advantages of maintaining safe mining height, being beneficial to safe production, reducing waste rock transfer and low mining cost, so it is widely used by miners.

Ore blasting: Metal ore belongs to solid minerals and needs drilling blasting. Generally, an air gun is driven by a blower to drill holes, and useful ore is obtained by electric explosion with ammonium nitrate explosive.

Excavation and maintenance of tunnels: At the initial stage of underground mine construction, the first construction is transportation engineering (tunnels, inclined shafts and shafts) and underground tunnels. For the sake of safety, the excavated tunnel should be sprayed with quick-drying cement to protect the wall, and drainage ditches should be dug on both sides of the tunnel bottom, tracks should be laid, ventilation pipes and lighting wires should be installed.

Ore transportation: After the external transportation (roadway, inclined shaft and vertical shaft) is completed, the internal transportation roadway (from stope to Shimen) is the key to mine transportation and safety. Generally, the ore in mines is mostly handled manually, and the mechanized loading and unloading in underground is rare; Harvesters are mostly used for transportation equipment in Xinjiang, and electric locomotives are mostly used in many regular mines in customs.

Ventilation: Mining is carried out underground, so the construction must be carried out in the environment with sufficient fresh air. At the same time, due to the timely removal of blasting dust and production dust, ventilation is needed. The ventilation mode used in mines depends on mine production and ore properties, and the specifications and quantity of ventilators and air ducts should be reasonably selected and matched. And timely check the air supply and the air quality of stope, roadway and ore bin.

Drainage: Underground mining, especially deep underground mining, is inevitable, so it is necessary to purchase drainage equipment, design a reasonable and scientific drainage system, accurately and timely guide mine water into the water storage bin, and make a plan to pump water to the ground regularly and regularly according to the velocity and flow of groundwater. In addition to paying attention to production accidents such as roof fall and slope, water permeability is also a major safety hazard in metal mines.

Lighting: In underground production mines, lighting is the primary production factor. Mine lighting is mostly powered by Kengkou Power Station, which is connected to the regional power grid. Mines should lay cables according to their own production needs and determine lighting points and illuminance. The areas belonging to the production system, such as stope, transportation roadway, Shimen District and ground ore storage yard, must ensure the visibility that meets the production requirements. In order to ensure 24-hour lighting, the mine should also take emergency measures of continuous lighting.

Safety: Mine production is a high-risk industry, so we must firmly establish the idea of safety first, equip a certain number of safety officers (including managers), equip with sufficient safety equipment, formulate a series of effective safety production rules and regulations, and constantly educate production-related personnel about safety production. For safety, please keep the alarm clock ringing and always pay attention.

(4) Mine construction

The metal mining industry in Xinjiang was gradually established after the founding of New China.

Iron mines were built around the development of Bayi Iron and Steel Plant, such as Sulphur Ditch and Dahuangshan siderite, and then Yamansu Iron Mine, Monkou Iron Mine and Cihai Iron Mine were built. With the completion of the exploration of Motoshala iron-manganese mine, Yuejin Iron and Steel Plant and Static Iron and Steel Plant have been built one after another. Xinyuan Iron Works is produced by using the former Xukaipu Iron Mine as a mine resource. Another example is the appearance of Tianlong Iron and Steel Plant, which has given Xinjiang iron and steel industry a competitive construction environment and a good production atmosphere.

Copper production started very early. /kloc-In 0/958, copper concentrator plants such as Bulunkou, Nilek and Rem were established, and the matte produced was sold in China. At the end of the 20th century, the non-ferrous metal mining industry developed systematically, producing Kalatongke and Huangshan copper-nickel mines successively. At the beginning of the 20th century, Ashele copper mine and Hami copper-nickel mine were further developed. The construction of the industrial park of Xinjiang Nonferrous Metals Group Company has brought the production of nonferrous metals to a new level, and formed centralized production bases of copper, lead and zinc such as Ashele, Kalatongke, Huangshan, Shanshan, Akto and Wuqia counties.

At present, there is only one gold mine with large production capacity in Axi, Xinjiang. Xizhun, Dongzhun, Beishan and Jinwozi-Mazhuangshan are satellite mines with a certain scale of production.

The production layout of rare metal minerals is still Cocoto Sea and Altai.