The reclamation of exhausted open-pit coal mines is an energy-intensive and costly process. Traditional methods offer no economic return. This study explores the feasibility of using autonomous electric dump trucks (EDTs) to fill the pit, leveraging regenerative braking during descent to generate energy and reduce operational costs. A comprehensive energy balance model was developed based on the operational cycle of the Komatsu HD605-7 (E-Dumper) in the unique downhill-loaded logistics of the Pery quarry. The model incorporates vehicle dynamics equations, including rolling resistance, gradient, and aerodynamic forces, to calculate net energy consumption per cycle. Three energy storage system (ESS) configurations were compared: NMC/NCA batteries, LiFePO₄ (LFP) batteries, and a hybrid LFP + supercapacitor (SC) system. Simulation results demonstrate that the net energy per cycle decreases with increasing payload capacity, even becoming negative (net energy generation) for loads above 110 tons due to powerful regenerative braking on the 13% descent grade. The hybrid LFP + SC system proved most efficient, achieving the lowest specific energy consumption (kWh/ton) by effectively capturing high-power regenerative currents. While LFP batteries have a lower energy density, their superior cycle life, thermal stability, and safety make them the optimal choice for the harsh mining environment. The proposed operation strategy, utilizing EDTs in a downhill-loaded cycle, transforms mine reclamation from a cost center into a potentially energy-neutral or even energy-positive process. A hybrid ESS with LFP batteries and supercapacitors is recommended as the most reliable and efficient solution for this specific application.

To study the influence of sinter basicity on the microstructure, phase composition, and physicochemical and metallurgical properties, samples of agglomerates with different basicities were sintered and investigated. A comprehensive study of the structure, composition, chemical, and metallurgical properties of the sinter was conducted, and the optimum values for these properties were determined. The results of the mineralogical transformations that occurred during the sintering process are also presented. The magnetite contained in the concentrate partially dissolves in the silicate component and flux during agglomeration, forming a complex silicate SFCA with the general formula M₁₄O₂₀ (M–Ca, Si, Al, and Mg), which is the binder of the ore phases of the agglomerate. The proportion of ferrosilicates of calcium and aluminum in the sinter depends on the basicity of the sinter charge, and the morphology of the SFCA phase depends on the cooling rate of the sinter. The more CaO in the sinter charge, the more SFCA phase is formed in the sinter, and slow cooling results in the growth of large lamellar and dendritic SFCA phases.

The paper presents the results of studies of the chemical, phase composition and metallurgical characteristics of titanomagnetite sinter. The iron ore used in blast furnaces of JSC ‘EVRAZ NTMK’ is titanomagnetite sinter obtained from ores of the Gusevogorsky deposit. Samples of sinter with different basicities as well as with addition of binding polymers in the amount of 300 and 500 g per ton of sinter were investigated. The results of industrial tests of the production and blast furnace smelting of sinter with different basicities and additives of binding polymers are presented on the example of the operation of blast furnaces no. 5 and 6 of JSC ‘EVRAZ NTMK’. It was shown that an increase in the basicity of the sinter from 2.1 to 2.4 and the introduction of a polymer binder (in the amount of 500 g per ton of sinter) positively affect the complex of sinter metallurgical characteristics – durability after reduction, reducibility, softening and melting temperatures, and also decrease the coke rate in blast furnace smelting by 1.0–1.2%.

The approach to solving the problem of processing iron ore raw materials of Tebinbulak titanomagnetite deposit (Uzbekistan) is offered. It can provide high-quality steel products. The two schemes of processing of Tebinbulak ore are shown. The choice between the proposed schemes of the Tebinbulak ore processing: variant of "blast furnace – converter" and variant of "metallization – electric smelting" should be made after thorough analysis based on many factors.

Titanium dioxide is the most common titanium-containing product on the world market, and the demand for it is increasing. The global consumption of TiO₂ is 7 – 7.5 million tons annually. Titanium dioxide is mainly obtained from ilmenite and rutile concentrates. The largest producers are China, USA, Germany, UK, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. In addition to the natural resources of titan, there are man-made sources. This type of resource includes titanium-containing slags obtained as a result of pyrometallurgical processing of ores and concentrates containing titanium dioxide. These slags, in addition to titanium dioxide, contain silicon in the form of dioxide, silicates or aluminosilicates, whose chemical processing is difficult due to their high melting point (more than 2000 °C) and the chemical stability of these compounds in mineral acids (sulfuric, nitric, hydrochloric). Processing of such raw materials is carried out by “classical” chlorine and sulfuric acid methods. The use of fluorides in industry is realized in the production of aluminum, zirconium, uranium, beryllium, niobium, etc., which indicates the possibility of using fluoride methods for titanium slags processing. The article discusses a method for producing titanium dioxide based on the use of ammonium hydrodifluoride NH₄HF₂ , which has a high reactivity to a number of chemically resistant oxides (oxides of silicon, titanium, aluminum, etc.). The fluoroammonium method for processing titanium slag using NH₄HF₂ involves slag decomposition of in NH₄HF₂ melt followed by silicon admixture sublimation. Cleaning from iron, aluminum and other impurities is carried out using a solution of NH₄HF₂. Further precipitation of titanium with treatment of the precipitate by AlCl₃ and ZnCl₂ solutions followed by calcination allows to obtain a rutile modification of titanium dioxide.

Questions about the oxidative roasting of iron ore raw materials (agglomerates and pellets) are studied. Features of the phase structure of the iron ore raw materials containing titan and vanadium are discussed. Reducibility, durability, and the softening and melting temperatures of metallurgical iron ore raw materials are studied in vitro. The objects of the research are titaniferous ores containing different amounts of titan dioxide. The behaviors of agglomerates and pellets in a blast furnace are studied, and the influence of their physical and chemical properties on heat and mass transfer processes are researched by means of a mathematical model. The main indices of blast furnace smelting—productivity, coke consumption, composition of top gas, cast iron, and slag—are shown. It is established that the increase in titanium dioxide content in pellets, as the amount of concentrate with increased TiO₂ content increases, does not cause deterioration in the quality of iron ore raw materials being prepared for blast furnace smelting. At the same time, as the hot strength of raw materials increases, the temperature at which softening begins increases and the temperature interval of softening of materials decreases.