Mine Tailings Ponds Research Articles

Water balance along a chain of tundra lakes: A 20-year isotopic perspective

Summary Stable isotope measurements and isotope mass balance (IMB) calculations are presented in support of an unprecedented 20-year water balance assessment for a tailings pond and a chain of downstream lakes at the Salmita–Tundra mine site, situated near Courageous Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada (65°03′N; 111°11′W). The method is shown to provide a comprehensive annual and interannual perspective of water balance fluxes along a chain of lakes during the period 1991–2010, without the need for continuous streamflow gauging, and reveals important lake-order-dependent patterns of land-surface runoff, discharge accumulation, and several key diagnostic ratios, i.e., evaporation/inflow, evaporation/evapotranspiration, land-surface-runoff/precipitation and discharge/ precipitation. Lake evaporation is found to be a significant component of the water balance, accounting for between 26% and 32% of inflow to natural lakes and between 72% and 100% of inflow to mine-tailings ponds. Evaporation/evapotranspiration averages between 7% and 22% and is found to be higher in low-precipitation years, and in watersheds with a higher proportion of lakes. Runoff ratios for land-surface drainages and runoff ratios for watersheds (including lakes) ranged between 14–47% and 20–47%, respectively, and were higher in low precipitation years, in watersheds with a higher proportion of lakes, and in watersheds less affected by mining development. We propose that in general these two runoff ratios will likely converge as lake order increases and as land cover conditions become regionally representative. Notably, the study demonstrates application of IMB, validated with streamflow measurements, to constrain local water balance in a remote low-arctic region. For IMB chain-of-lakes applications, it underlines the importance of accounting for evaporatively-enriched upstream sources to avoid overestimation of evaporation losses.

Leaching of heavy metals from Dexing copper mine tailings pond

The wastewater source of 4# tailing pond in Dexing copper mine consists of alkaline flotation pulp and acid mine drainage (AMD) from the nearby opencast mine. Therefore, the heavy metals in tailing ore are very likely to be released due to acidification from AMD. The leaching behaviors of Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn in mine tailings from Dexing copper mine were investigated by a series of laboratory batch experiments. The effectcs of pH, temperature, particle size and contact time on the leachability of such heavy metals were examined. It was evident that Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn were major heavy metals in the tailings while gangue minerals like quartz were major constituents in examined tailings. The tailing dissolution reaction was controlled by the acid, whose kinetics could be expressed according to the heterogeneous reaction models and explained by a shrinking core model with the surface chemical reaction as the rate-controlling step. The leachability of all metals examined depended on pH and contact time. The batch studies indicated that the maximum leaching ratios of Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn at pH 2.0 were 5.4%, 5.8%, 11.1% and 34.1%, respectively. The dissolubility of all metals examined was positively correlated to the temperatures. The particle size would not change dissolution tendency of those heavy metals, but decrease the concentrations of leached heavy metals.

Using spatial derivatives of electromagnetic data to map lateral conductance variations in thin-sheet models: Applications over mine tailings ponds

Mine waste, variable overburden, and the saprolite associated with nickel laterites have conductivity thicknesses (conductances) that vary laterally. In order for electromagnetic methods to be used to easily map lateral changes in conductance over thin-sheet-like bodies such as these, a simple conductance estimation method has been developed from Price’s equation. Through forward modeling, we found that assuming a uniform conductance and solving for an apparent conductance was sensitive enough to identify lateral conductance changes. The method was independent of the transmitter location, and each measurement provided a direct estimate of the apparent conductance below that station. The receiver can be moved around quickly allowing for lateral variations in apparent conductance to be determined efficiently. However, one of the required terms in the equation used is the vertical derivative of the secondary vertical magnetic field ([Formula: see text]). The accurate measurement of spatial electromagnetic derivatives requires a good signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), which can be hampered by low derivative signal values. Field studies performed over a dry tailings pond in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, showed that an S/N greater than three was achievable even with [Formula: see text] values of less than [Formula: see text]. Apparent conductance estimates revealed that the tailings had a large resistive zone associated with surface vegetation, which may be correlated with favorable growing conditions and/or less conductive or thinner tailing material. Larger apparent conductances in other areas may be related to zones of thicker tailings and/or more conductive material (possibly due to increased metal content). Further drilling and sampling work is required to answer these ambiguities. Regardless, mapping the conductance of a thin sheet is an important step toward assessing if there are leftover metals in mine waste. However, the developed method is general and can be used in many other situations involving laterally varying thin bodies.

A study into extraction of geothermal energy from tailings ponds

Assessing the performance of ground-coupled heat exchangers (GCHE) of closed-loop geothermal systems installed in tailings ponds is studied. A heat transfer model is constructed, taking into account heat conduction as well as groundwater advection. A three-dimensional finite volume discretisation method over a structured mesh with variable grid size is used to solve the governing equations. The performance of a GCHE system installed in tailings ponds is assessed based on the rate of energy extraction and the outlet fluid temperature. The geothermal capacity of mine tailings ponds and its sustainable rate of heat extraction are estimated. Effects of tube network configuration and horizontal and vertical underground advection on the performance of the system are investigated. It is found that two-dimensional heat transfer models may lead to over-designed systems and the effect of advection cannot be neglected in highly pervious tailings.

Natural Revegetation of a Boreal Gold Mine Tailings Pond

AbstractUnderstanding the natural revegetation of forests disturbed by the dumping of mine wastes is vital for the success of reclamation strategies. The Gunnar gold mine tailings pond in southeast Manitoba has remained largely unvegetated since the mine was closed in 1942, with limited vegetation developed on one side of the pond. We examined the natural Picea mariana/Larix laricina forest that has developed on the pond to determine how the plant community develops and what changes in the tailings are associated with this development. Vegetation sampled along transects showed a consistent pattern of succession from Equisetum palustre to Salix spp., and Populus balsamifera, to Larix laricina and finally to P. mariana. Larix laricina and P. mariana are moving into the site at the rate of 1.5 m per year with L. laricina invading 4 years ahead of P. mariana. Both tree species show a similar pattern of annual growth, showing positive correlations with spring precipitation, a pattern also occurring on L. laricina growing on a nearby site. The establishment of E. palustre was accompanied by initially rapid decreases in compaction and conductivity of the tailings, and an increase in inorganic nitrogen. Surface organic matter depth, coarse organic matter mass, and soil organic carbon increased at a constant rate, whereas subsurface coarse organic matter had an initial rapid increase followed by a gradual increase. As fern allies (and specifically members of the Equisetaceae family) have a number of properties that facilitate succession on mine wastes, their use should be explored further.

Effect of marble waste and pig slurry on the growth of native vegetation and heavy metal mobility in a mine tailing pond

The effect of marble waste and pig slurry on the growth of native vegetation and heavy metal mobility in an abandoned Pb-Zn-Cd tailing pond (southeast Spain) has been investigated. Different treatments were carried out in four plots, (1) pig slurry, (2) marble waste, (3) marble waste+pig slurry, and (4) control. Plant cover, richness, biodiversity, metal in plant tissues, soil physicochemical properties and water and DTPA extractable metal concentrations of bare and rhizosphere soils were analyzed after one year from the application of the treatments. The pond materials contain large amounts of Fe-oxyhydroxides, sulphates, and heavy metals. Before the application of amendments, soil remained bare and organic matter content was very low. After applications, a native vegetation cover (25–30%) with the highest biodiversity (H=1.1–1.3) and a richness of 10 was reached in the plots amended with pig slurry. The establishment and development of vegetation improved soil quality and decreased the metal availability, even more efficiently than the direct effect of the amendments. Among indigenous vegetation, Piptatherum miliaceum (L.) Cosson showed the characteristics of Pb phytostabilizer plant species. This study confirms the effectiveness of a vegetation cover for the persistence of the reclamation processes in bare mine soils under Mediterranean semiarid conditions.

Plant Cover and Soil Biochemical Properties in a Mine Tailing Pond Five Years After Application of Marble Wastes and Organic Amendments

Tailing ponds pose environmental hazards, such as toxic metals which can contaminate the surroundings through wind and water erosions and leaching. Various chemical and biochemical properties, together with extractable and soluble metals were measured five years after reclamation of a polluted soil affected by former mining activities. This abandoned mine site contains large amounts of Fe-oxyhydroxides, sulphates, and heavy metals. As a consequence, soils remain bare and the soil organic matter content is low (< 3 g kg −1). Marble waste, pig manure and sewage sludge were applied in 2004. Plant cover and richness, and soil chemical, biochemical and biological parameters were analysed five years later. Results showed that all soil biochemical properties as well as vegetation cover and richness were higher in treated soils than in the untreated contaminated plots (control), although organic matter, pH values and extractable metals concentrations were similar among treatments. Soluble cadmium and zinc were lower in the amended plots than in control. As a general pattern, soil amended with pig manure showed higher values of most biochemical properties compared to sewage sludge application, while the doses did not have a great effect, being only significant for β-glucosidase, phosphodiesterase and arylsulfatase. Significant correlations were found between vegetation cover, richness and soil biochemical properties, suggesting a high interdependence between plant colonization and reactivation of biogeochemical cycles during five years. This study confirms the high effectiveness of an initial application of the amendments tested to initialize the recovery of ecosystems in bare mine soils under Mediterranean semiarid conditions. This research also shows the high sensitivity of certain biochemical properties in order to evaluate soil quality and reactivation of nutrients cycles in reclaimed mine soils.

The behavior of arsenic and antimony at Pezinok mining site, southwestern part of the Slovak Republic

Arsenic and antimony contamination is found at the Pezinok mining site in the southwest of the Slovak Republic. Investigation of this site included sampling and analysis of water, mineralogical analyses, sequential extraction, in addition to flow and geochemical modeling. The highest dissolved arsenic concentrations correspond to mine tailings (up to 90,000 μg/L) and the arsenic is present predominately as As(V). The primary source of the arsenic is the dissolution of arsenopyrite. Concentration of antimony reaches 7,500 μg/L and its primary source is the dissolution of stibnite. Pore water in mine tailings is well-buffered by the dissolution of carbonates (pH values between 6.6 and 7.0) and arsenopyrite grains are surrounded by reaction rims composed of ferric iron minerals. Based on sequential extraction results, most solid phase arsenic is in the reducible fraction (i.e. ferric oxyhydroxides), sulfidic fraction, and residual fraction. Distribution of antimony in the solid phase is similar, but contents are lower. The principal attenuation mechanism for As(V) is adsorption to ferric oxide and hydroxides, but the adsorption seems to be limited by the competition with Sb(V) produced by the oxidation of stibnite for adsorption sites. Water in mine tailings is at equilibrium with gypsum and calcite, but far from equilibrium with any arsenic and antimony minerals. The concentrations of arsenic and antimony in the surrounding aquifer are much lower, with maximum values of 215 and 426 μg/L, respectively. Arsenic and antimony are transported by ground water flow towards the Blatina Creek, but their loading from ground water to the creek is much lower compared with the input from the mine adits. In the Blatina Creek, arsenic and antimony are attenuated by dilution and by adsorption on ferric iron minerals in stream sediments with resulting respective concentrations of 93 and 45 μg/L at the site boundary south of mine tailing ponds.

Natural Processes in Delta Restoration: Application to the Mississippi Delta

Restoration of river deltas involves diverting sediment and water from major channels into adjoining drowned areas, where the sediment can build new land and provide a platform for regenerating wetland ecosystems. Except for local engineered structures at the points of diversion, restoration mainly relies on natural delta-building processes. Present understanding of such processes is sufficient to provide a basis for determining the feasibility of restoration projects through quantitative estimates of land-building rates and sustainable wetland area under different scenarios of sediment supply, subsidence, and sea-level rise. We are not yet to the point of being able to predict the evolution of a restored delta in detail. Predictions of delta evolution are based on field studies of active deltas, deltas in mine-tailings ponds, experimental deltas, and countless natural experiments contained in the stratigraphic record. These studies provide input for a variety of mechanistic delta models, ranging from radially averaged formulations to more detailed models that can resolve channels, topography, and ecosystem processes. Especially exciting areas for future research include understanding the mechanisms by which deltaic channel networks self-organize, grow, and distribute sediment and nutrients over the delta surface and coupling these to ecosystem processes, especially the interplay of topography, network geometry, and ecosystem dynamics.

The Discussion about the Safety Management of the Mine Tailings Pond near the Mine Stope

In our country, lots of ultra poor iron ore resources have been developed. Due to the low profits of mining ultra poor resources, the enterprise built mine tailings pond near the stope to save cost, witch is usually at the upstream of the stope with the distance from 100 to 400 meters. This kind of mine waste reservoirs also have another name–the tailings pond at the top of the head, they take a certain proportion in our cauntry. Different from general tailings ponds, this kind of tailings ponds is frequently effected by the stope blasting vibration, it can not be ignored of the security implications of stope blasting vibration to tailings pond. So the discuss key of this text is the specific environment characteristics of this kind of mine waste reservoir. In practice, the security management to this kind of tailings pond is very worth to be reserched and discussed.

Arsenic transformations and biomarkers in meadow voles ( Microtus pennsylvanicus) living on an abandoned gold mine site in Montague, Nova Scotia, Canada

Arsenic is one of the most widely encountered environmental contaminants because of a number of anthropogenic sources; in Canada the main anthropogenic release of arsenic is from mine tailings ponds. The present study is part of a series of studies to measure chemical and biological effects of exposure for meadow voles ( Microtus pennsylvanicus) living on arsenic contaminated sites. Two additional objectives were addressed in the present study: the effect of higher arsenic concentrations compared with previous studies, and the comparison of chemical speciation and biological effects. To obtain the higher environmental concentrations, specimens were collected from a former gold mining site in Montague, NS that contains highly elevated concentrations of arsenic in soils and plants. Meadow voles were collected and their tissues were analyzed for total arsenic to measure uptake, and arsenic speciation to examine the chemical effects of the high arsenic exposure. In addition to the arsenic analysis, a biomonitoring study was undertaken to examine the sub-cellular effects in meadow voles resulting from the elevated arsenic exposure. Meadow voles living on the contaminated site had substantially higher concentrations of total arsenic than animals from the background (reference) location. The extractable arsenic in internal tissues was present mainly as monomethylarsonic acid (up to 14% of total arsenic). A statistically significant relationship was observed between the reduction of glutathione in vole livers and the increase in liver arsenic concentrations, and micronucleated monochromatic red blood cells were also significantly elevated in voles from the arsenic contaminated site. This is one of the few field studies where sub-cellular effects were observed, and the first to show a co-existence of such effects with relatively high proportions of monomethylarsonic acid in voles living near mine tailings.

Application of electrical resistivity tomography to the environmental characterization of abandoned massive sulphide mine ponds (Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Spain)

ABSTRACTMining activity in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, on the south‐west of the Iberian Peninsula, has generated a great amount of mine tailing ponds, which once the extractive activity is finished, are abandoned and become a serious environmental problem. Here we present the results of applying the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) technique to characterize the abandoned mine ponds in two sites: Monte Romero and Mina Concepción. ERT has allowed us to determine both the general geometry of the pond’s base and the maximum thickness of the mine tailings. In all cases, the resistivity contrast between the infilling and the bedrock is high enough to clearly define the bottom pond boundary. The low‐resistivity values (lower than ) obtained for the infilling are explained by the high concentration of pyrite in the tailings and the occurrence of acid waters. Whereas the Monte Romero mine pond is almost completely saturated with water, in Mina Concepción it has been possible to identify the presence of inner acid water flows, the outlet of which through the damaged dyke originates a spilling of acid waters to the Odiel River. No low‐resistivity water flows through the base of the ponds into the bedrock have been observed, indicating a good isolation of the base of the studied mine ponds.

English

Park City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) long before being recognized as an Olympic venue was known as one of the great American silver mining towns. As a result, during a century of active mining, the Park City mining district produced millions of ounces of silver in addition to a substantial amount of mine tailing waste. As a result, the City since 1985 has been remediating these impacts with state and federal oversight. One particular challenging CERCLIS site, that was previously a historic mine tailings pond is known as Prospector Square Development (CERCLIS Listing Silver Creek Tailings UTD98051404). This site has been very challenging due to the metals that impact shallow ground water that eventually drain into the Silver Creek Watershed. To address the water quality impairment the City and Missouri University of Science and Technology teamed-up to investigate the feasibility of constructing a horizontal-flow wetland to treat this pollutant source. This effort comprised of building a pilot cell in June of 2004, leading to the construction of a full scale horizontal-flow wetland in the fall of 2008. The design of the pilot and full scale biocell was based upon lab-scale research conducted by the Missouri University of Science and Technology. In October of 2008, the Prospector Drain effluent was introduced to the system and to date analytical results reveal that the biocell is treating the Prospector Drain outfall below the Silver Creek Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) endpoint goals for zinc .39 mg/L and cadmium .00075 mg/L. The water chemistry of the influent, that originates from the historic silver mine tailings pond, is impaired with zinc and cadmium and has low iron with a pH of roughly 6.5. The construction of this unit encountered many challenges related to constituent relations, regulatory scrutiny, constructability, and start-up. Nonetheless, this unit since implementation is considered a success for improving water quality within the Silver Creek Watershed.

Electrical Resistivity Imaging Revealed the Spatial Properties of Mine Tailing Ponds in the Sierra Minera of Southeast Spain

Mine tailing ponds are environmental hazards because of high susceptibility to leaching and erosion by water and wind. Vegetation establishment is an effective technique to reclaim tailing ponds but requires knowledge of the spatial relationship between the structural composition and physical and chemical properties of soils. In this study we have demonstrated the use of electrical resistivity imaging (ERI), combined with soil chemical analyses, to determine the structural and chemical composition of mine tailing ponds to assess efficient measures of environmental protection. We used a Syscal R1 resistivity meter to generate two-and three-dimensional (2-D∕3-D) ERI images from El Lirio and Brunita mine tailing ponds. Soil samples were collected at [Formula: see text] intervals to a depth of [Formula: see text], and were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity and cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) contents. Results show that materials in the ponds can be classified into three categories: fine tailings—low ER [Formula: see text], coarse waste rock—intermediate ER [Formula: see text], and bedrock—high ER [Formula: see text]. Our interpretation of the 2-D∕3-D ERI images with respect to the historical depositions of materials in the ponds show that at El Lirio, decant water outlet was initially at the center and advanced to the east of the tailing pond as the mining activities progressed. At Brunita, the intermediate ER values on the west side of the pond marked the deposition of coarse waste rock materials released during a pond breakage in 1972. The ERI helped us image the spatial distribution of tailings and its qualitative spatial correlation with chemical properties (i.e., pH, EC, metals content). Low ER values are related to high amounts of Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd. These qualitative relationships underlie the usefulness of the combined geophysical and soil chemical approaches to improve our understanding of the properties of mine tailing ponds in the Sierra Minera (and other parts of the world).

Bacterial Reduction of Selenium in Coal Mine Tailings Pond Sediment

Sediment from a storage facility for coal tailings solids was assessed for its capacity to reduce selenium (Se) by native bacterial community. One Se(6+)-reducing bacterium Enterobacter hormaechei (Tar11) and four Se(4+)-reducing bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae (Tar1), Pseudomonas fluorescens (Tar3), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (Tar6), and Enterobacter amnigenus (Tar8) were isolated from the sediment. Enterobacter hormaechei removed 96% of the added Se(6+) (0.92 mg L(-1)) from the effluents when Se(6+) was determined after 5 d of incubation. Analysis of the red precipitates showed that Se(6+) reduction resulted in the formation of spherical particles (<1.0 microm) of Se(0) as observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM) and confirmed by EDAX. Selenium speciation was performed to examine the fate of the added Se(6+) in the sediment with or without addition of Enterobacter hormaechei cells. More than 99% of the added Se(6+) (approximately 2.5 mg L(-1)) was transformed in the nonsterilized sediment (without Enterobacter hormaechei cells) as well as in the sterilized (heat-killed) sediment (with Enterobacter hormaechei cells). The results of this study suggest that the lagoon sediments at the mine site harbor Se(6+)- and Se(4+)-reducing bacteria and may be important sinks for soluble Se (Se(6+) and Se(4+)). Enterobacter hormaechei isolated from metal-contaminated sediment may have potential application in removing Se from industrial effluents.

Application of the BCR sequential extraction scheme to dredged pond sediments contaminated by Pb–Zn mining: A combined geochemical and mineralogical approach

The modified BCR sequential extraction procedure [Rauret, G., López-Sanchez, J., Sauquillo, A., Rubio, R., Davidson, C., Ure, A., Quevauviller, Ph., 1999. Improvement of the BCR three step sequential extraction procedure prior to certification of new soil and sediment reference materials. J. Environ. Monit. 1, 57–60.] was applied to 4 sediments from a mine tailing pond in La Calamine (East-Belgium). The results showed a very different behaviour of different samples towards the same extraction scheme. In samples with an elevated acid neutralizing capacity, a significant increase in the pH of the extracts was measured after the first two extraction steps. Other artefacts, such as readsorption of metals and precipitation could be deduced by comparing X-ray diffraction patterns after different extraction steps. For example, anglesite was effectively dissolved during the acid extraction step (step 1) but relatively low Pb concentrations were measured in the CH 3COOH extract because of the readsorption of Pb. Mineralogical analysis of the sediments after each extraction step also indicated the incomplete oxidation of sulphides by H 2O 2. Besides a mineralogical analysis, the monitoring of the pH of the extracts and the analysis of major elements (Fe, Ca, Al, Mn) can be helpful for the interpretation of the results of the sequential extraction. The combination of sequential extractions with mineralogical sample investigation provided information on the reactivity and solubility of minerals in the samples. This improved the interpretation, at least within the detection limits of the mineralogical analysis applied. Besides the improved interpretation of the results of the sequential extractions for sediments in which minerals are identified, the information concerning the reactivity of minerals is an important tool to evaluate the risk associated with contaminated sediments.

Environmental impact of the former Pb–Zn mining and smelting in East Belgium

In the mining district of Plombières-La Calamine (East Belgium), extensive Pb–Zn mining activities resulted in an important contamination of overbank sediments along the Geul river. Moreover, a huge amount of heavy metals is stored in a dredged mine pond tailing, which is located along the river. In the dredged mine pond tailing sediments, Pb–Zn minerals control the solubility of Zn, Pb and Cd. Although Pb, Zn and Cd display a lower solubility in overbank sediments compared to the mine tailing pond sediments, elevated concentrations of Pb, Zn and Cd are still found in the porewater of the overbank sediments. The considerable ‘actual’ and ‘potential’ mobility of Zn, Pb and Cd indicates that the mine pond tailing sediments and the overbank sediments downstream from the mine pond tailing represent a considerable threat for the environment. Besides the chemical remobilisation of metals from the sediments, the erosion of overbank sediments and the reworking of riverbed sediments act as a secondary source of pollution.

Reclamation and soil improvement on ultra-soft soil

In recent years more and more reclamations have been carried out on waste ponds or mine tailing ponds. The deposits in these ponds are ultra-soft and may still be undergoing self-weight consolidation. Reclamation and soil improvement works in these areas are very challenging. They require special attention. Conventional reclamation and soil improvement methods are no longer workable. This paper highlights the experience obtained from reclamation and soil improvement works on such soil in a project in Singapore. The fill was placed using a sand spreader, and the ultra-soft deposit was strengthened with a high-strength geotextile. Prefabricated vertical drains and staged construction were used to accelerate the consolidation process. The monitoring of settlement and pore pressure requires modification of conventional instruments to cater for the low strength of the ultra-soft soil and the large strain of deformation. The paper also outlines a new method to estimate the settlement based on large-strain theory. Finally a case study is presented to validate the proposed method in the determination of settlement magnitude and the time rate of settlement.Depuis quelques années, on récupè de plus en plus de terrains sur les bassins de rejets ou les bassins de décharge des mines. Les dépô ts de ces bassins sont extrêmement mous et peuvent même ê tre en cours de consolidation autochargée. Les travaux de récupération et d'amélioration des sols dans ces zones posent beaucoup de problémes. Ils demandent une attention spéciale. Les méthodes conventionnelles de récupération et d'amélioration ne sont pas efficaces. Cet exposé présente l'expérience obtenue apre's des travaux de récupération et d'amélioration de ces sols dans un projet à Singapour. Le remblai é té placé en utilisant une dispersion de sable et le dépô t mou a é té renforcé par un géotextile à haute résistance. Des drains préfabriqués verticaux et une construction é tagée ont é té utilisés pour accélérer le processus de consolidation. Le suivi du tassement et de la pression interstitielle demande la modification des instruments conventionnels afin de prendre en compte la faiblesse du sol mou et la grande déformation. Cet exposé présente aussi une nouvelle méthode basée sur la théorie de grande déformation et servant à é valuer le tassement. Enfin nous présentons une é tude de cas pour valider la méthode proposée pour déterminer la magnitude du tassement et la durée du tassement.

Kinetic tests comparison and interpretation for prediction of the Joutel tailings acid generation potential

Five sulfide mine tailings coming from the Joutel mine tailing ponds (Quebec, Canada) were tested by the humidity cell test (30 to 52 cycles duration) and the column test (11 to 12 cycles duration). The objectives of this study were twofold. First, there was the determination of the tailings acid generation potential for site reclamation. Second, there was the kinetic test comparison for understanding the tailings geochemical behavior under different test conditions. The samples used had a wide diversity in terms of acid-generation potential, particle size distribution, and parameters influencing reaction rates. Leachates produced remained at a near neutral pH for the duration of the tests. Evolution of the main elements involved in the dissolution processes demonstrated neutralization by carbonates as a response to the acid generated by sulfide oxidation. Depletion rates given by sulfates are higher for the humidity cell tests when compared to those obtained for the column tests. This is consistent with most studies to date, the humidity cell test being considered as more severe. However, by taking the ratio between cumulative elements coming from neutralization and the ones coming from oxidation, similar curves (named herein oxidation –neutralization curves) for all tests were obtained. These results show that overall geochemical behavior of the tailings is similar at near neutral pH for both types of tests. With this interpretation method, the acid-generation potential of the Joutel tailings were tested and compared to the static test results to constrain their uncertainty zone with regard to the studied tailings. The tailings geochemical behavior (carbonate dissolution response to sulfide oxidation) at near neutral pH condition appears slightly dependent of test conditions under certain hypothesis.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF KAOLINITE VERSUS METAKAOLINITE IN FLY ASH BASED GEOPOLYMERS CONTAINING IMMOBILIZED METALS

Geopolymer technology has emerged as an effective solution for the stabilization of industrial by-products and the immobilization of heavy metals. It has been established that the nature of the source materials used during synthesis has a significant effect on the final chemical and physical properties of the geopolymeric matrix. In particular, it has been established that the partial dissolution of specific wastes serves to either weaken or strengthen the newly formed structure. Moreover, leaching tests have shown that the use of either kaolinite or calcined kaolinite (metakaolinite) in fly ash based geopolymers affects the propensity of the matrix to immobilize heavy metals. This observation has practical implications for the application of geopolymer technology to the capping of mine tailings ponds or the backfilling of mines. The differences in dissolution behavior and the effect on final properties of geopolymeric materials have been studied for the kaolinite and metakaolinite system, with a view of gaining a wider appreciation of the behavior of other systems that are more difficult to study.