Mineralogical and geochemical alteration of Hitura sulphide mine tailings with emphasis on nickel mobility and retention

Heikkinen, Päivi; Räisänen, Marja Liisa

doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2007.09.001

Cited by 50 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…2). The alteration rims around remnant sulfide grains showed zoning in composition with a sulfur-rich core to sulfur-poor and iron-oxygen-rich rims, as was observed by Craig (1990) and Heikkinen and Räisänen (2008). Primary oxides and scarce chalcopyrite do not show signs of alteration in this zone.…”

Section: Oxidation Zone and Mineral Alterationsupporting

confidence: 61%

“…Selective and sequential extraction methods are widely used in studying mine tailings (Alakangas and Ö hlander 2006;Carlsson et al 2002;McGregor and Blowes 2002;Heikkinen and Räisänen 2008;Ribet et al 1995). Their accuracy and selectivity have been criticized (Hall et al 1996;McCarty et al 1998), as they depend on many factors such as chemicals applied, the procedure conditions (time, temperature, and exposure to light), and the sample to volume ratio.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tailings Mineralogy and Geochemistry at the Abandoned Haveri Au–Cu Mine, SW Finland

Parviainen

2009

Mine Water Environ

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Fourteen samples from the Haveri Au-Cu mine tailings were studied by reflected-light microcopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder-diffraction, and sequential extraction methods, and 12 water samples were analyzed for total and dissolved elements to delineate the extent of sulfide oxidation and its impact on nearby surface waters. Water-soluble, adsorbed-exchangeable-carbonate (AEC), Fe (oxy)hydroxides, Fe oxide, and Fe sulfide fractions were extracted sequentially. The oxidation layer was found to vary from 50 to 140 cm: the upper part was nearly depleted in primary sulfides, especially pyrrhotite [Fe (1-x) S] and pyrite (FeS 2 ); in the lower part, discontinuous cemented layers were detected. Secondary Fe (oxy)hydroxides and Fe oxyhydroxysulfates were abundant in the oxidation layer and were slightly enriched in trace elements, including As (up to 80 mg/kg), Cu (300 mg/kg), and Zn (150 mg/kg). Almost half of the As (average 25 mg/kg) were present as secondary minerals susceptible to redissolution. The pH of the vadose tailings varied from 2.46 to neutral, and the total sulfur content varied from 1 to 6.5% (average 2.9%). Aqua regia extraction showed that the Haveri tailings are characterized by low concentrations of the elements Cd, Cr, Pd, and slightly elevated concentrations of As, which are present at very low concentrations in the surface water (\6 lg/L). However, runoff that flows on top of the tailings and discharges into the nearby lake carries Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn (concentrations of each range from 500 to 1,800 lg/L). Additionally, dissolution of sulfides and Fe precipitates may mobilize trace metals in the ground water. Thus, overall, there is a small continuous release of AMD into Lake Kirkkojärvi, but the environmental impacts to the lake are presently small.

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Section: Oxidation Zone and Mineral Alterationsupporting

confidence: 61%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tailings Mineralogy and Geochemistry at the Abandoned Haveri Au–Cu Mine, SW Finland

Parviainen

2009

Mine Water Environ

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“…Iron secondary minerals likely to precipitate in CND conditions (such as goethite, ferrihydrite or amorphous Fe(OH) 3 , lepidocrocite, magnetite, and hematite; see Online Supplementary Figure 1) are known to play an important role in controlling the metal release in mine waters by sorption or co-precipitation (Alpers et al 1994;Heikkinen and Räisänen 2008;Jambor and Blowes 1998). Also, both circumneutral pH and the presence of sulfates in drainage waters have been found to increase metal uptake by secondary iron oxyhydroxides phases (Heikkinen and Räisänen 2008;Swedlund and Webster 2001;Swedlund et al 2003Swedlund et al , 2009.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many cases can be found in the literature where Ni CND is generated from tailings with significant carbonate neutralization and various sulfide oxidation levels (Heikkinen and Räisänen 2008;Heikkinen et al 2009). It was also demonstrated (Li 2000) that the silicate contribution to neutralization becomes increasingly important as sulfide oxidation rates drop.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many studies are found in the literature where the unoxidized portion of AMD generating tailings show CND-like features such as near-neutral pH and high dissolved nickel levels (e.g. Gunsinger et al 2006;Heikkinen and Räisänen 2008;Heikkinen et al 2009;Holmström et al 2001;Johnson et al 2000;McGregor et al 1998), where Ni levels are controlled mainly by sorption and/or coprecipitation with iron oxyhydroxides. However, no studies were found where Ni CND resulted from low sulfide oxidation with significant silicate neutralization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Predicting Geochemical Behaviour of Waste Rock with Low Acid Generating Potential Using Laboratory Kinetic Tests

2010

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Prediction of contaminated neutral drainage using laboratory kinetic tests designed for acid mine drainage prediction is challenging because of the low metal concentrations generated by low sulfide oxidation rates. Fresh and weathered samples from the Tio mine waste rock piles were submitted to humidity cell tests. The waste rocks were demonstrated to be non-acid generating in the long term, as interpreted by conservative oxidation-neutralization curves. The results demonstrate that even though the main neutralizing minerals react differently after 25 years of natural weathering (with regard to Ca, Mg, Al, and Si release), the response of the fresh waste rocks during humidity cell leaching was very similar to those of the weathered waste rocks, when considering all the elements related to silicate dissolution, including those implicated in secondary phase precipitation. However, Ni generation was greater in the weathered waste rocks even though sulfide oxidation rates were similar, as Ni sorption properties reach saturation. Although the Ni concentrations from the leachates of humidity cell tests remain below regulated values, they are bound to increase with continued weathering if no preventive or control measures are undertaken at the site.

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Impacts of Nickel Mine Tailings Storage Facility on Surface and Groundwater Quality at Onverwacht Farm, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Mudau,

Oke,

Ololade

2024

Advances in Science, Technology &Amp; Innovation

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Mineralogical and geochemical alteration of Hitura sulphide mine tailings with emphasis on nickel mobility and retention

Cited by 50 publications

References 37 publications

Tailings Mineralogy and Geochemistry at the Abandoned Haveri Au–Cu Mine, SW Finland

Tailings Mineralogy and Geochemistry at the Abandoned Haveri Au–Cu Mine, SW Finland

Predicting Geochemical Behaviour of Waste Rock with Low Acid Generating Potential Using Laboratory Kinetic Tests

Impacts of Nickel Mine Tailings Storage Facility on Surface and Groundwater Quality at Onverwacht Farm, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

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