Abstract
The characterization of historical mine tailings provides important information for land-management decisions, in particular when considering potential reprocessing activities or the development of an environmental protection program. In addition, outcomes from such characterization may define the scope for a more detailed investigation. The present work describes the characterization of the waste material from the Cabeço do Pião tailings impoundment performed within the project ReMinE: Improve Resource Efficiency and Minimize Environmental Footprint. The purpose of the work was to investigate alternative mine waste management options such as the extraction of valuable resources from an environmental liability. The study involved the collection of 41 samples at different locations at two different depths, physical and chemical characterization of the wastes, natural leaching tests, and potential for acid generation. The results showed that, apart from the potential instability of the dyke (with an average slope of 35°), the drained solutions flowing by percolation contain very small particles with high arsenic contents that are being incorporated into the river sediments. In addition, these very fine-grained materials are available for the transport by the wind creating secondary sources of environmental contamination. This data is fundamental for economic and environmental assessment of the two main alternatives, reprocessing or removal.
Highlights
Mine waste management still represents a challenge for many countries where mining activities were, or still are, in place
Any new extractive waste treatment process should be accompanied by information about the physical and chemical characteristics of the waste in order to provide the required useful information to the authorities and to the companies that are intending to begin with potential reprocessing activities or with an environmental protection program
The Cabeço do Pião tailings impoundment belonged to the Industrial Complex of Panasqueira mine (Fig. 1), which is one of the largest operating tungsten mines in the Market Economy Countries (MEC)
Summary
Mine waste (waste rock and tailings) management still represents a challenge for many countries where mining activities were, or still are, in place. Historical mine wastes can constitute a threat or an opportunity for local communities. They become a threat when they are abandoned and measures are not taken to reduce the risks to the environment but they can represent an interesting resource of critical and valuable metals with. Any new extractive waste treatment process should be accompanied by information about the physical and chemical characteristics of the waste in order to provide the required useful information to the authorities and to the companies that are intending to begin with potential reprocessing activities or with an environmental protection program. Other metals that may be present include base transition metals such as iron, copper, nickel, and zinc, in relatively high concentrations, and occasionally precious
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