Ressources Canadiennes en rebuts minéraux rapport no. 4 - les rebuts minéraux dans les provinces atlantiques

Abstract

Legislation restricting mining in many urban centres, exhaustion of ore deposits, and increased cost of locating and developing new orebodies have combined to focus attention on mineral waste accumulations as possible supplemental sources of mineral raw material. Current annual production of such wastes by the mining industry of Canada is about 800 x 106 t. Only a small portion of this is used because of remote location and low quality, as well as a lack of detailed information on the nature of these wastes and their possible uses. Current applications include road construction and maintenance, railroad ballast, smelter flux, and mine backfill. Uses being studied by CANMET researchers include the recovery of contained metals and minerals, the production of concrete and construction aggregate, the manufacture of bricks, building blocks and mineral wool insulation, and use as a mineral filler and soil additive. This report provides background information on waste rock and mill tailings in the Atlantic Provinces where more than 45 x 106 t of such wastes are produced annually. Data on the occurrence, mineralogy, petrography, and physical and chemical characteristics of wastes from 17 operating mines are provided in tabular form for three principal types of mines - metal, non-metallic or industrial mineral, and coal. Potential uses for these wastes are noted along with relevant research.