Modeling the geochemical evolution of mine waters during mixing

Abstract

This study focuses on assessing the hydrogeochemical processes influencing the mobility of dissolved metal and metalloid species during mine effluent mixing. Field samples were collected to characterize effluents at an active gold mine located in the Abitibi Greenstone belt in western Québec, Canada. Controlled laboratory mixing experiments were further performed with real effluents. In situ physicochemical parameters, concentrations of major dissolved ions and trace elements were analyzed. Mineralogical analyses were also performed on precipitates from the laboratory mixtures. The data were used for statistical analyses and for modeling the geochemical evolution of effluents using PHREEQC with the wateq4f.dat database (with modifications). The results suggest that the formation of secondary minerals such as schwertmannite, Fe(OH)3, and jarosite could significantly affect the concentrations of trace elements in effluents. The precipitation of secondary minerals immobilized trace elements through coprecipitation and sorption processes. The main limitations of the modeling approach used here include the evaluation of the ion balance for low pH samples with high Fe and Al concentrations and the omission of biological processes. The approach provides insights into the geochemical evolution of mine effluents and could be adapted to several mining sites as a tool for improving water management.