Shungite

It is a natural mineral composed of amorphous carbon, silicates, aluminium silicates, carbonates and trace amounts of rare and rare-earth elements. The Koksu deposit with reserves of over 600 mln tons is located in Almaty region, Republic of Kazakhstan. The contract with the Government for exploration and development is held by the “Koksu” Mining Company formed in 2002.

Kazakh scientists have become interested in sorption and ion-exchange properties of Koksu shungite. Researches carried out show a wide range of possible applications for the mineral:

• elimination of consequences of man-caused technological catastrophes;
• agriculture;
• water purification systems;
• ecologically safe fillers for rubber, plastic and constructional materials production.

Since 2002 Koksu Mining Company has been conducting scientific researches on applications of shungite and has received positive results in the following areas:

1. As shielding layer to localize mercury contamination, causing no harm to soil hydrology. Shungite stops capillarity, during which mercury vapour can pass even through the clay shield. The layer of shungite 0.25-0.50 meter thick can absorb the vapour and fully prevent the release of mercury into the soil.
   Afterwards the layer with the mineral can be collected from the ground and sent for disposal. It is also possible to extract mercury from the mineral, for example through the vacuum-thermal sublimation with subsequent condensation.
2. As shielding layer to localize UDMH contamination of the soil. UDMH or unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine is a highly toxic and mutagenic rocket fuel ingredient that spills out over a large territory from falling rocket boosters during space launches. One of many undisputable advantages arising from the application of Koksu’s shungite as a soil masking material is its ability to rehabilitate soil fertility, to intensify plant germination and at the same time to display moisture retaining qualities, which are extremely important for revegetation.
3. Gamma rays shielding. A layer of shaly shungite provides a more effective level of shielding than equally thick layers of concrete or aluminium.
   Shungite shields can be used in the areas of potential ecological disasters, such as oil pipelines, gas-condensate reservoirs, handling grounds for combustible materials, sump and sewage tanks, etc. A promising area of shungite application is seen to be the construction of chemical and radioactive waste storages.
4. Soil fertility rehabilitation, which is justified through the presence of micro and macro elements in the mineral that contribute to plant germination by compensating the shortage of these elements in the exhausted soils. Initial recovery tests for alkaline soils have brought positive results; on experimental fields a noticeable increase in harvest yield was achieved.
5. Filtration feed systems in drinking water purification stations. Over the past two years these purification works are being conducted in the city Pavlodar, Republic of Kazakhstan.
   Shungite tests also continue at the waste water treatment facilities of Pavlodar. Koksu specialists developed a technology of producing binary sorbents that allow integrated sewage cleaning from nonferrous and heavy metal ions and oil products.
   Koksu Mining Company has collected a mass of data on physical, chemical and reagent features of this material declaring the Shungite being capable of solving many ecological problems. Extensive research works in this field and certification of the data are currently being performed in the leading scientific institutions of Kazakhstan and Russia.