Role of secondary minerals in the acid generating potential of weathered mine tailings: Crystal-chemistry characterization and closed mine site management involvement

Elghali, Abdellatif; Benzaazoua, Mostafa; Bouzahzah, Hassan; Abdelmoula, Mustapha; Dynes, James J.; Jamieson, Heather E.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147105

Cited by 52 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…Below pH 4.5, thiobacillus ferrooxidans allows acidification to continue by oxidizing Fe 2+ from pyritic materials (Shirin et al, 2021). Compounds of calcium (CaCO, CaMg(CO 3 ) 2 ), iron (FeCO 3 , Fe(OH) 3 ), and magnesium (MgCO 3 ) are key factors for neutralizing AMD from mine tailings (Elghali et al, 2021). In nearneutral mine waters, along with SO 4 2 , bicarbonate (HCO 3…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Strength and Quality of Cemented Mine Backfill Made up of Lead-Zinc Processing Tailings

2021

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Predicting the reactions of the backfill materials exposed to the effects of air and groundwater will eventually ensure an efficient and accurate mine fill system for sustainable mining operations. This paper reveals the effect of the mobility of sulfur ions within lead-zinc processing tailings on strength and quality of cemented mine backfills. Some laboratory tests such as X-ray diffraction, ion chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, combustion tests, chemical analysis, pH and zeta potential measurements were performed to better characterize the backfill’s mechanical and microstructural properties. Moreover, CEM II/A-P Portland pozzolan and CEM IV/A pozzolanic cements as ready-to-use cement products were used for cemented mine backfill preparation. To ensure the carrier of the lead-zinc tailings and to prevent the mobility of the sulfurous components, a binder content ranging from 3 to 7 wt% were employed in mine backfills. The experimental findings demonstrate that the used cement type and proportions were insufficient and some fractures are occurred in the samples due to the sulfur ion mobility. Accordingly, one can state clearly that the elemental analysis through the combustion test method can provide fast and reliable results in the determination of sulfur within lead-zinc processing tailings.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Strength and Quality of Cemented Mine Backfill Made up of Lead-Zinc Processing Tailings

2021

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“…Here, in situ (before any excavation) and in-field XRD can be deployed especially on pristine undisturbed parts of this Roman site to determine different oxidative states of iron. Alternatively, atmosphere controlled chambers and on-site hermetical sealing of samples could be used immediately after excavation, as demonstrated for another biogeochemically complex albeit non-archaeological context 41 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unique chemical parameters and microbial activity lead to increased archaeological preservation at the Roman frontier site of Vindolanda, UK

Orr

Williams

Halldórsdóttir

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Waterlogged burial conditions impact upon artefact preservation. One major determinant of preservation is presence and behaviour of microorganisms, however, unravelling the mechanisms, especially in waterlogged conditions is challenging. In this study, we analysed elemental composition, bacterial diversity and community structure from excavation trenches at the Roman Site of Vindolanda, Northumberland, UK, using pXRF and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Excavation trenches provide information of different occupation periods. The results indicated that microbial communities were dominated by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria at a phylum level. Samples which also had visible vivianite presence showed that there were marked increases in Methylophilus. Methylophilus might be associated with favourable preservation in these anaerobic conditions. More research is needed to clearly link the presence of Methylophilus with vivianite production. The study emphasises the need for further integration of chemical and microbiome approaches, especially in good preservation areas, to explore microbial and chemical degradation mechanisms.

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“…(e.g., [35]); and (iii) additional detailed mineralogical and bulk metal concentration characterisation of the solid mineral phases (e.g., [36]). In addition, there has not yet been a study into the nature of the arsenic present.…”

Section: Supplementary Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Sulfidic Legacy Mine Tailings: A Review of the Wheal Maid Site, UK

Fitch

Parbhakar-Fox²,

Crane

et al. 2022

Minerals

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Historic tailings dams and their associated mine waste can pose a significant risk to human and environmental health. The Wheal Maid mine site, Cornwall, UK, serves as an example of the temporal evolution of a tailings storage facility after mining has ceased and the acid-generating waste subjected to surficial processes. This paper discusses its designation as a contaminated land site and reviews our current understanding of the geochemistry, mineralogy, and microbiology of the Wheal Maid tailings, from both peer-reviewed journal articles and unpublished literature. We also present new data on waste characterisation and detailed mineral chemistry and data from laboratory oxidation experiments. Particularly of interest at Wheal Maid is the presence of pyrite-bearing “Grey Tailings”, which, under typical environmental conditions at the Earth’s surface, would be expected to have undergone oxidation and subsequently formed acidic and metalliferous mine drainage (AMD). The results identified a number of mechanisms that could explain the lack of pyrite oxidation in the Grey Tailings, including a lack of nutrients inhibiting microbial Fe(II) oxidation, passivation of pyrite mineral surfaces with tailings processing chemicals, and an abundance of euhedral pyrite grains. Such research areas need further scrutiny in order to inform the design of future tailings facilities and associated AMD management protocols.

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Role of secondary minerals in the acid generating potential of weathered mine tailings: Crystal-chemistry characterization and closed mine site management involvement

Cited by 52 publications

References 85 publications

Characterization of Strength and Quality of Cemented Mine Backfill Made up of Lead-Zinc Processing Tailings

Characterization of Strength and Quality of Cemented Mine Backfill Made up of Lead-Zinc Processing Tailings

Unique chemical parameters and microbial activity lead to increased archaeological preservation at the Roman frontier site of Vindolanda, UK

Evolution of Sulfidic Legacy Mine Tailings: A Review of the Wheal Maid Site, UK

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