Minerals are one of the important means of production for human survival. At present, 17 1 mineral has been discovered in China. It can be divided into four categories: energy minerals (such as coal, oil and geothermal), metal minerals (such as iron, manganese and copper), non-metal minerals (such as diamond, limestone and clay) and water vapor minerals (such as groundwater, mineral water and carbon dioxide gas). More than 8,000 mines have been developed and established, and the accumulated tailings amount is 596.5438+700 million tons. A large number of tailings not only occupy land, but how to develop and utilize these amazing tailings that have been sleeping for many years, truly realize the modern production of "no tailings, no waste and no pollution" and promote the comprehensive management of mine environment is an objective requirement for implementing Scientific Outlook on Development and building a harmonious socialist society, and also an important topic of common concern for China and other countries in the world. 1. Negative effects of tailings and their available value (1). Negative effects caused by tailings 1. Mine tailings directly cause environmental pollution. The pollution of tailings to the ground environment is manifested in many aspects: first, the raw ore directly carries pollutants exceeding the standard, such as radioactive elements and other harmful components; Secondly, the chemicals used in mineral processing remain in tailings and react with some components, resulting in new pollution sources; Thirdly, under the condition of surface accumulation, the tailings undergo supergene changes such as oxidation, hydrolysis and weathering, which transform the original pollution-free components into pollution components, such as some heavy sulfides common in non-ferrous metal mines; Fourthly, the surface water flowing through the tailings pond dissolves some harmful components and takes them away through the interaction with tailings, causing large-scale pollution; Fifth, because the tailings of metal mines are extremely fine, the discharged tailings are easily carried by the wind and cause pollution; Sixth, some mine tailings are directly discharged into lakes and rivers, polluting water bodies and blocking rivers, causing great disasters. 2. Mine tailings destroy the ecological environment. According to the author's understanding, these tailings, including waste rock and waste residue, occupy a lot of land. Due to the large-scale mining of manganese ore, gold ore, titanium placer, granite, limestone and marble, soil erosion and plant destruction have been accelerated, resulting in a large amount of sediment deposition in mountain ponds and reservoirs, and the riverbed has risen, and "Qingshantou" has become "Baishantou". 3. Mine tailings are prone to potential safety hazards. Tailings accumulation is prone to flow, collapse and landslide, especially for large tailings ponds with dam height exceeding 100 meters. 4. The pushing of tailings has caused serious waste of mineral resources. Especially in some poverty-stricken areas, most mines have low grade ores, which are mostly multi-component and finely disseminated. In addition, the mineral processing technology and equipment are backward, the management level is low and the recovery rate of mineral processing is low. In this way, a large number of optional useful components are bound to be discarded in tailings for a long time. Therefore, the useful resources wasted in tailings are considerable, especially some old tailings, which have become "rich in old tailings" due to the constraints at that time. 5. The accumulation of tailings has caused economic burden to state-owned enterprises. Due to the stockpiling of tailings, it is necessary to maintain the tailings pond, carry out daily management, and compensate for farmland damage or environmental damage caused by sudden reasons, which has caused a heavy economic burden to the country and enterprises. Experts estimate that if the storage cost and treatment cost of tailings are calculated above 1 ton 3 yuan, it will cost a huge sum of money every year. (2) The available value of mine tailings is 1, and the main minerals are still stored in the tailings. For example, the gold grade of tailings discharged from a gold mine concentrator is 0.8 ~ 1.2g/ ton every year, so the annual gold loss is more than 2.3 tons. 2. Associated minerals have large reserves and high value. A major feature of China's metal minerals is that there are few single minerals and many comprehensive minerals. Natural minerals are basically symbiotic and associated with various minerals. In the past, due to the mining and utilization mode of "single development and discarding others", a large number of * * * and associated mineral resources could not be recovered and stored in tailings. After the desired minerals are selected, the rest are discharged to the surface to form sand-like accumulation, while the remaining metal minerals are relatively rich in combination and the ore grade is improved, so it is called "artificial deposit" and is a valuable wealth. If these metals are recovered with the help of the new development of mineral processing technology, it is no less than building a new mine. 3. The value of gangue minerals in tailings should not be underestimated. Are a lot of drilling cuttings and nonmetallic minerals in metal mine tailings waste? You can say for sure: no, non-metallic minerals and coal tailings, coal gangue and other surrounding rocks are also useful substances, and they are wealth that has been dug underground and accumulated together. For example, University of Science and Technology Beijing uses the fine tailings of an iron mine to make baking-free bricks and building decorative materials, and has made decorative bricks, wall blocks and paving bricks with metallized and coated surfaces by mechanical pressing and pouring, which have been used in related projects. Second, there are problems in tailings utilization and mine environmental management 1, and the comprehensive utilization rate is low. At present, the comprehensive recovery rate of most mineral resources in China is generally around 30% ~ 50%, and the recovery rate of individual mining is less than 10%, which is a great waste of resources. Many mining enterprises fail to recycle the useful elements produced or related to them. 2. There are few high value-added products and lack of market competitiveness. At present, the industrial application of tailings in China mostly stays on the recovery of valuable elements in tailings, and there are few tailings products with high grade and high added value. For example, the application of Guangxi tailings is to recover valuable elements and sell them directly as raw materials for replacing sand and cement. 3. There are many abandoned mines, and the ecological restoration and reconstruction of mining areas are in a decentralized state. There are more than 8,000 state-owned mining enterprises and more than 230,000 individual mining enterprises in China. With the rapid development of industrialization, the development of mineral resources is also in a period of rapid rise. According to incomplete statistics, the area of land directly occupied and destroyed by mining areas is more than 3 million hectares, of which the area directly occupied and destroyed by forest land is more than 500,000 hectares, which leads to the degradation of forests and forest land. According to the forecast, the mining production in China will continue to expand, and the ecological damage caused by mining is also increasing. 4. Insufficient investment and state support. For a long time, tailings utilization projects and mine environmental treatment projects have not been guaranteed in terms of funds, and the investment is seriously insufficient and there are many debts. At present, there are no special funds to support the comprehensive utilization of resources in many areas, and the financing channels have not been solved. Moreover, the benefit of mining industry is poor, so it is difficult to raise funds for tailings utilization and mine environmental management. 5. Poor awareness of resources and environment and extensive growth mode are the root causes of environmental problems and low utilization rate of tailings resources. Large population, little resources, small environmental capacity and fragile ecology are the basic national conditions of our country. The rapid growth based on extensive economic's growth model makes resources unsustainable and the environment overwhelmed. The level of energy consumption and resource consumption per unit output in China is obviously higher than the international advanced level. The water consumption per 10,000 yuan of industrial output value is 10 times that of foreign advanced level, and the sulfur dioxide and oxides emitted per unit GDP in China are 8-9 times that of developed countries. At the same time, there are also some subjective factors that restrict tailings utilization and comprehensive environmental management. First, some places have failed to truly establish Scientific Outlook on Development, equating development with simple economic growth, and some pursue unsustainable development at the expense of high consumption of resources, environment and people's health; Second, the environmental legal system and the mining legal system are not in place, and the means of punishing illegal activities in resources and environment are ineffective, with low illegal cost and high law-abiding cost; Third, the mechanism of environmental protection and resource protection is not perfect, the management system is not smooth, the law enforcement is weak, and environmental science and metallurgical technology are backward; Fourth, the laws and regulations of resource utilization are backward, the basic management of tailings utilization is weak, and the basic information of tailings utilization is lacking. Three. Countermeasures and Suggestions for Strengthening Comprehensive Utilization of Tailings and Comprehensive Treatment of Environment Tailings are the chief culprit of mine environmental pollution and destruction, which is a well-known problem. Only by using the tailings as a whole, the useful resources in the tailings will not be wasted, and the original ecological features of the tailings can be restored, so that the environmental governance of the mining area can be sustained and enter a virtuous circle, and a win-win situation of tailings utilization, industrialization and environmental harmony can be realized. It is necessary to combine the comprehensive utilization of tailings with comprehensive environmental management, organize them carefully, and obtain the maximum resource economic benefit and environmental protection social benefit with the minimum environmental cost. Combined with the reality of tailings utilization and environmental protection in China, we can achieve a win-win situation and turn tailings from waste that harms the environment into wealth that benefits the country and the people. The author believes that the following aspects should be done well. (1) It is necessary to correct the concept of "one-off" resource consumption, truly establish a scientific concept of resources, and consciously establish the development and utilization of "misplaced resources-tailings". In the past, in the utilization of mineral resources, after a consumption, many useful substances were discarded as "waste", forming a large number of tailings. In fact, it is to treat tailings with Scientific Outlook on Development and circular economy. Tailings are not only the manifestation and consequence of the low level of development in the past, but also the source of environmental damage and pollution, a precious resource to be utilized and a raw material storehouse for the next operation. The recovery and utilization of tailings resources, the management of reservoir area and the restoration of natural environment in mining area have created conditions for the employment, urbanization and social development of labor force in this area. Therefore, we should strengthen propaganda, correct the concept of "one-off" consumption, establish a scientific concept of resources, treat tailings correctly, and make the development and utilization of tailings based on consciousness. (2) Strengthen scientific and technological research on comprehensive utilization of tailings, so that the development and utilization of tailings can be based on a solid scientific basis. 1. Separation technology of various substances in tailings. This is the key to the comprehensive utilization of mineral resources, including improving the separation and extraction technology of target minerals and associated metals and non-metallic minerals, improving the classification, classification and separation technology of non-metallic mineral powder in gangue and surrounding rock, improving the sub-packaging and packaging technology, and related economic analysis. 2. Application technology of various substances in tailings. Generally speaking, there is no problem in the utilization of various metal minerals and other original target minerals. The biggest difficulty is the application and location of a large number of nonmetallic mineral powders in gangue and surrounding rock. On the basis of summarizing and absorbing the existing experience, using modern science and technology, the application technology and market prospect of various kinds of mineral powder are explored respectively, so as to strive for the best effect of high added value and no pollution. 3. Environmental recovery and treatment technology in tailings mining area. Harnessing and restoring the natural environment in tailings mining areas is one of the basic purposes of implementing circular economy. The tailings pond has occupied a large area of land and mountains for many years, and a large number of solid, liquid and gaseous substances in the tailings have caused great erosion and damage to the bottom, soil and surrounding areas. In order to restore the original appearance of the reservoir area after the removal of silicon tailings, it is necessary to carry out exploration and experiments on eliminating pollution, purifying groundwater system, improving soil, reclaiming land and planting. Plant trees with grass, or build shantang reservoir, drink water for people and animals, and raise fish and ducks. And other technical and engineering practice problems in restoring the ecological environment of green mountains and green waters. (3) Do a good job in the investigation and evaluation of tailings resources and environment. Finding out the "family background" of tailings is the premise and basic work of any tailings development and utilization. According to the requirements of circular economy and full utilization of resources, tailings, as a special investigation object, should first make physical and chemical qualitative and quantitative analysis of all tailings minerals, including occurrence state, distribution, washability and economic evaluation. Secondly, it is necessary to comprehensively analyze and evaluate the impact of homogeneous, liquid and gaseous substances in tailings on the environment, so as to provide a basis for subsequent environmental treatment. (four), the establishment of comprehensive utilization of tailings demonstration project. The comprehensive recovery and utilization of tailings resources is not easy, because there are many problems and complicated situations. It is necessary to use comprehensive means to carry out experimental research, carry out engineering experiments in terms of technical feasibility, market demand, labor organization, economic cost, etc., establish a number of demonstration projects, and constantly sum up and explore the progress. The relevant parties of the central and local governments should pay attention to and support them to promote their success. (5) Improve the legal system and raise awareness of resource and environmental protection. In recent years, the state has promulgated some laws and regulations on mineral resources protection and environmental protection. All localities should formulate and improve local laws and policies to form a complete system. At the same time, it is necessary to raise the awareness of resource protection and environmental protection in the whole society through strong publicity and education. At present, it is especially necessary to strengthen the publicity and education of party and government leading cadres and mine leaders at the county and township levels, so that they can realize that mineral resources are non-renewable and must be rationally developed, utilized and effectively protected. Resource development projects that do not have environmental protection measures or do not meet environmental protection requirements must never be resumed, and existing projects that do not meet environmental protection requirements must also be rectified or shut down and transferred. Improve the awareness of resources, environmental protection and sustainable development of the whole people, and take rational use of resources and environmental protection as important contents of cadre assessment. (6) Establish an incentive and restraint mechanism for comprehensive utilization of tailings and comprehensive management of mine environment, and fully mobilize the enthusiasm of regions, departments and enterprises. The government should encourage and support the scientific and technological research and production test practice of tailings utilization, and give preferential policies such as tax reduction or exemption as an environmental protection project; However, enterprises that do not implement the overall utilization of tailings, divide tailings resources in disguise under various excuses, repeat the old road of low level, high pollution and waste of resources, or departments and units that hinder comprehensive utilization should be stopped and punished. It is necessary to study and explore effective economic means to strengthen mine environmental management and tailings development and utilization. First, study and explore tax, price and credit policies conducive to environmental protection and tailings utilization, encourage circular economy, clean production and comprehensive utilization of tailings, and promote the implementation of sustainable production and consumption patterns. The second is to study and establish an ecological compensation mechanism to solve the compensation problems of upstream to downstream, developed areas to protected areas, beneficiary areas to damaged areas, beneficiary groups to damaged people, and inside and outside nature reserves. Mineral resources development and tailings utilization should adhere to the principle of "whoever develops, protects, utilizes and compensates" to effectively prevent ecological damage. It is suggested that foreign and domestic advanced mine environmental protection experience should be used for reference to establish a mine environmental deposit system, and mining enterprises should pay land reclamation, vegetation restoration, pollution control or other ecological protection fees in advance. As long as the mining enterprises carry out this work, they can return the deposit to the mining enterprises in batches according to the progress of environmental protection work. If a mining enterprise fails to fulfill its obligations according to the requirements of environmental protection, the government may assign other units to organize the use of the deposit to complete the environmental protection task on behalf of the mining enterprise. (7) Strengthen the management of mine resources and environment 1, implement the total discharge control system, implement the discharge permit system of pollutant discharge units, introduce technology to strengthen the treatment and comprehensive utilization of "three wastes", turn waste into treasure, make full use of resources, and minimize the pollution and damage of waste residue to the environment. 2. Strengthen the environmental access system to reduce the environmental problems brought by new projects from the source and process. Strictly build new mines, adhere to the "three simultaneities" system of mine construction and environmental protection and restoration projects, strengthen the supervision and management of mine ecological environment, and realize the discharge of "three wastes" up to standard. 3. Establish a strict industrial elimination system, and forcibly eliminate enterprises and production lines with uneconomical scale and serious pollution. 4, strengthen the management of mineral resources development, prohibit indiscriminate mining, indiscriminate selection, indiscriminate smelting, so as to achieve scientific mining. 5. For mines polluted by historical reasons, the government will come forward to coordinate, and all forces will carry out governance in a planned and step-by-step manner to pay off the environmental debt as soon as possible. (VIII) Strengthening leadership and macro-control in tailings development and environmental protection often involves the distribution of interests among the central government, local governments, collectives and individuals. The interests of all parties are manipulated by the power differences in minerals, mountains, forests, water sources, environment, employment, auxiliary materials, transportation and other aspects, and it is inevitable that market economic control will fail and vicious competition will occur. Therefore, the government should strengthen macro-control, timely guide, resolve internal contradictions, properly handle the relationship between benefit and fairness, give consideration to the interests of all parties, maintain normal tailings development order and environmental protection, prevent and timely stop indiscriminate mining and excavation, and destroy the environment, prevent and correct the phenomenon of simple recovery without comprehensive recovery, promote the overall development and utilization of tailings resources, mine environmental protection and ecological coordination, and realize the sustainable development of economic and social sciences.