In a copper mine-tailing afforested we characterized the physicochemical properties of the substrate at vegetated and non-vegetated patches. We studied the accumulation of copper in roots and leaves of the species present at the site, to evaluate their phytoextraction and/or phytostabilization potential. The nonvegetated mine-tailing substrate showed a high content of metals, mainly copper (> 2.5 g kg-1), a pH 7.4, high content of salts and 5.0 % organic matter. Vegetated patches at the tailing showed similar characteristics of pH, salts and organic matter content, and showed a total copper concentration lower than the content found at the non-vegetated patches. Nine plant species present at the site were screened for copper accumulation and distribution in roots and leaves, and potential for copper phytoextraction or phytostabilization was suggested. The native species Schinus polygamus and Atriplex deserticola, accumulated over 1.2 g kg-1 copper in their leaves, showing that they are pseudometallophytes for the metal. Five of the nine plant species studied were considered suitable for phytoextraction procedures and four were apt for phytostabilization of copper polluted sites. By making a screening of species growing on a copper polluted site, we were able to select plants adapted to semi-arid environmental conditions and suitable for mine-tailings remediation purposes.

In order to determine the exploitation potentiality of a kaolin deposit from Atacama in the north of Chile, two types of kaolin (K-1 and K-2) were characterized by XRD, XRF, SEM/EDXS, size distribution, whiteness and DSC. Kaolinite, quartz, muscovite and albite were recognized as main constituents of the ore deposit, and also a significant amount of impurities that negatively impacts on quality were detected. Results show that the low quality presented by the samples, especially K-2, impedes their industrial use as raw material and further mineral concentration processes are proposed. Finally, the results of thermal analysis confirm a conversion to metakaolin that could be the basis for an alternative processing route.

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1,2‐Cyclodecandion (I) liefert bei der Photolyse das 1‐Hydroxy‐bicyclo(6,2,0)decan‐lO‐on (II), das mit Lithiumalanat das trans‐Diol (IIIa) gibt.