Why is metal called the “bread” of the economy?
The entire history of mankind is inextricably linked with the use of metals. It is no coincidence that the most important stages in the development of human society were named after the metals used: the Copper, Bronze and Iron Ages.
The metallurgical complex includes the extraction and beneficiation of metal ores, smelting of metals, production of rolled products and processing of secondary raw materials (metal scrap). It includes ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy.
Ferrous metals include iron and its alloys. Non-ferrous metals are divided into several groups: light (aluminum, magnesium); heavy (copper, zinc, lead, nickel); noble (gold, silver, platinum). Modern economies need special grades of steel, for the production of which so-called alloying metals are used as additives. For example, tungsten makes steel harder, molybdenum makes it heat-resistant, and vanadium makes it resistant to shock and vibration.
Of all the metals, the most widely used metal is the working metal - iron, or rather, its alloys with carbon - cast iron and steel. This is due to a number of reasons. First, deposits of iron ores are richer and much more common than ores of other metals (poor iron ores contain at least 20% iron, while copper ores with a copper content of 5% are considered rich). Secondly, cast iron and steel are significantly superior to other metals in their combination of useful properties and the relative cheapness of their production. Therefore, ferrous metals account for over 90% of all metals used in the national economy.
What are the features of metallurgical production?
Metallurgy is characterized by a high concentration of production; in other words, most of the metals are smelted at very large enterprises with an annual productivity of hundreds of thousands and millions of tons of metals in ferrous metallurgy and tens and hundreds of thousands of tons in non-ferrous metallurgy.
Just a few factories (5% of all enterprises) produce half of the products of both ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. On the one hand, such a concentration of production makes it cheaper, on the other hand, it complicates the response to changes in market conditions. In addition, the larger the enterprise, the greater the “pressure” on the environment. Metallurgy is the strongest polluter of nature: about 40% of all industrial emissions come from this sector of the national economy. Almost a third of Russian cities with the most tense environmental situation are large metallurgical centers.
What factors influence the location of iron and steel enterprises?
The technological features of iron and steel smelting have the strongest influence on the location of ferrous metallurgy enterprises. The metal is smelted in three main types of enterprises.
Full-cycle metallurgical plants (combines) - they produce cast iron, steel, and rolled products (they often include the extraction of iron ore). Such enterprises are usually located near deposits of iron ore or coking coal.
Rice. 36. Full cycle metallurgical plant "Severstal" in Cherepovets
How do you get steel? At the first stage, cast iron is produced in blast furnaces, which contains 2-4% carbon, which is why this metal is very fragile and is not widely used. Therefore, approximately 90% of the cast iron is melted again to “burn out” the carbon to 0.2-2%. That's when you get stronger steel. What about pure iron? It can be obtained, but this is an extremely labor-intensive and expensive process, and unnecessary, since iron is a very soft metal, from which you cannot even make a strong ax.
Steel is also obtained from scrap metal - this is pigment metallurgy. Conversion enterprises gravitate towards large machine-building centers - suppliers of scrap metal and at the same time the main consumers of metal.
One ton of steel produced from scrap costs five to seven times less than steel produced from cast iron.
Another type of enterprise in the industry is small metallurgy - the production of steel and rolled products in foundries at machine-building plants.
What are the features of locating non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises?
Due to the low metal content in ore, non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises gravitate towards areas where raw materials are mined. Ore beneficiation is also carried out at mining sites.
Rice. 37. Ferrous metallurgy
Highlight centers with large iron and steel enterprises in the country. How can you explain their placement? Compare Figure 27 with the population density map.
In the aluminum industry, the technological process consists of two main stages: the production of alumina - aluminum oxide (from bauxite or nephelines) and the production of aluminum metal. The first stage is quite material-intensive, so alumina refineries are located close to aluminum ore deposits. But all the largest aluminum smelting centers are located near hydroelectric power stations, since this process is very electrically intensive.
Aluminum raw materials (alumina) provide about a third of modern production in Russia, as a result of which the bulk of alumina has to be imported from near and far abroad countries.
Eastern Siberia is the largest aluminum producer in the country. The giant aluminum smelters of Krasnoyarsk, Bratsk, as well as Sayano-gorsk and Shelekhov operate both locally (Achinsk Alumina Refinery) and imported raw materials and use cheap electricity from powerful Siberian hydroelectric power stations.
The copper industry is the oldest branch of non-ferrous metallurgy in our country. It began to develop in the Urals back in the 18th century. The capacity of copper smelters exceeds the capacity of local deposits, so imported concentrates are used here.
Some copper ores also contain nickel, cobalt and other metals. Nickel has high hardness and is also an important alloy metal. Cobalt is used to produce ultra-strong, heat-resistant magnetic alloys. In the north of Eastern Siberia, in the Norilsk region, a unique center for the integrated use of copper-nickel ores of the Talnakh deposit has emerged. Now it is the largest copper and nickel smelting area in Russia; In addition, cobalt, platinum and rare metals are produced here.
The lead-zinc industry is based on the use of polymetallic ores and generally gravitates towards their deposits.
Tin ore concentrates produced at mining and processing enterprises in the Far East and Eastern Siberia are processed at a plant in Novosibirsk.
conclusions
The metallurgical complex is one of the oldest and most developed complexes of the national economy of our country. Russian metallurgy not only satisfies domestic needs for various metals, but also supplies a significant part of the metals to the foreign market. Metallurgy is characterized by a high concentration of production, close technological ties with other industries, the use of huge volumes of raw materials, fuel, electricity, and therefore - the gravitational pull of enterprises towards raw material areas and energy sources.
Questions and tasks
- Give examples of the influence of factors such as energy availability, proximity to raw materials, fuel, and consumers on the location of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises.
- Study the Kondratiev cycles (Fig. 3) in which historical period metallurgy became the core of the technological cycle. How did this affect the development of other sectors of the economy?
- Why did the need for non-ferrous metals increase sharply in the era of the scientific and technological revolution?
- The concentration of production in the ferrous metallurgy has its pros and cons. Think about the positive and negative features of a small plant. So which is better and why - giant factories or dwarf factories?
The Russian metallurgical complex is a vast industry that includes enterprises that smelt ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The latter occupies a very important place in the economy of our country. Today we have several centers of non-ferrous metallurgy, which extract and enrich non-ferrous ores, rare and precious metals.
Non-ferrous metallurgy deals with several types of metals - these are basic or so-called heavy. These include copper, light, small, alloying, noble, rare and scattered.
Let's take a closer look at copper production. Copper production centers are concentrated in different regions of our country. The location of such enterprises is determined by a number of factors, among which it should be noted:
- raw materials;
- energy and fuel factor;
- consumers.
The main copper centers of Russia.
Copper ore in our country is mined in different regions. The richest ore deposits are located in Kazakhstan, although copper is also mined in other areas, for example, there are rich deposits in the Urals. It is worth noting that Russia today ranks first in the world in copper ore mining.
The main centers of copper production are located in the Urals. This region ranks first in copper production.
Copper plants are most often located near mines. The raw material factor is key due to the low content of concentrates in the raw material. Today, copper producers widely use copper pyrites, mined in deposits located in different regions of the Urals, as raw materials. Therefore, copper production enterprises are also concentrated in this region, although they also use imported Kazakh ores in their activities. This industry also has its own raw material reserve in the form of cuprous sandstones, which are located in Eastern Siberia.
Chern copper in the Urals is produced by such enterprises as Sredneuralsky, Kirovograd, Krasnouralsky (“Svyatogor”), Mednogorsky and Karabash plants. The Verkhnepymensky and Kyshtymsky plants are engaged in refining copper.
In total, there are 11 copper enterprises in the Urals, which produce 43 percent of all copper in Russia.
Enterprises of the Urals are also characterized by waste disposal. Thus, factories in cities such as Revda, Kirovograd and Krasnouralsk use sulfur dioxide gases generated during production to produce sulfuric acid, which is subsequently used for the production of fertilizers.
Large centers of copper production are located not only in the Urals, but also in other regions of the country. The table shows where the raw material and industry centers are located.
Sredneuralsky plant: characteristics.
As mentioned above, the Sredneuralsk Copper Plant (SUMZ) is one of the main copper smelting centers in our country. This plant is located in the city of Revda, in the Sverdlovsk region. SUMZ belongs to the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company, and is also a member of the regional industrial chamber.
At SUMZ, copper is smelted from primary raw materials, which are taken from the Degtyarskoye deposit.
The Sredneuralsk Copper Smelter has a large copper smelting workshop, an enrichment plant, as well as xanthate and sulfuric acid workshops. The plant also has a number of auxiliary enterprises that serve the needs of the copper smelter.
SUMZ produces about one hundred tons of blister copper annually. Copper concentrates at this plant are processed by firing in fluidized bed furnaces, and the method of converting and reflective smelting of the cinder is also used.
The products of the Serdneuralsk plant are supplied to all large Russian enterprises operating in the metallurgical, mining and chemical industries and located in different regions of the country, as well as abroad.
Kirovograd copper smelting plant: characteristics.
Another large copper smelting enterprise in the Urals is the Kirovograd plant. It is engaged in the processing of copper and copper-zinc ores, as well as their mining.
The plant began its activities in 1957, it was created on the basis of a copper smelting plant and a number of other small enterprises. Today the plant is a member of Tyazhtsvetmet LLP.
The plant in Kirovograd operates in several directions - mining, processing, beneficiation of ores containing copper, smelting copper from raw materials, both primary and secondary. The plant also processes metallurgical dust, gold concentrates, scrap and waste that contains copper and other metals.
In 2008, the plant in Kirovograd produced almost seventy thousand tons of blister copper, which was sent to various enterprises in our country.
Krasnouralsk enterprise "Svyatogor": characteristics.
The third large enterprise in the Urals for the production of blister copper. Svyatogor includes the Volkovsky mine, which supplies the company with raw materials, a metal enrichment plant capable of processing almost two million tons of ore per year, and a sulfuric acid workshop (producing up to 240 thousand tons of acid). Every year the enterprise produces about 60 thousand tons of blister copper.
Test
Copper-nickel industry of the Russian Federation
Introduction
Copper-nickel industry of the Russian Federation
Conclusion
Used Books
Non-ferrous metallurgy includes the extraction, beneficiation of non-ferrous metal ores and smelting of non-ferrous metals and their alloys.
Russia has a powerful non-ferrous metallurgy, the distinctive feature of which is development based on its own resources. Based on their physical properties and purpose, non-ferrous metals can be divided into heavy (copper, lead, zinc, tin, nickel) and light (aluminum, titanium, magnesium). Based on this division, a distinction is made between the metallurgy of light metals and the metallurgy of heavy metals.
Several main bases of non-ferrous metallurgy have been formed on the territory of Russia. Their differences in specialization are explained by the dissimilarity in the geography of light metals (aluminum, titanium-magnesium industry) and heavy metals (copper, lead-zinc, tin, nickel-cobalt industries).
The location of non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises depends on many economic and natural conditions, especially on the raw material factor. In addition to raw materials, the fuel and energy factor plays a significant role.
The production of heavy non-ferrous metals, due to the small need for energy, is confined to the areas of raw material extraction for reserves, mining and beneficiation of copper ores, as well as copper smelting. The leading place in Russia is occupied by the Ural economic region, in the territory of which Krasnouralsk, Kirovograd, Sredneuralsk, Mednogorsk are distinguished factories.
The lead-zinc industry as a whole gravitates towards areas where polymetallic ores are distributed. Such deposits include Sadonskoye (Northern Caucasus), Salairskoye (Western Siberia), Nerchenskoye (Eastern Siberia) and Dalnegorskoye (Far East). The centers of the Nickel-Cobalt industry are the cities of Norilsk (Eastern Siberia), Nickel and Monchegorsk (Northern economic region).
The production of light metals requires a large amount of energy. Therefore, the concentration of enterprises smelting light metals near sources of cheap energy is the most important principle for their location.
The raw materials for aluminum production are bauxites from the North-Western region (the city of Boksitogorsk), the Urals (the city of Severouralsk), nephelines from the Kola Peninsula (the city of Kirovsk) and the south of Siberia (the city of Goryachegorsk). From this aluminum raw material, aluminum oxide - alumina - is isolated in mining areas. Smelting aluminum metal from it requires a lot of electricity. Therefore, aluminum smelters are built near large power plants, mainly hydroelectric power stations (Bratskaya, Krasnoyarsk, etc.).
The titanium-magnesium industry is located mainly in the Urals, both in areas of raw material extraction (Bereznikovsky magnesium plant) and in areas of cheap energy (Ust-Kamenogorsk titanium-magnesium plant).
The final stage of titanium-magnesium metallurgy - processing of metals and their alloys - is most often located in areas where finished products are consumed.
Copper-nickel industry of the Russian Federation
The copper-nickel industry belongs to the non-ferrous metallurgy, namely the mining industry, which occupies an important place in Russian industry. Unlike ferrous metallurgy, non-ferrous metallurgy develops on its own resources and also specializes in the enrichment of metallurgical processing. Non-ferrous metallurgy represents about a hundred enterprises, thanks to which more than 50 elements of the periodic table are extracted.
Copper and nickel belong to the heavy group of metals. They are also metal ore mineral resources. The structure of production includes the extraction of ores of these metals, their enrichment, metallurgical processing, production of alloys, and rolled products.
Let's start with copper. Copper, in its essence, is the third most important metal after iron and aluminum; it is a strategic metal, because it is one of the indicators of the country’s production and technical potential. The cost of one ton of copper on the world market, where Russia is the main exporter of copper concentrates and refined copper, ranges from $1,350 to $3,540 (currently $1,664). The main type of ore is copper pyrites of the Urals (Krasnouralskoye, Kirovgradskoye, Gaiskoye in the Orenburg region - the best ores in the country, up to 10% copper), cuprous sandstones of Eastern Siberia (Udokan deposit in the Chita region, Altai, Kola Peninsula). Its refining is carried out at electrolytic plants in Kyshtym and Verkhnyaya Pyshma. When smelting copper, waste is generated that is used in the chemical industry: for the production of sulfuric acid, superphosphate (for example, at the Mednogorsk copper and sulfur plant). In the copper industry, connection with sources of raw materials is a prerequisite for the location of enrichment production. During metallurgical processing, the role of the raw material factor weakens somewhat and becomes smaller, the higher the quality, and therefore the transportability of the concentrates used. At the final stage of the technological process, it generally loses its importance, which is why blister copper refining enterprises are located near consumers and fuel and energy resources. When characterizing the raw material base of the copper industry, it should be borne in mind that the Urals provides itself with only 50% of raw materials, and these reserves are steadily declining. Therefore, Ural enterprises are showing special interest in developing other copper deposits. The Udokan deposit, where there are huge reserves - 27 million tons of pure copper, is considered as a prospect. But the sale of a license to develop the deposit is constantly being postponed, so the state is pushing entrepreneurs to develop small deposits of copper resources first. In Russia, given the industry-wide shortage of copper raw materials, the development of this deposit could solve the problem. It should be noted that the mining conditions in Udokan are difficult - two negative factors operate simultaneously: permafrost and high seismicity.
Copper mining
Since 2005, the Russian Copper Company at the Gumeshevskoye deposit began operating the first copper mining complex in Russia using underground ore leaching. The new technology for enriching copper ore does not require its extraction to the surface, and therefore is highly economically efficient. The total investment in the project amounted to $18.5 million.
The copper production established in the Sverdlovsk region consists of two sections: a geotechnological field, where the underground process of saturation of an aqueous copper solution takes place, and an extraction and electrovining complex, where high-quality M00K copper cathodes are obtained from the resulting solution.
The volume of investments in scientific research, development and adaptation of a unique mining method to local conditions amounted to more than $3.5 million. Testing of a new mining method began in 2000, when specialists from the Russian Copper Company (RMK) began construction of a pilot plant at the Gumeshevskoye deposit in the city of Polevskaya, Sverdlovsk region. Specialists from Uralhydromed CJSC together with SNC-Lavalin Europe Ltd (Great Britain) participated in the creation of the pilot production.
The decision to build an industrial complex for the production of high-quality copper was made immediately after confirmation of the efficient operation and environmental safety of the pilot plant. The construction of an industrial complex for extracting copper from solution using organic substances and electrovining began in December 2004. The design and construction of the facility was carried out by Outokumpu Technology Oy (Finland). The volume of investments in the creation of an extraction and electrovining complex amounted to more than $15 million.
The production capacity of the first stage of the integrated complex (including a hydrotechnological field and an extraction and electrovining production complex) is 5 thousand tons of copper cathodes per year, but with the start of industrial operation of the second section of the hydrotechnological field by the end of 2006, the production volume will be doubled. The advantages of the new technology are that the main processes are transferred underground and occur without human intervention, which dramatically increases production efficiency. The traditional, expensive process has been replaced by technology based on the use of weak acid solutions, which, while still underground, react with the ore and become enriched in copper. This unique enrichment technology was developed in the USSR for the extraction of uranium and rare earth elements. Uralhydromed is the first enterprise to use this invention for industrial copper production.
Reference: “The Russian Copper Company (RMK) holding produces and sells more than 15% of Russian copper and is the third copper producer in Russia after Norilsk Nickel and UMMC. RMK enterprises operate in four regions of Russia and in Kazakhstan. They form a full production cycle: from ore mining and scrap collection, production of copper concentrate and blister copper, to the production of copper rod and finished products based on copper and its alloys. The number of employees is 15 thousand people. In 2004, RMK enterprises produced more than 130 thousand tons of refined cathode copper.”
The most pressing problem in the industry at the moment is the provision of raw materials. The government is deciding whether or not foreign companies will be allowed to participate in competitions for the development of Russian copper deposits, since the situation on the global copper market is very difficult: there is an excess of copper-producing capacity. That is, a situation is possible in which it will be beneficial for foreign companies to freeze the development of promising Russian deposits, such as Udokanskoye, and thereby remove competitors - Ural metallurgists from the global copper market. In this case, the government should implement protectionist measures towards domestic producers and at least partially invest in the development of Udokan copper, the development of which requires over $400 million, and the payback period of the project is quite long - 5 years.
The mining and metallurgical company JSC Norilsk Nickel produces 70% of Russia's copper. Production volume in 2003 was 473 thousand tons. Norilsk Nickel's revenue in 2005 amounted to $7.2 billion, net profit - $2.4 billion, profitability - 48%. Moreover, Norilsk Nickel has been demonstrating such profitability for several years. 91% of the plant's revenue comes from exports.
The Urals are also an important copper production area. Most of the enterprises in the Urals belong to the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC). It includes more than 20 enterprises in six regions of Russia and abroad. A unified technological chain has been built from ore mining to the production of finished products - copper rod, rolled copper, components and assemblies for the automotive industry, cables, conductors. Integration with related sectors is actively underway: ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, cable industry. UMMC's annual turnover is $1.4 billion; more than 65 thousand people are employed in production. UMMC controls the production of 40% of Russian refined copper, 20% of metal products based on copper alloys, 50% of the European copper powder market. Enrichment and processing of nickel ores are the most difficult in non-ferrous metallurgy due to the low metal content in raw materials, high fuel consumption, electrical energy (from several thousand to tens of thousands of kilowatt-hours per 1 ton of finished product), multi-stage process, and the presence of several components (sulfur , copper, cobalt, etc.).
The export orientation of the industry is maintained. But on the foreign market, Russian producers have to face opposition from copper producing countries, especially in relation to high copper conversion rates. It is necessary to export not raw materials and low processing, but high-quality products with the maximum degree of readiness, i.e. rolled products, conductor and cable products, radiator tape, special alloys, etc.
The largest nickel deposit is Norilsk, where 35.8% of the world's reserves are concentrated. Sulfide copper-nickel ores are also mined on the Kola Peninsula and oxidized silicate nickel ores in the Urals (Buruktalskoye and Cheremshanskoye deposits). The most important property of nickel is that its minor addition gives the alloys strength, hardness and corrosion resistance. The industry is focused on sources of raw materials.
05.24.06 / The volume of ore production at the copper-nickel deposits of the Polar Branch of MMC Norilsk Nickel in 2005 exceeded 14 thousand tons. The volume of ore production at the Oktyabrskoye copper-nickel deposit of the Polar Branch of OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel in 2005 amounted to 9172.3 thousand tons. Over the past year, 2,464.8 thousand tons of ore were mined at the Talnakh copper-nickel deposit, and 2,751.2 thousand tons of ore at the Norilsk-1 copper-nickel deposit. This is stated in the company's financial statements.
At the Copper Plant of the Polar Division MMC, it is planned to complete the reconstruction of the automation and power supply system PV-3, which will stabilize the technological process, improve the quality of smelting and reduce inorganic emissions into the atmosphere. It is also planned to commission new air separation units at the plant at oxygen stations KS-1 and KS-2.
It should be noted that seven mines of the Polar Branch produce sulfide copper-nickel ores from the Oktyabrskoye, Talnakhskoye and Norilsk-1 deposits.
In 2006, capital work was carried out on the main objects of the ore base to reconstruct existing facilities and open new horizons in the mines of the Polar Branch. In addition, construction work continues on the reconstruction of the Lebyazhye tailings dump, which will provide the branch’s processing plants with the necessary capacity for storing rock tailings, taking into account the prospects for increasing ore production and processing. Completion of the project in 2007.
The extraction and processing of copper-nickel ores is carried out not only at the unique complex of the Norilsk Mining and Metallurgical Plant, but also at the Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant. The plants use the energy base of the Ust-Khantayskaya hydroelectric station, gas from the Messoyakha field and local services.
More than 90% of all nickel in Russia is smelted by JSC Norilsk Nickel. This is ensured by the quality of the resource base and the structure of production. In 2003, the company produced 243 thousand tons of nickel. In the Urals, nickel production is concentrated in the ore mining areas - Rezhsky and Ufaleysky. Industrial waste is used to produce sulfuric acid, thermal insulation boards, and mineral wool. Nickel produced in Russia is export-oriented, 95% of the total. The current level of world prices for nickel largely shows the relationship between supply and demand, because nickel producers have more buyers. Thanks to the steady increase in nickel prices, it has become more attractive to investors - another reason why the state is very interested in supporting the development of the raw material base of the copper-nickel industry. But there is another side, perhaps now the main buyers of nickel - stainless steel producers - will consider that the current price is too high and will switch to its substitutes, because there are technologies for producing stainless steel with a reduced nickel content.
The main feature of Russian copper-nickel deposits is the complex composition of ores, from which, in addition to nickel, a number of other metals are extracted: copper, platinum group metals, as well as gold, silver, selenium, tellurium, which sharply increases the value of these ores, despite the high cost of production and production.
Prospects for the development of the nickel-cobalt industry in Russia 25 percent of the world's nickel reserves and resources are concentrated in the bowels of Russia. The main part of them is located in the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in the Murmansk region, in the Middle and Southern Urals. The overwhelming majority of cobalt reserves and resources in Russia are associated with nickel deposits, in the ores of which cobalt is an associated component. The likelihood of discovering new large deposits of these metals with high quality ores in Russia is extremely low. In terms of proven nickel reserves, Russia firmly ranks first in the world, and in cobalt it is in fifth place.
Nickel reserves at the beginning of last year were accounted for in 39 ores, and cobalt reserves in 59 deposits. Most of the proven reserves of these metals are concentrated in deposits of sulfide copper-nickel ores (89 percent of nickel reserves and 71 percent of cobalt) and in silicate ore deposits (11 percent of nickel and 26 percent of cobalt).
The basis of the raw material base of the cobalt-nickel industry in Russia is the sulfide copper-nickel deposits of the Norilsk region, where the main object of development in recent years is rich ores with a nickel content of 3.12-3.65 percent, cobalt - up to 0.1 percent. Intensive mining of rich ores will lead to the depletion of their reserves in 20-30 years. In the ores of the deposits of the Kola Peninsula, the average nickel content is 0.5-0.6 percent, cobalt - hundredths of a percent. In silicate ores of the Ural deposits, the average nickel content is below one percent, and cobalt is less than 0.05 percent.
Only the mining enterprises of the Norilsk region are fully and permanently provided with raw materials in the subsoil. The supply of enterprises of the Kola Peninsula at the existing level of capacity of mining enterprises does not exceed 12 years. The raw material base of the Ural region is severely depleted and does not meet today's industrial requirements.
Conclusion
The situation on the global market has recently been unfavorable for Russian copper producers. This is due to the situation on the foreign market, low prices and overstocking. The reduction in the processing of secondary raw materials in Russia and the decrease in supplies of copper concentrate from Mongolia were the reasons for the decrease in refined copper production in 2004 by 2.9%. Despite this, stabilization of supplies of copper concentrate from Mongolia is predicted in 2006-2008, which will create conditions for an increase in refined copper production in 2007-2008 by 1.3-1.5%.
As for nickel, Russia has a strong position in the world market. However, the demand for metal is growing, and China is playing an increasingly important role in this. Fueled by growth in stainless steel production, nickel imports into China increased to 96 thousand tons in 2005, doubling the figure for the same period the previous year. In terms of nickel consumption, China is now second only to Japan. Stainless steel production in the country increased by almost 50% in 2005. As for future forecasts, many experts are confident that China's stainless steel production capacity will continue to grow, so nickel consumption in the country will remain at a high level over the next few years. It is the demand for nickel from China that will be the main fundamental factor in the growth of the price of the metal.
Most non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises are city-forming: the bulk of the population works here, and they generate 60–80% of the revenue portion of municipal budgets. However, sometimes this is not enough for the successful development of territories, which is why enterprises in the industry keep many social facilities on their balance sheets, participate in the construction of housing and energy supply to cities, and implement numerous charitable programs. For example, Uralelectromed JSC annually spends more than 100 million rubles on social programs in Verkhnyaya Pyshma and surrounding areas. Company management enters into socio-economic partnership agreements with local administrations.
Bibliography
1. Economic geography of Russia: Textbook. for university students studying economics and management (008100) / ed. prof. T.G. Morozova – 3rd ed., revised. and additional M.: UNITY-DANA, 2007. - 479 p.
2. Rom V.Ya., Dronov V.P. Geography of Russia. Population and economy. 9th grade: Educational. for general education textbook establishments. - 4th ed. - M.: Bustard, 1998. - 400 pp.: ill., map.
Non-ferrous metallurgy includes the extraction, beneficiation and metallurgical processing of ores of non-ferrous, precious and rare metals, including the production of alloys, rolling of non-ferrous metals and processing of secondary raw materials, as well as diamond mining (Fig. 5.6, see color insert). By participating in the creation of structural materials of ever higher quality, it performs essential functions in the conditions of modern scientific and technological progress.
Due to the variety of raw materials used and the widespread use of non-ferrous metals in modern industry, non-ferrous metallurgy is characterized by a complex structure. Based on their physical properties and purpose, non-ferrous metals are conventionally divided into four groups:
the main ones, which include heavy (copper, lead, zinc, tin, nickel), light (aluminum, magnesium, titanium, sodium, potassium, etc.), small (bismuth, cadmium, antimony, arsenic, cobalt, mercury); alloying (tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, vanadium); noble (gold, silver and platinum with platinum group metals); rare and scattered (zirconium, gallium, indium, thallium, germanium, selenium, etc.).
The Russian non-ferrous metallurgy includes copper, lead-zinc, nickel-cobalt, aluminum, titanium-magnesium, tungsten-molybdenum, hard alloys, rare metals and other industries, separated depending on the type of products, as well as gold and diamond mining According to the stages of the technological process, it is divided into the extraction and enrichment of feedstock, metallurgical processing and processing of non-ferrous metals.
Non-ferrous metallurgy is characterized by the organization of closed technological schemes with multiple processing of intermediate products and disposal of various wastes. In the future, this trend will intensify. At the same time, the limits of production combination are expanding, which makes it possible to obtain, in addition to non-ferrous metals,
additional products - sulfuric acid, mineral fertilizers, cement, etc.
Due to significant material consumption, non-ferrous metallurgy focuses mainly on raw material bases. At the same time, enrichment is directly “tied” to the places of extraction of non-ferrous and rare metal ores.
Non-ferrous metal ores have an extremely low content of useful components. Typical ores used for the production of copper, lead, zinc, nickel, and tin contain only a few percent and sometimes even fractions of a percent of the base metal.
Ores of non-ferrous and rare metals are multicomponent in composition. In this regard, the integrated use of raw materials is of great practical importance.
Consistent and deep metallurgical processing with repeated return of intermediate products to the “head” of the technological process and comprehensive waste disposal for the most complete extraction of useful components determine the widespread development of production combinations within non-ferrous metallurgy.
The efficiency of combination based on the complex processing of non-ferrous and rare metal ores is extremely high, taking into account that, firstly, most of the accompanying elements do not form independent deposits and can only be obtained in this way, and secondly, the raw material base of non-ferrous metallurgy are often located within poorly developed areas and therefore require additional costs for their industrial development.
The integrated use of raw materials and recycling of industrial waste connects non-ferrous metallurgy with other branches of heavy industry. On this basis, entire industrial complexes are being formed in certain regions of the country (North, Urals, Siberia, etc.).
Of particular interest is the combination of non-ferrous metallurgy and basic chemistry, which appears in particular when using sulfur dioxide gases in the production of zinc and copper. Even more complex territorial combinations of different industries arise during the complex processing of nephelines, when aluminum, soda, potash and cement are extracted from the same raw materials as finished products, and thus not only the chemical industry, but also industry falls into the sphere of technological connections of non-ferrous metallurgy building materials.
In addition to raw materials, the fuel and energy factor plays a significant role in the deployment of non-ferrous metallurgy. From the point of view of the requirements for fuel and energy, it includes fuel-intensive and electricity-intensive industries.
Raw materials and fuel and energy factors have different effects on the location of enterprises in different branches of non-ferrous metallurgy. Moreover, in the same industry their role is differentiated depending on the stage of the technological process or the adopted scheme for the production of non-ferrous and rare metals. Therefore, non-ferrous metallurgy
differs in a large number of production location options compared to ferrous metallurgy.
Copper industry due to the relatively low content of concentrates, it is confined (excluding the refining of crude metal) to areas with raw material resources.
The main type of ores currently used in Russia for copper production are copper pyrites, which are represented mainly in the Urals (Krasnouralskoye, Revdinskoye, Blavinskoye, Sibaiskoye, Gaiskoye and other deposits). An important reserve is cuprous sandstones concentrated in Eastern Siberia (Udokan deposit). Copper-molybdenum ores are also found.
Copper-nickel and polymetallic ores are used as additional raw materials, from which copper is usually extracted in the form of so-called matte.
The main copper production region is the Urals, which is characterized by the predominance of metallurgical processing over mining and beneficiation. Therefore, they are forced to use imported (mostly Kazakh) concentrates.
In the Urals, enterprises for the production of blister copper and its refining are separated from each other. The first include the Krasno-Ural, Kirovgrad, Sredneuralsky (Revda), Karabash and Mednogorsk copper smelters, the second - the Kyshtym and Verkhne-Pyshminsky copper-electrolyte plants.
Characterized by widespread recycling of waste for chemical purposes. At the copper smelters of Krasnouralsk, Kirovgrad and Rev-dy, sulfur dioxide gases serve as the feedstock for the production of sulfuric acid. In Krasnouralsk and Revda, phosphate fertilizers are produced based on sulfuric acid and imported apatite concentrates.
The trend of balanced development of different technological stages in the Urals is expressed in the expansion of production and enrichment.
In the future, it is planned to bring into circulation new sources of raw materials for copper production. To develop the unique Udokan deposit in Eastern Siberia, a mining company of the same name (UMC) was created with the participation of American-Chinese capital. The deposit - the third largest in the world - is located near the station. Chara on BAM. Ore reserves amount to 1.2 billion tons with an average copper content of 1.5%. Consequently, 18-20 million tons of copper are concentrated in the Udokan deposit.
Refining as the final stage of copper production has little direct connection with raw materials. In fact, it is located either where there is metallurgical processing, forming specialized enterprises or combined with the smelting of crude metal, or in areas of mass consumption of finished products (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kolchugino, etc.). A favorable condition is the availability of cheap energy (1 ton of electrolytic copper consumes 3.5-5 thousand kWh).
Lead-zinc industry is characterized by more complex structural and territorial features compared to the copper industry.
In general, it is confined to the areas of distribution of polymetallic ores - the North Caucasus (Sadon), Kuzbass (Salair), Transbaikalia (Nerchinsk deposits) and the Far Eastern Primorye (Dalnegorok).
However, due to the fact that lead and zinc concentrates have a fairly high content of useful components, and therefore transportability (as opposed to copper concentrates), enrichment and metallurgical processing are often separated from each other. Thus, in the Urals, the specificity of the raw material base of which is the presence of copper-zinc ores, for the production of zinc (Chelyabinsk) not only local concentrates are used, but also those coming from other regions of the country. Similar cases occur in lead smelting.
A characteristic feature of the lead-zinc industry is the territorial separation of beneficiation and metallurgical processing. Another important feature of the industry is that, despite the complex composition of the raw materials, not everywhere lead and zinc are obtained in pure form at the same time. According to the degree of completeness of the technological process, the following regions are distinguished: 1) for the production of lead and zinc concentrates without metallurgical processing - Transbaikalia; 2) for the production of metal lead and zinc concentrates - Far Eastern Primorye (Dalnegorsk); 3) for the production of metallic zinc and lead concentrates - Kuzbass (Belovo); 4) for the joint processing of lead and zinc - the North Caucasus (Vladikavkaz); 5) for the production of metallic zinc from imported concentrates - Ural (Chelyabinsk).
The lead-zinc industry utilizes production waste. First of all, this relates to zinc, which is obtained mainly by the hydrometallurgical method, that is, by electrolysis of a solution of zinc sulfate. The sulfuric acid required in this case is formed from sulfur dioxide gases - waste from the roasting of zinc concentrates. Sulfuric acid production includes the Electrozinc plant (Vladikavkaz) and other enterprises.
Nickel-cobalt industry is most closely related to the sources of raw materials, which is due to the low content of intermediate products (matte and matte) obtained during the processing of the original ores.
In Russia, two types of ores are exploited: sulfide (copper-nickel), which are known on the Kola Peninsula (Nickel) and in the lower reaches of the Yenisei (Norilsk), and oxidized ores in the Urals (Verkhniy Ufaley, Orsk, Rezh). The Norilsk region is especially rich in sulfide ores. New sources of raw materials have been identified here (Talnakh and Oktyabrskoye deposits), which makes it possible to further expand the metallurgical processing of nickel.
The Norilsk region is the largest center for the integrated use of copper-nickel ores. The plant operating here, which combines all stages of the technological process - from raw materials to finished products, produces nickel, cobalt, platinum (together with platinum group metals), copper and some rare metals. By recycling waste, sulfuric acid, soda and other chemical products are obtained.
The Kola Peninsula, where several enterprises of the nickel-cobalt industry are located, is also characterized by complex processing of feedstock. Mining and enrichment of copper-nickel ores and production of high-grade matte are carried out in Nikel. The Severonickel plant (Monchegorsk) is completing its metallurgical processing. Waste recycling allows you to additionally obtain sulfuric acid, mineral wool and thermal insulation boards.
Tin industry in contrast to nickel-cobalt, it is represented by geographically separated stages of the technological process. Metallurgical processing is not associated with sources of raw materials. It is focused on areas of consumption of finished products or located along the route of concentrates (Novosibirsk). This is due to the fact that, on the one hand, the extraction of raw materials is often dispersed over small deposits, and on the other hand, enrichment products are highly transportable.
The main tin resources are located in Eastern Siberia and the Far East. Sherlovogorsky, Khrustalnensky, Solnechny, Ese-Khaisky and other mining and processing plants operate here. The construction of the first stage of the Deputatsky Mining and Processing Plant (Yakutia) is being completed.
The geography of production of light non-ferrous metals, primarily aluminum, is characterized by special features.
Aluminum industry uses raw materials of higher quality than other branches of non-ferrous metallurgy. Raw materials are represented by bauxite, which is mined in the North-West (Boxi-Togorsk) and the Urals (Severouralsk), as well as nephelines - in the Northern region, on the Kola Peninsula (Kirovsk), in Eastern Siberia (Goryachegorsk). A new bauxite mining center is being formed in the Northern region (Severoonezhskoye deposit). In composition, bauxites are simple, and nephelines are complex raw materials.
The technological process in the aluminum industry consists (except for the extraction and enrichment of raw materials) of two main stages: the production of alumina and the production of metallic aluminum. Geographically, these stages can be located together, as, for example, in the North-West or the Urals. However, for the most part, even within the same economic region, they are separated, because they are subject to the influence of different location factors. The production of alumina, being material-intensive, gravitates towards sources of raw materials, and the production of aluminum metal, being energy-intensive, is focused on sources of mass and cheap electrical energy.
For 1 ton of alumina from low-silicon bauxites, 2.5 tons of raw materials are required, from high-silicon bauxites - 3.5 tons, and additionally as
Alumina production centers are located in the North-West (Boxitogorsk - Tikhvin bauxites, Volkhov and Pikalevo - Khibiny nephelines), in the Urals (Krasnoturinsk and Kamensk-Uralsky - North Ural bauxites) and in Eastern Siberia (Achinsk-Shaltyr nephelines). Consequently, alumina is obtained not only from the sources of raw materials, but also away from them, but in the presence of limestone and cheap fuel, as well as in an advantageous transport and geographical location.
2 /5 1 /3) and North-West (more 1 /5). But domestic production provides only half of the existing needs. The remaining amount of alumina is imported from neighboring countries (Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Ukraine), as well as from Yugoslavia, Hungary, Greece, Venezuela and other countries. About 1/5 of the aluminum smelters' demand for alumina is covered by the Nikolaev Alumina Refinery (Ukraine), the largest in the CIS. Its capacity is 1.2 million tons of alumina per year.
In Russia, all centers for the production of metallic aluminum (with the exception of the Urals) are more or less remote from raw materials, being located near hydroelectric power stations (Volgograd, Volkhov, Kandalaksha, Nadvoitsy, Bratsk, Shelekhov, Krasnoyarsk, Sayanogorsk) and partly where large power plants operate on cheap fuel (Novokuznetsk).
auxiliary material - over 1 t of limestone; from nephelines - 4.6 tons of raw materials and 9-12 tons of limestone. Alumina production, regardless of the type of raw material used, has a fairly high fuel and heat capacity. At the same time, the complex use of nephelines is important: from them, for 1 ton of alumina, about 1 ton of soda and potash, 6-8 tons of cement (by recycling sludge), in addition, some rare metals are additionally obtained.
Regions where limestone and cheap fuel are found along with aluminum raw materials should be considered optimal for alumina production. These include, in particular, Achinsk-Krasnoyarsk in Eastern Siberia and North Ural-Krasnoturinsky in the Urals.
Alumina production centers are located in the North-West (Boxitogorsk - Tikhvin bauxites, Volkhov and Pikalevo - Khibiny nephelines), in the Urals (Krasnoturinsk and Kamensk-Uralsky - North Ural bauxites) and in Eastern Siberia (Achinsk - Kiya-Shaltyr nephelines). Consequently, alumina is obtained not only from the sources of raw materials, but also away from them, but in the presence of limestone and cheap fuel, as well as in an advantageous transport and geographical location.
The Urals are in first place in alumina production (more 2 /5 general output), followed by Eastern Siberia (over 1 /3) and North-West (more 1 /5). But domestic production provides only half of the existing needs. The remaining amount of alumina is imported from neighboring countries (Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Ukraine), as well as from Yugoslavia, Hungary, Greece, Venezuela and other countries. About 1/5 of the aluminum smelters' demand for alumina is covered by the Nikolaev Alumina Refinery (Ukraine), the largest in the CIS. Its capacity is 1.2 million tons of alumina per year.
In the future, the situation will change dramatically thanks to the Russian-Greek agreement on the construction of the ELVA plant on the shores of the Gulf of Corinth and on the purchase of alumina produced there. The launch of this enterprise will create a reliable alumina base for domestic aluminum smelters.
Due to its significant electrical intensity, the production of aluminum metal, regardless of the quality of the feedstock, is almost always confined to sources of cheap electricity, among which powerful hydroelectric power plants play a primary role. Here, the use of imported alumina (about 2 tons per 1 ton of aluminum) turns out to be more economically profitable compared to the transfer of electricity or an equivalent amount of fuel to areas where cheap alumina is produced.
In Russia, all centers for the production of metallic aluminum (with the exception of the Urals) are to one degree or another removed from raw materials, being located near hydroelectric power stations (Volgograd, Volkhov, Kandalaksha, Nadvoitsy, Bratsk, Shelikhov, Krasnoyarsk, Sayanogorsk) and partly where large power plants using cheap fuel (Novokuznetsk).
Co-production of alumina and aluminum is carried out in
Northwestern region (Volkhov) and the Urals (Krasnoturinsk and Kamensk-Uralsky).
The aluminum industry, among other branches of non-ferrous metallurgy, stands out for its largest scale of production.
In 1993, for example, the capacity for alumina was 2.2 million tons, and for aluminum - about 3 million tons.
The most powerful enterprises for alumina operate in Achinsk, Krasnoturinsk, Kamensk-Uralsky and Pikalyov, for aluminum - in Bratsk, Krasnoyarsk, Sayanogorsk and Irkutsk (Shelekhov). Thus, Eastern Siberia is sharply ahead in the production of aluminum metal (almost 4/5 of the total production volume in the country).
The final stage of the technological process in non-ferrous metallurgy - processing of metals and their alloys - is close to areas of consumption and is usually located in large industrial centers. Consumption areas also attract the processing of secondary raw materials - an important additional resource in increasing production
non-ferrous metals, which makes it possible to obtain finished products at much lower costs.
Gold mining industry- one of the oldest in Russia. In 1993, 132.1 tons of gold were produced, which gives our country fifth place in the world after South Africa, the USA, Canada and Australia. Currently, the share of Russian gold in world production is about 8%.
In terms of proven reserves, which are estimated at no less than 5 thousand tons, Russia is significantly inferior only to South Africa, but surpasses Australia and Canada and is on the same level as the United States. Domestic deposits are represented by alluvial, primary (ore) and complex (gold in combination with copper, base metals, etc.). The main reserves are concentrated in primary deposits, followed by complex and, finally, alluvial deposits.
Meanwhile, alluvial deposits have always been developed most intensively: their development required less money and time
compared to the indigenous ones. Now they account for about 3 /4 total production.
Placer gold reserves have now significantly decreased. In the future, we should expect an increase in the role of primary deposits, which is associated, in particular, with the attraction of foreign capital. One example is the creation of the Russian-Australian JSC Lenzoloto at the famous Bodaibo mines, where gold production is planned to be increased to 62 tons by 2000, i.e. increased several times. For this purpose, the development of the country's largest deposit, Sukhoi Log, will begin (reserves of about 1.5 thousand tons) using advanced technologies for ore mining and gold extraction.
The bulk of domestic gold is mined in the Far East (2/3 of the total) and in Eastern Siberia (over 1 /4). In the Far East 2 /3 All production is concentrated in the mines of Yakutia (30.7 tons) and the Magadan region. (28.2 t.).
In Eastern Siberia there is also production at 2 /3 concentrated in the Irkutsk region. (11.7 t) and Krasnoyarsk Territory (10.8 t).
The remaining amount of gold comes from the Urals (5%), where mines arose much earlier than in other regions of Russia, Western Siberia and the North of the European part.
Diamond mining industry. Diamonds are one of the most important income sources of domestic exports. The country receives about $1.5 billion annually from their sales.
Diamonds are mined in more than 20 countries around the world. Some of them are independent exporters of diamonds, others, including Russia, enter the world market through the South African cartel De Beers.
World diamond production is 100 million carats (about 20 tons per year), of which at least half are technical. In value terms, their share is only 2%. De Beers produces 50% of jewelry diamonds, and Russia accounts for 25% of global production.
Currently, almost all domestic diamonds are mined in Yakutia. In two diamond-bearing areas of the river basin. Vilyuy has several mines, including such well-known ones as Yubileiny and Udachny (85% of total production). In the eastern regions of the country, diamonds were also found in Eastern Siberia (Krasnoyarsk Territory and Irkutsk Region).
The northwestern part of the Russian Platform is very promising. The so-called Zimne-berezhnoe kimberlite field (in the Arkhangelsk region) with several kimberlite pipes and veins was discovered here. According to De Beers specialists, the reserves of one of the identified deposits - named after Lomonosov - amount to at least 250 million carats. The content of jewelry diamonds in Pomeranian pipes is much higher (2-3 carats per 1 ton of rock) than in the mines of Yakutia, and the quality of Arkhangelsk diamonds is significantly superior to South African ones. The Leningrad region is also potentially diamondiferous. (between Tikhvin and Lodeynoye Pole) and Karelia.
The main tasks of non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises are the extraction and enrichment of metals, as well as their processing, production of rolled products and alloys. This industry plays a very noticeable role in the Russian economy. Our country ranks among the first in the world in terms of the number of deposits of non-ferrous metals.
Main sub-sectors
- Arkhangelsk region;
- Irkutsk region;
- Krasnoyarsk region.
The Leningrad region and Karelia are potentially diamondiferous.
The most productive are the Russian non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises of this group, which develop diamonds in primary deposits. Alluvial mining is carried out mainly by small enterprises.
Silver mining industry
The geography of non-ferrous metallurgy in this sub-industry is very, very wide. Silver deposits are being developed in our country in more than 20 regions. Our country ranks first in the world in the extraction of this noble metal. The leading one is the Dukat deposit in the Magadan region.
Platinum mining
Most of this metal in Russia is mined in the Urals. There is also a lot of platinum in the Baikal region, Taimyr and the Kola Peninsula. Karelia and the Voronezh region are promising in this regard.
Despite the rather difficult economic conditions, the ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy of Russia is a developing and promising industry. In any case, the majority of enterprises in this group remain profitable. The state also pays a lot of attention to metallurgical companies.
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