Mine Tailings Ponds Research Articles

Exploring the Coagulant Capability of Moringa oleifera seed powder at reducing Turbidity in Gold Mine Tailings Slurry

Moringa oleifera is characterised as an effective alternative to traditional approaches for the treatment of gold mine tailings spoils, particularly for its low cost, non-toxic nature, and simple application. This study investigated the use of M. oleifera seed powder as a primary coagulant for the treatment of gold mine tailings with respect to turbidity reduction, and the effect of varying pH on the coagulation process. The tailings sample used in the study was collected from an active mining operation in the Waiamu area, Cuyuni Mining District 4, Guyana; with the average turbidity ranging between 216.33 ± 4.62 and 275.33 ± 8.33 NTU. The standard jar test procedure was used to assess the efficiency of the M. oleifera coagulant based on measurements of turbidity reduction. M. oleifera was found to be an effective coagulant for reducing turbidity in the selected gold mine tailing pond, with the best turbidity reduction being 91.31 ± 0.53%. Further evidence from the study suggested that at the optimum coagulant concentration of 250mg/L, turbidity reduction changed as pH levels (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) were altered, whereby reduction at the natural pH level of 7 (control) was 91.31 ± 0.53%; and following adjustments of pH levels to 5, 6, 8 and 9, turbidity was reduced by 85.00 ± 0.58%, 84.88 ± 0.94%, 77.81 ± 5.21% and 74.16 ± 5.28% respectively. Therefore, strong knowledge of biological approaches for the treatment of gold mine tailings spoils would be pivotal to support long-term decisions on wastes management and disposal.

Heavy metal concentrations and water quality assessment of different types of drinking water wells in the Erdenet Cu–Mo mining area

The Erdenet mine (Erdenet, Mongolia) is a copper–molybdenum open pit mine with a huge tailing pond and is located next to a residential area. As the sources of drinking water in this area rely on groundwater and can be categorized into public or private wells, we aimed to assess the groundwater quality of the different types of drinking water wells. To accomplish our goal, we analyzed 18 trace metals (As, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, Th, U, V, Zn) and 8 major metals (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Si) samples using ICP-MS and ICP-OES, and the heavy metal pollution index, heavy metal evaluation index, and degree of contamination were calculated. The most concerning point is that the Mo concentration of waste water in the Erdenet mine tailing pond and at a natural spring located 300 m from the tailing pond was 1100 μg/L, which greatly exceeds the WHO permissible concentration for Mo of 70 μg/L. Furthermore, high Ca and Mg concentrations at all private wells indicated that consumers of these wells are more vulnerable to any type of water pollution, as these wells are not built with any disinfection or treatment system. A modified categorization of the water quality indices showed that the public and private wells have low–medium contamination and that the tailing pond seepage water, along with its nearest spring, have a high degree of contamination. Because many private wells are located along the tailing pond and used directly without any treatment, we suggest a continuous evaluation and monitoring of the groundwater quality in this area.

Microbial Community with Potential for Metal Release Isolated from Palca Mine Tailings Pond in Peru

Microbial Community with Potential for Metal Release Isolated from Palca Mine Tailings Pond in Peru

Exploring the accumulation capacity of dominant plants based on soil heavy metals forms and assessing heavy metals contamination characteristics near gold tailings ponds

Heavy metal contamination of soil commonly accompanies problems around gold mine tailings ponds. Fully investigating the distribution characteristics of heavy metals and the survival strategies of dominant plants in contaminated soils is crucial for effective pollution management and remediation. This study aims to investigate the contamination characteristics, sources of heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Ni) in soils around gold mine tailings ponds areas (JHH and WZ) and to clarify the form distribution of heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Hg) in contaminated plots as well as their accumulation and translocation in native dominant plants. The results of the study showed that the concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn in soil exceeded the national limits at parts of the sampling sites in both study areas. The Nemerow pollution index showed that both study areas reached extreme high pollution levels. Spatial analysis showed that the main areas of contamination were concentrated around metallurgical plants and tailings ponds, with Cd exhibiting the most extensive area of contamination. In the JHH, As (74%), Cd (66%), Pb (77%), Zn (47%) were mainly from tailings releases, and Cu (52%) and Hg (51%) were mainly from gold ore smelting. In the WZ, As (42%), Cd (41%), Pb (73%), Cu (47%), and Zn (41%) were mainly from tailings releases. As, Cd, Pb, and Hg were mostly present in the residue state, and the proportion of water-soluble, ion-exchangeable, and carbonate-bound forms of Cd (19.93%) was significantly higher than that of other heavy metals. Artemisia L. and Amaranthus L. are the primary dominating plants, which exhibited superior accumulation of Cd compared to As, Pb, and Hg, and Artemisia L. demonstrated a robust translocation capacity for As, Pb, and Hg. Compared to the concentrations of other forms of soil heavy metals, the heavy metal content in Artemisia L correlates significantly better with the total soil heavy metal concentration. These results offer additional systematic data support and a deeper theoretical foundation to bolster pollution-control and ecological remediation efforts in mining areas.

Reclaiming abandoned mine tailings ponds for agricultural use: Opportunities and challenges

Tailings ponds, large man-made structures conceived during the mining process for waste storage, often become deserted post-mining, leaving behind a stark, contaminated landscape. This paper posits that these forsaken tailings ponds can be rejuvenated into fertile agricultural land through adept reclamation efforts. Serving as a discussion paper, it engages in a stimulating exploration of the environmental and health risks linked to tailings ponds. It sheds light on the potential and impediments in the transformation of these ponds into agricultural land. The discussion concludes that despite the substantial hurdles in repurposing tailings ponds for agriculture, there are encouraging prospects with the application of multifaceted efforts.

Removal and Reclamation of Trace Metals from Copper and Gold Mine Tailing Leachates Using an Alkali Suspension Method

Leachates from mine tailing ponds, which usually contain a variety of metallic ions, are highly toxic to human and ecological health. The common methods used to remove those trace metallic are difficult due to the extremely acidic conditions and the diverse kinds of metals in mine tailing leachates. Herein, we proposed an economical and efficient soil-assisted alkali suspension approach to remove and reclaim the trace metals. Under the optimum conditions, more than 98% of Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cr3+, and 93% of Cd2+ were removed from authentic copper and gold tailing leachates. Multiple characterizations indicated that the quick removal of trace metal ions from leachates was mainly due to the formation of amorphous hydroxides which are easily adsorbed by soil particles. Additionally, small quantities of metal ions and organic matter complexes were formed, which contributed to the removal of trace metals. Furthermore, most of the adsorbed trace metal in authentic tailing leachate can be reclaimed by a simple acid treatment. Life cycle assessment analysis demonstrated the environmental sustainability of this alkali suspension method due to its smaller contribution to global warming. This study provides an efficient and low-cost approach for the disposal and recycling of toxic mine tailing leachates.

Evaluation of soil heavy metals pollution and the phytoremediation potential of copper-nickel mine tailings ponds.

Heavy metal pollution in soils caused by mining has led to major environmental problems around the globe and seriously threatens the ecological environment. The assessment of heavy metal pollution and the local phytoremediation potential of contaminated sites is an important prerequisite for phytoremediation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics of heavy metal pollution around a copper-nickel mine tailings pond and screen local plant species that could be potentially suitable for phytoremediation. The results showed that Cd, Cu, Ni, and Cr in the soil around the tailings pond were at the heavy pollution level, Mn and Pb pollution was moderate, and Zn and As pollution was light; The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model results showed that the contributions made by industrial pollution to Cu and Ni were 62.5% and 66.5%, respectively, atmospheric sedimentation and agricultural pollution contributions to Cr and Cd were 44.6% and 42.8%, respectively, the traffic pollution contribution to Pb was 41.2%, and the contributions made by natural pollution sources to Mn, Zn, and As were 54.5%, 47.9%, and 40.0% respectively. The maximum accumulation values for Cu, Ni, Cr, Cd, and As in 10 plants were 53.77, 102.67, 91.10, 1.16 and 7.23 mg/kg, respectively, which exceeded the normal content of heavy metals in plants. Ammophila breviligulata Fernald had the highest comprehensive extraction coefficient (CEI) and comprehensive stability coefficient (CSI) at 0.81 and 0.83, respectively. These results indicate that the heavy metal pollution in the soil around the copper nickel mine tailings pond investigated in this study is serious and may affect the normal growth of plants. Ammophila breviligulata Fernald has a strong comprehensive remediation capacity and can be used as a remediation plant species for multiple metal compound pollution sites.

Phytostabilization of trace elements and 13C isotope composition of Atriplex atacamensis Phil. cultivated in mine tailings treated with organic amendments.

Mining generates large quantities of mineral processing wastes that are typically stored in mine tailings (MT) ponds. Long-term exposure of the surrounding areas to the material from the tailings ponds has been reported to have adverse effects on both human health and the environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of Atriplex atacamensis Phil. to phytostabilize metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) and sulfur (S) when grown directly on mine tailings with and without compost (C) and humic substance (HS). The stress status of A. atacamensis Phil. was also evaluated through the 13C isotopic composition of bulk leaves. A 120-day greenhouse experiment was conducted and three treatments were evaluated: (i) MT without any amendments (control), (ii) MT + C (dose: 89 ton ha-1), and (iii) MT + HS (0.72 ton ha-1). Mine tailings material exhibited low salinity, alkaline pH, high extractable S-SO4 concentrations, and low fertility; total Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations were within the reference range for mine tailings, but total Cu concentrations were high at 1860 ± 236mgkg-1. The HS had higher pH, EC, CEC, and available concentrations of N, P, and K than compost, while S-SO4 concentrations were similar in both amendments. 13C NMR analysis showed that the HS contained more alkyl, aromatic, and phenolic groups, while the compost was dominated by O-alkyl and carboxyl groups. At the end of the experiment, the MT + C treatment achieved a significant decrease in Cu, Fe, and Mn concentrations in the roots and aboveground parts of A. atacamensis Phil. and an increase in Zn values in both tissues. Both amendments increased the sulfur content in the aboveground parts, while metal concentrations under the HS treatment proved similar to control. Furthermore, the δ13CV-PDB values obtained in this study indicate that the organic amendments did not cause additional physiological stress to the plants compared to the MT treatment. Overall, A. atacamensis Phil. was shown to have the ability to phytostabilize metals and sulfur, making it a potential candidate species for in situ evaluation of the phytostabilization process on mine tailings.

Typha latifolia resilience to high metal stress: Antioxidant response in plants from mine and flotation tailing ponds

Typha latifolia (cattail) forms natural stands in the transition zone of artificial flotation and mine tailings ponds and is contaminated with extremely high concentrations of metals. We assessed the absorption capacity of the plant, metal transfer to leaves, and the effects of elevated metal concentrations on antioxidant enzyme activities. Soil acidity, the pseudototal and available metal content of the substrate, and metal concentrations in plants were examined. The effects of elevated metal concentrations in plants on antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, glutathione reductase) were assessed. Cattails exhibited high metal accumulation levels in roots and a low transfer rate to the leaves. The effects of metal concentrations on antioxidant enzyme activities were found to depend on the type of enzyme, metal concentrations in the plant and their molar ratios, as well as on the pH of the substrate. High activities of antioxidant enzymes indicate increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and show that metal detoxification mechanisms are insufficient to restrain their toxicity. Pronounced resistance to elevated metal concentrations and high efficiency in metal phytostabilization show that cattail could be a valuable component of biological treatment systems for removing metals from multi-metal and heavily contaminated substrates in the pH range from ultra-acidic to neutral.

Monitoring and early warning of a metal mine tailings pond based on a deep learning bidirectional recurrent long and short memory network.

The effective monitoring and early warning capability of metal mine tailings ponds can improve the associated safety risk management level. The infiltration line is an important core index of tailings pond stability. In this paper, a tailings pond monitoring and early warning system, which provides technical support for the design and daily management of tailings reservoir early warning systems, is constructed. Based on a deep learning bidirectional recurrent long and short memory network, an infiltration line prediction model with univariate input and an infiltration line prediction model with multivariate input are proposed. The data adopted are those from four monitoring points of the same cross-section at different positions and data from one adjacent internal lateral displacement and internal vertical displacement monitoring point. Using the adaptive moment estimation (Adam) optimization algorithm and the root mean square error (RMSE) model evaluation metric, the multilayer perceptron model, univariate input model, and multivariate input model are compared. This work shows that their RMSEs are 0.10611, 0.09966, and 0.11955, respectively.

Functional Guilds, Community Assembly, and Co-occurrence Patterns of Fungi in Metalliferous Mine Tailings Ponds in Mainland China.

Metalliferous mine tailings ponds are generally characterized by low levels of nutrient elements, sustained acidic conditions, and high contents of toxic metals. They represent one kind of extreme environments that are believed to resemble the Earth's early environmental conditions. There is increasing evidence that the diversity of fungi inhabiting mine tailings ponds is much higher than previously thought. However, little is known about functional guilds, community assembly, and co-occurrence patterns of fungi in such habitats. As a first attempt to address this critical knowledge gap, we employed high-throughput sequencing to characterize fungal communities in 33 mine tailings ponds distributed across 18 provinces of mainland China. A total of 5842 fungal phylotypes were identified, with saprotrophic fungi being the major functional guild. The predictors of fungal diversity in whole community and sub-communities differed considerably. Community assembly of the whole fungal community and individual functional guilds were primarily governed by stochastic processes. Total soil nitrogen and total phosphorus mediated the balance between stochastic and deterministic processes of the fungal community assembly. Co-occurrence network analysis uncovered a high modularity of the whole fungal community. The observed main modules largely consisted of saprotrophic fungi as well as various phylotypes that could not be assigned to known functional guilds. The richness of core fungal phylotypes, occupying vital positions in co-occurrence network, was positively correlated with edaphic properties such as soil enzyme activity. This indicates the important roles of core fungal phylotypes in soil organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. These findings improve our understanding of fungal ecology of extreme environments.

Effects of pH on arsenic mineralogy and stability in Poldice Valley, Cornwall, United Kingdom

Many abandoned mine sites in Cornwall, UK, are characterised by elevated concentrations of arsenic (As), which can cause contamination of surrounding soil and water resources. These sites have important historical value that requires access to be maintained, despite exposure of humans to toxins that may lead to health issues including hyperpigmentation keratosis (including skin cancers) and liver fibrosis. The abandoned mine tailings at Wheal Maid has been assessed for As-bearing mineralogy and stability taking into account the public footpaths made by the local council to areas of potential contamination.To assess the potential risk associated with these mine sites, the As concentration in waters along the tailings dam and Carnon River have been measured and range up to 3.6 ppm, which is 2 orders of magnitude above the WHO guideline value of 0.01 ppm for drinking water. Samples of water, rocks and soils from the mine tailings ponds and the Carnon River were analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the concentration of individual elements in each sample followed by mineral identification using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Mineralogical evaluation indicated that the majority of mine tailings consist of clay-rich rocks, with few associated As-bearing minerals. Scorodite (FeAsO4·2H2O) is observed in the mine tailings pond and appears critical to the As distribution and storage in this surface environment. Using the analysed water chemistry, a modified version of PHREEQC is used to calculate the saturation index of scorodite as a function of pH conditions. The strong variation of the solubility of this mineral with pH and oxidation state highlights potential risks for using scorodite for As fixation and storage.

Pollution Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Soils around the Yanzhuang Gold Mine Tailings Pond, Pinggu County, Beijing, China.

The accumulation of tailings from gold mining and smelting may result in PTE pollution. We investigated PTE contamination from a large amalgamated gold mine tailings pond in Pinggu County, Beijing. In November 2017, 30 soil samples were collected around the tailings pond. The concentrations and pollution degree of PTEs in the samples and the sources of Sb, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and Hg were analyzed. The average concentration of these elements in soil samples near the tailings pond (16.24, 28.29, 0.99, 171.04, 263.25, 99.73, 0.72 mg/kg, respectively) were higher than their corresponding standard values and background values of the study area. The geoaccumulation index showed that the pollution degree of As, Pb and Hg was moderate, while Sb and Cu present non-pollution to moderate pollution. The average EF values of the elements were Sb (38.31), As (4.23), Cd (0.71), Cu (3.68), Pb (21.24), Zn (0.82) and Hg (5.29), respectively. The environmental risk assessment developed throughout the PERI method indicated that Sb, As, Hg and Pb were the main pollutants in the study area. The three quantitative risk indicators (RI, Igeo and EF) were positively correlated, and all of them indicated that PTEs had significant pollution to the local area. Thus, Sb, As, Pb, Cu, and Hg pollution should be highly concerning. Multivariate statistical analysis shows that the pollution of PTEs was mainly caused by the accumulation of tailings ponds after gold mining and smelting. The research result is of great significance for the prevention and control of soil pollution of PTEs near the tailings pond.

Waterfowl use of mine tailing ponds in comparison with beaver ponds in boreal eastern Canada

Desjardins, E., L. Imbeau, M. Darveau, M. J. Mazerolle, and N. J. Fenton. 2021. Waterfowl use of mine tailing ponds in comparison with beaver ponds in boreal eastern Canada. Avian Conservation and Ecology 16(2):24. https://doi.org/10.5751/ACE-02003-160224

Heavy metal contamination in groundwater and surface water due to active Pb-Zn-Cu mine tails and water-rock interactions: A case study from the Küre mine area (Turkey)

This study aimed at elucidating the groundwater and surface water pollution resulting from water-rock interaction, mine tailings, and mining activities at Küre (Kastamonu) sulfidic Pb-Zn-Cu mine area and its vicinity. The study area has a surface area of approximately 2990 km2. The Küre River drainage site covering the study area is approximately 440 km2. The concentrations of SO4, Al, As, Ba, Mn, Ni, Sb, and Pb in some groundwater (K10, K20, K21, K27, K28, K29, K30), and surface water (KR3) exceed the maximum limit values with respect to the Turkish Standards for Water Intended For Human Consumption and World Health Organization Standards. The most polluted waters were K10, K27, and KR3. The K10 well was drilled for observation at the edge of the liquid mine tailing pond of the Küre Pb-Zn-Cu mine area. The K27 well was opened in alluvium outside of the study area and it cuts the clastic units and Mesozoic ophiolites. The KR3 measurement point is located on the Ersizler River, which drains the Küre Pb-Zn-Cu mining site and its dumps. The SO4, Al, As, Pb, and Sb concentrations of the K10, K27, and KR3 waters were 29.3, 0.8, and 15.1 meq/L; 1135, 1112, and 1186 ppb; 284, 255, and 271 ppb; 19.1, 19, and 18.5 ppb; and 18.7, 17.4, and 19.3 ppb, respectively, in the dry period. As revealed by the analysis, the study area had dual pollution source natural pollution caused by water-rock interactions (K27 and others) and anthropogenic pollution (K10 and KR3) caused by the mine tailings. Furthermore, the K10 water had high tritium (3H)-high electrical conductivity (EC) values that likely indicated anthropogenic contamination. The K27 water had low 3H-high EC values, presumably referring to geogenic contamination. The current study also demonstrated that there was leakage from the liquid mine tailing pond into the groundwater (K10), possibly implying discharge of the liquid mine tailings into the river (KR3).

Effects of high metal concentrations on antioxidative system in Phragmites australis grown in mine and flotation tailings ponds

Phragmites australis grows as a pioneer plant species in several mine and flotation tailings ponds distinguished by extremely high concentrations of metals. The main goals of this study were to estimate the effects of the specific concentrations and combinations of accumulated metals on the efficiency of antioxidative enzymes and plant oxidative status. This study is relevant to our understanding of the common reed exceptional capacity to endure extreme edaphic conditions. Metal concentrations were determined in the sediment, roots and leaves. Antioxidative enzymes activities, amounts of pigments and phenolics, total antioxidative capacity (TAC), lipid peroxidation level (LP) were analysed in plant organs. Effects of accumulated metals depended on their concentrations and their stoichiometry. Antioxidative enzymes and TAC in roots were significantly reduced, resulting in consequent increase in LP. Pb concentration in leaves did not significantly change enzymes activities, whereas toxic level of Cu impeded activity of catalaze and ascorbate peroxidase. The results indicate that in the conditions of high root metal contamination the mechanisms involved in their immobilization and detoxification cannot completely restrain their toxicity. Their effects on enzymes activities depend on the type of enzyme, metal concentrations, specific ratios and interactions.

A resilience-based approach in managing the closure and abandonment of large mine tailing ponds

Mining tailing ponds are large infrastructure objects whose life cycle spans over several decades. They are indispensable for certain types of mines where technological process produces and rejects mud. They also have potential to generate risks for human life, property and environment. For that reason, it is essential to adequately manage them throughout all the stages of their life cycle. The phase of their closure and abandonment is less studied and understood. The paper proposes a holistic resilience-based approach for analyzing this phase of their life cycle. The proposed methodology is validated through a case study at an actual surface iron ore mine in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Studies Regarding Primary Succession in a Mine Tailing Pond from Bozanta, Maramureș County

The objective of this study is to carry out a vegetation study at the Bozanta’s tailing pond, located 5 km away from Baia-Mare.Between 2016 and 2017, using the metric frame, the existing species were identified and the following phytocenothic and population indices were determined: presence, frequency, presence classes, and the average abundance-dominance. Soil samples were taken to perform the following physico-chemical analyses: pH, P, K, N, humus and heavy metals.The floral inventory shows the presence of six tree species, four species of and 30 herbaceous species. Eleven years after the pond closure, the surface is covered with: 30% vegetation coverage, 35% water gloss and the 35% difference is occupied by arid. The average abundance-dominant synthetic indicator showed that the highest coverage is found in Betula pendula, Salix caprea, and in the grass species, Phragmites australis.The results of physicochemical analyses of the substrate showed very wide ranges of pH and different amounts of phosphorus, potassium and humus, and low amounts of nitrogen. The presence and concentration of the following heavy metals were determined from three samples: Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr. In regards to lead and chromium level, the alert threshold has not been reached.

Kinetics of Pyrite Oxidation in Simulated Mine Tailings Pond Conditions

Pyrite oxidation is the predominant source of acid mine drainage (AMD), which is one of the severe environmental impacts of mining. AMD destroys flora and fauna in the nearby ecosystem, and it causes grave health problems to the people. To further the understanding and help in the mitigation of AMD, this electrochemical study investigates the effect of the type and concentration of oxidant, and the presence of impurity (chalcopyrite) to the rate of pyrite oxidation, while simulating the conditions in tailings ponds. Open Cell Potential (OCP) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) analysis were done using a three-electrode cell set-up, which is composed of a pyrite rotating disc electrode (RDE), mercury/mercurous sulfate reference electrode in saturated potassium sulfate, and a platinum counter electrode, with a sulfuric acid working electrolyte. Polarization resistance obtained after fitting an electrical circuit to the EIS data was related to the rate of pyrite oxidation, while OCP was used to describe its oxidation mechanism. It was found out that the oxidation of pyrite by ferric ions preferentially occurred rather than by dissolved oxygen. The parameter setting with the lowest relative oxidation rate were: electrolyte with no ferric addition, and with nitrogen purging; and RDE with 10 % chalcopyrite addition. Reaction orders calculated for the effect of ferric ions and dissolved oxygen were equal to 1; but ferric has a higher slope value in the plot. Presence of chalcopyrite in the RDE caused the preferential oxidation of chalcopyrite instead of the pyrite due to their galvanic interaction. To minimize pyrite oxidation, ferric and dissolved oxygen concentration should be minimized, and chalcopyrite impurities should be increased. Keywords: Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, Acid Mine Drainage, Kinetics, Rotating-Disc Electrode, Pyrite

In situ stabilization of heavy metals in a tailing pond with a new method for the addition of mineral stabilizers-high-pressure rotary jet technology.

As the demand for metal minerals grows, the number of mine tailings increases dramatically worldwide. Toxic heavy metals (HMs) in tailings tend to migrate into the environment and cause serious damage to the surroundings. Possible eco-friendly solutions for the in situ stabilization of HMs in tailing ponds are required to reduce their mobility. Leaching tests were performed with attapulgite, zeolite, and bentonite to determine which stabilizer is more efficient. As a result, attapulgite has more significant effect with certain dose on metal mine tailings than zeolite or bentonite, especially in a strongly acidic environment. In addition, an in situ stabilization experiment was performed by adding a stabilizer to a lead-zinc mine tailing pond with high-pressure rotary jet technology. The field experiment indicated that the concentrations of HMs in the leachate substantially decreased (30.5% for Cr, 43.1% for Cu, 87.8% for Zn, 82.9% for Cd, and 42.4% for Pb) after the HMs were stabilized by high-pressure rotary jet technology. A set of parameters for the rotary jet process was obtained when the in situ stabilization experiment was carried out.