Abstract
This study, carried out in tailings from two sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits in the Lublin-Głogów Copper District in Poland (Kupferschiefer-type deposit) and Zhezkazgan (cupriferous sandstone-type deposit) in Kazakhstan, analysed the mineralogy of copper, zinc, and lead minerals as related to metal accumulation in sediments. Microscopic study in reflected light and SEM–EDS (Scanning Electron Microscope—Energy Dispersive Spectrometer) analysis, as well as chemical diversity in the used INAA (Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis), ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma), and AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy) methods in 35 samples from Kazakhstan and 35 from Poland were examined due to their diversity. In both tailing deposits in Kazakhstan and Poland, heavy fractions were dominated by copper sulphides: chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), bornite (Cu5FeS4). and chalcocite (Cu2S). Moreover, sphalerite, galena, and cerussite have been recognized as a carriers of Zn and Pb. Their geochemistry was dominated by Cu, showing a mean content of 2500 ppm, in both Poland and Kazakhstan. Zinc and lead also occurred, showing a content of approximately 200 ppm and 500 ppm in Poland, and 1500 ppm Zn and 2500 ppm Pb in Kazakhstan, respectively. Grain size analysis indicated that the dominant grain size in both districts corresponded to the silt and fine sands fractions. Copper, zinc and lead sulphides accumulated in fine fractions in tailings from Kazakhstan (in sandstones and quartz grains), and mainly in coarse fractions in Poland (within carbonates, sandstones, and black shales). Mineralogical and geochemical features should be taken into consideration when assessing potential metal sources of technogenic materials.
Highlights
The exhaustion of natural resources is a global challenge in the 21st century [1,2,3,4].A large portion of the already-discovered deposits of natural resources are in the later stages of exploitation
A small portion constitutes ore minerals, which are dominated by iron sulphides: pyrite or marcasite
Sediments from tailings in ZM and OS are similar according graingrains size and Sediments from tailings in OS aresmaller similar according to grain size and miner‐
Summary
The exhaustion of natural resources is a global challenge in the 21st century [1,2,3,4].A large portion of the already-discovered deposits of natural resources are in the later stages of exploitation. One of the additional sources of development in the resource base of currently functioning enterprises is tailings from processing plants, which can be considered as technogenic deposits. This new type of mineral resource can help in the efficient functioning of the existing mining enterprises, as well as the expansion and prolongation of their activity. Poland is in the top 20 countries producing copper, and among the global leaders in terms of silver production [9]. Copper ore resources in Lubin, such as the Głogów Copper District (Legnicko–Głogowski Okreg Miedzionośny (LGOM)), are continuously declining, new deposits have been recently discovered north and north-east of the currently exploited ones [10]
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