Abstract
Slags from the historic metallurgy of Zn-Pb ores are known for unique chemical and phase compositions. The oxides, silicates, aluminosilicates, and amorphous phases present therein often contain in the structure elements that are rare in natural conditions, such as Zn, Pb, As. The study focuses on processes occurring on the contact of the melted batch and the refractory materials that build the furnace, which lead to the formation of these phases. To describe them, chemical (X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)) and petrological ((X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron probe micro-analyses (EPMA), Raman spectroscopy) analyses were performed on refractory material, slag, and contact of both. Two main types of reactions have been distinguished: gas/fluid- refractories and liquid- refractories. The first of them enrich the refractories with elements that migrate with the gas (Pb, K, Na, As, Zn) and transport the components building it (Fe, Mg, Ca) inward. Reactions between melted batch and refractory materials through gravitational differentiation and the melting of refractories lead to the formation of an aluminosilicate liquid with a high content of heavy elements. Cooling of this melt causes crystallization of minerals characteristic for slag, but with a modified composition, such as Fe-rich pyroxenes, Pb-rich K-feldspar, or PbO-As2O3-SiO2 glass.
Highlights
One of the characteristic features of the Upper Silesia landscape is the presence of metallurgical waste dumps
Slags containing elements of refractories occurred in the landfill when the worn muffles and furnace linings were replaced, or when these were damaged in the smelting process
Influence of gas/fluid manifested in the enrichment of parts of refractory materials in PbO, K, Na2 O, and, to a lesser extent, As and Zn, with simultaneous displacement and transport of FeO/Fe2 O3, MgO, and CaO into the refractories
Summary
One of the characteristic features of the Upper Silesia landscape is the presence of metallurgical waste dumps These landfills are associated with a centuries-old history of smelting silver, lead, and zinc. Due to the high content of heavy metals and other harmful elements, slag research mainly focuses on their impact on the environment [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14] Such studies are especially important due to the fact that currently, to reduce the amount of deposited slag, they are increasingly used by local enterprises [2,13].
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