Effect of particle size and grain composition on two-dimensional infiltration process of weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores

The two-dimensional infiltration experiment was carried out by means of digital image technology.The evolution process of the wetting body was described.The wetted front distance and the time show a very significant power function relationship.The horizontal wetted distance is larger than the vertical wetted distance in the initial stage.Then,the vertical distance of the wetted body gradually approaches to the horizontal distance.The infiltration distance decreases as the content of fine particles increases.The wetted front migration rate curve shows a three-stage change law,and it increases with the increase of coarse particle content.The directional velocity ratio is defined.The initial value of horizontal infiltration rate is larger than that of vertical one,and then the vertical infiltration rate is gradually close to the horizontal value.The empirical relationship between the characteristic particle size and the stable infiltration rate is established,which provides a theoretical basis for the prediction of the stable infiltration rate in in-situ leaching.

Soil−water characteristics of weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores

The permeability of the weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores directly affects the efficiency of in-situ leaching.The soil−water characteristic curve(SWCC)is an important constitutive relation for calculating the permeability of ore body,which is related to many factors.Soil−water characteristic tests of rare earth ore samples considering different factors were carried out by using the pressure plate instrument.Effects of dry density,particle size and solution leaching on water holding behavior and the mechanism were investigated.The experimental observations indicate that with the decrease of dry density,the pore ratio increases gradually,and the saturated water content increases.Under the same matric suction,the water content decreases gradually with the increase of particle size,thus decreasing water holding capacity of ore accordingly.In the same water content,matric suction is inversely proportional to particle size.Under the same matric suction,the water content of ore samples after leaching is less than that of the ore samples before leaching,indicating that solution leaching can decrease water holding capacity of ore.