Abstract
There are thousands of historical mine tailings and metallurgical residues present on inactive metal mining sites which have been abandoned. However, the potential release of dissolved metals, acidity, or suspended particulates from mine-waste dumps can be a serious and long-lasting problem. A variety of environmental impacts may occur at this abandoned mine sites and leading the list is acid generation, which is one of the main problems from metal mining. The objective of the present study was to characterize and evaluate the Romanian historical tailing of Sasar-Red Valley, near Baia Mare. This involved physical and chemical characterization of the materials and its acid generating potential. Sasar tailing impoundment contains 8.5 million m3of tailings and occupies an area of 32.5 hectares. Tailings samples were collected from different depths in three sampling points, and characterized by grain size, chemical elements concentration, elements distribution of elements in depth, paste pH, acid-base account and net acid generation tests. Acid base accounting (ABA) tests in conjunction with net acid generation (NAG) tests classified the samples into the category of ‘potentially acid generating’. This paper presents a synthesis of works performed in the Improve Resource Efficiency and Minimize Environmental Footprint (REMinE) project.
Highlights
The key to future sustainable mining activities is resource efficiency and a holistic approach to the environmental consequences that can emerge during the mine’s life, and should be based on the best-available techniques to minimize these consequences
To counteract the steady increase in global demand for primary mineral resources and to reduce the negative social and environmental impacts associated with meeting this demand, it is necessary to increase material efficiency in manufacturing processes, to search for new substitute raw materials and to recycle materials more widely and more effectively, through technological innovations
Tailings from mineral processing of polymetallic ore stored in Sasar (Red Valley) impoundments, located in the western part of Baia Mare (Romania), were characterized by grain size, elemental composition, elements distribution in depth and potential of acid rock drainage (ARD) generation
Summary
The key to future sustainable mining activities is resource efficiency and a holistic approach to the environmental consequences that can emerge during the mine’s life, and should be based on the best-available techniques to minimize these consequences. In a long-term perspective, in combination with a more efficient extraction of minerals and metal, this could prevent the environmental impact. High content of metals and minerals in historical tailings and waste rock dumps, due to the earlier lack of efficient methods for extraction or low economical profitable at that time, could in many cases be a potential risk for environmental impact. Situated at Romania’s northern border, Baia Mare, from Maramures County has been an important mining region for more than 2,500 years thanks to its abundant mineral resources. The industrial activity was pursued with improper waste management, treatment and disposal. [3]
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