The possibilities of building the plant for treatment of Gjegjan mine wastes by bacterial leaching method

Gjegjan mine there was the biggest cooper mine of Albania. Now this mine does not work, it is abandoned. In the region there are about 10 million tons raw material (wastes) with 0.3 % Cu. It is evident that water passing by the surface and into the gallery results with high content of Cu, Zn, Fe, and SO4 etc the Cu content it is 600 time more than permitted standards. The water is acid with pH 2,5-3,5. This signifies the developing naturally and without administration the processes of bacterial leaching. This alarming status causing high pollution of Fierza Lake(KUKES) enforced to study the bacterial leaching of Gjegjani raw material. The study is carried out in laboratory scale (with grinded material) and in static column with coarse material. -The experiment in static column is carried out with coarse material (+ 6 -50 mm) Material - 6 mm represents 35% of total quantity this is a guaranty that in reality the process will be more effective. Meanwhile in the mine are and pyrite bodies that are main factor of bacteria growth and concentration. The recovery of Cu from raw material (coarse material) during the large scale of experiment results 10 % for about 30 months. These data are represented before, and encouraged us for the treatment the raw material in natural status (heap leaching) -In base of technical-economic data we concluded the project idea of a plant and respective economic evaluation by producing Cu cement concentrate with over 60% Cu. -Meanwhile the building of a plant proposed will resolve the alarmant pollution of water passing by the wastes and poured in Fierza Lake.