The photo is sourced from pstu.ru
The development of potash-rich rocks causes emissions of toxic sulfur-containing gases that can lead to dizziness, weakness, nausea and loss of consciousness. To identify dangerous concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, laboratory analysis of ore samples is conducted. This method is highly reliable, but it takes a long time to perform. This is why miners pay attention to indirect signs of increased gas content, including the presence of organic substances the decomposition of which leads to the formation of gases.
According to research by PNRPU, the relationship between the concentration of organic carbon, magnesium chloride and the content of hydrogen sulfide in rocks makes it possible to promptly determine the location of gas-saturated zones. “The physical meaning of this dependence is that the presence of secondary minerals in the ore, such as milky-white sylvite, crystalline granular halite and lemon-yellow carnallite, causes the content of magnesium chloride and organic carbon in the salts to increase, which means that the content of hydrogen sulfide increases as well,” Alexander Zemskov, doctor of technical sciences, is quoted as saying by PNRPU.
To test the new method, the authors of the study took fresh samples of ore from the rock, crushed them to a high extent and placed them in a three-litre container, which was then sealed with a lid. When the container was shaken, it led to the release of gas the concentration of which was determined by a gas meter connected to the container with a special adapter. The resulting values were 95% consistent with the results of laboratory analysis of samples that were removed from the rock at the same time.
The commercialisation of this method will make it possible to increase the efficiency of preventing hydrogen sulfide emissions at potash deposits, including by reducing periods of forced downtime.
