Predicción De Drenaje Ácido De Mina, Jales De La Mina La Prieta, Chihuahua, México

Abstract

ampliamente (plata, plomo y cobre) desde la época del virreinato hasta su cierre; por consiguiente, se acumularon grandes cantidades de jales o relaves, producto del procesamiento metalúrgico. Estos jales pueden producir drenaje ácido de mina debido a las reacciones de oxidación e hidrólisis. Con el objetivo de predecir si los jales son generadores de drenaje ácido, se realizó la caracterización de las muestras de jales y la determinación de la posibilidad de generar acidez. Los valores de pH hallados fueron ligeramente alcalinos (7.8-8.4). Por otro lado, los sulfatos y el azufre total se determinaron mediante los métodos turbidimétrico e infrarrojo, respectivamente. Cabe mencionar que la concentración de azufre total estuvo por debajo del límite de detección del equipo Leco S-144DR y las concentraciones de azufre en forma de sulfatos fueron mínimas. La caracterización mineralógica mostró que sólo en tres muestras se encontró pirita, y en bajos porcentajes. Los minerales calcita y dolomita presentes en el yacimiento tipo skarn intervienen en la neutralización del drenaje ácido de la mina y disminuyen la movilidad de la mayoría de los metales y metaloides tóxicos.

Evaluation of the danger of a tailings pile belonging to an active mine through its characterization and a dispersion model

“…According to the Tables 2 and 3 , there are potential toxic elements such as arsenic and lead present in the samples. Furthermore, in some samples where sulfur was detected, however, analyzing the contrast of the images, it is noted that the surrounding particles that contain this element are mostly carbonates (calcite, magnesite, smithsonite, principally), so in the presence of water, they can neutralize to sulfuric acid generated by sulfur and thus avoiding the formation of acid drainage and the leaching of toxic metals, which is also justified with the pH values obtained (García et al, 2017 ; Salas Urviola et al, 2020a , 2020b ).…”

“…The samples have a slightly neutral-alkaline pH, this may be due to the fact that there are minerals with neutralization capacity such as carbonates and a low concentration of acid-forming components such as pyrites (Armienta et al, 2004 ; Corona Sánchez et al, 2021 ; Espinosa et al, 2009 ). Due to these values, it can be said that there is also a low mobility towards aquifers of dangerous toxic elements because it is necessary to have acid conditions in the environment for this to happen (Salas-Luevano et al, 2021 ; Salas Urviola et al, 2020a , 2020b ). It should be noted that the survey was carried out from the top to the base of the dam (Figure S1 ), beginning with point z-1 and as the numbering increases, it is closer to the base with point z-10.…”

“…The literature suggests that due to the measured particle size, both As and Pb can cause harm to the population and the environment through direct inhalation of the tailings. However, the measured pH values and sample characterization suggest that the abundance of carbonates and the basic pH of the samples will result in low dilution of both As and Pb in bodies of water, forming insoluble species and not generating acid drainage (Armienta et al, 2016 ; Gavilán-García et al, 2020 ; Gavilán García et al, 2017 et al, 2017 ; Kossoff et al, 2014 ; Salas Urviola et al, 2020a , 2020b ).

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“…(Corrales-Pérez & Romero, 2013 ; Kossoff et al, 2014 ; Solà et al, 2004 ). However, a first approximation of the site’s dangerousness could be made based on the characterization of the particulate matter from tailings using different analytical techniques and determining the total concentrations of potentially toxic elements and comparing them with the maximum permissible limits established by governmental or international organizations (Gavilán-García et al, 2020 ; Loredo-Portales et al, 2020 ; Salas Urviola et al, 2020a , 2020b ). Dispersion modeling of tailings’ particles into the air can be done by having the availability of data and representative inventories of particle emissions that are essential for an environmental risk assessment and provide the basis for the analysis of the environmental fate of these tailings’ emissions (Richardson et al, 2019a , 2019b ).…”

Draft genome sequence of the highly copper-tolerant Methylobacterium radiotolerans MLP1 isolated from the rhizosphere of grasses adjacent to mine tailings

“…To understand how is organized the Cu-efflux resistome in bacteria thriving in Cu-rich environments, soil suspension from the rhizosphere of grasses sampled in the inactive mine “La Prieta” (Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua, México, 26° 56´ 27´´N, 105° 39´ 32´´W) ( 1 ) was screened for the presence of highly copper-tolerant bacteria by dilution and spread plate technique ( 2 ). After 72 h of incubation at 30°C, the most copper-tolerant isolate showed full growth on plates of succinate-ammonium mineral medium ( 3 ) supplemented with 4.0 mM CuCl 2 and total growth inhibition in 4.5 mM CuCl 2 (MIC), which falls into the range of tolerance reported for other highly Cu-tolerant species ( 4 , 5 ).…”