Sedimentation Of Tailings Research Articles

The Effect of Salinity on the Release of Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) And Zinc (Zn) from Tailing

The effects of salinity on the release of copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in tailing sediment have been studied by stripping voltammetry. The purpose of the research is to know the effect of salinity on the release of metals with certain pH, conductivity and variety of metals. Simultaneous determination of copper, lead and zinc in tailing was done by Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (DPASV) onto hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and nitric acid 65% as support electrolyte. The limit of detection for this method 0.60 µg/L, 0.150 µg/L and 0.238 µg/L for copper, lead and iMc respectively. The stripping solution of 300/00 salinity with pH= 7.85, conductivity= 46.62 mS/cm gives the amounts of released metals as follows :14.867 µg/L Cu, 0.976 µg/L Pb and 6.224 µg/L Zn. These results are higher as compared with the results from 15 0/00 salinity with pH= 7.66, conductivity= 23.22 mS/cm that give released metals of Cu= 7.988 µg/L, Pb= 0.311 µg/L and Zn= 4.699 µg/L. the results from ANOVA suggest that this is due to different in salinity of the solution. It also found that the conductivity does not give any effect. It can be concluded that the higher salinity will that give higher concentration or released metals.

Identification of sulfate-reducing bacteria in methylmercury-contaminated mine tailings by analysis of SSU rRNA genes

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are often used in bioremediation of acid mine drainage because microbial sulfate reduction increases pH and produces sulfide that binds with metals. Mercury methylation has also been linked with sulfate reduction. Previous geochemical analysis indicated the occurrence of sulfate reduction in mine tailings, but no molecular characterization of the mine tailings-associated microbial community has determined which SRB are present. This study characterizes the bacterial communities of two geochemically contrasting, high-methylmercury mine tailing environments, with emphasis on SRB, by analyzing small subunit (SSU) rRNA genes present in the tailings sediments and in enrichment cultures inoculated with tailings. Novel Deltaproteobacteria and Firmicutes-related sequences were detected in both the pH-neutral gold mine tailings and the acidic high-sulfide base-metal tailings. At the subphylum level, the SRB communities differed between sites, suggesting that the community structure was dependent on local geochemistry. Clones obtained from the gold tailings and enrichment cultures were more similar to previously cultured isolates whereas clones from acidic tailings were more closely related to uncultured lineages identified from other acidic sediments worldwide. This study provides new insights into the novelty and diversity of bacteria colonizing mine tailings, and identifies specific organisms that warrant further investigation with regard to their roles in mercury methylation and sulfur cycling in these environments.

Distribution of trace elements in soils surrounding the El Teniente porphyry copper deposit, Chile: the influence of smelter emissions and a tailings deposit

In the area surrounding the El Teniente giant porphyry copper deposit, eight soil sites were sampled at three depth levels in the summer 2004. The sites were selected for their theoretical potential of being influenced by past SO2 emissions from the smelter and/or seepage from a now idle tailings impoundment. The soil mineralogy, grain size distribution, total organic matter contents, major element composition, cation exchange capacity, and Cu, Mo, Pb, Zn, As and SO4 2− concentrations were determined for all samples after nitric acid extraction and separate leaches by ammonium acetate (pH 7) and sodium acetate (pH 5). For water rinses, only Cu could be determined with the analytical set-up used. Cu and SO4 2− enrichment in topsoils was found at six sites either downwind from the smelter or within the combined influence of the smelter and the tailings impoundment. Both elements were released partially by ammonium and sodium acetate extractions. Due to the scarce background trace element concentrations of soil and rock outside the immediate mine area, assessment of trace element mobility for Mo, Zn, Pb and As was difficult. Arsenic was found to be concentrated in soil horizons with high smectite and/or organic matter contents. Mo appears to be linked to the presence of windblown tailings sediment in the soils. Mobilization of Mo, Zn, and As for the acetate extractions was minimal or below the detection limits for the AAS technique used. The presence of windblown tailings is considered to be an additional impact on the soils in the foothills of the El Teniente compound, together with the potential of acidity surges and Cu mobilization in topsoils after rainfalls. Two sites located at the western limit of the former SO2 saturated zone with strongly zeolitized soils and underlying rock did not show any Cu or SO4 2− enrichment in the topsoils, and remaining total trace element concentrations were below the known regional background levels.

Solubilization of heavy metals from a fluvial AMD generating tailings sediment by heterotrophic microorganisms: Part I: Influence of pH and solid content

The study demonstrates that a heterotrophic mixed culture is able to mobilize considerable amounts of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr) from a sulfidic AMD generating fluvial tailings material even under moderately acidic conditions as they exist at real sites. The experiments were carried out in shaking flasks by inoculation with a mixed culture of heterotrophic bacteria. The solid content and a decrease in initial pH of the suspensions were investigated as important factors of the viability of the heterotrophic microorganisms. With the mixed culture, up to 17% Pb, 27% Cd, 100% Cr, 25% Fe, 35% Cu, 79% Mn, and 28% Zn were mobilized in one batch run. Compared to the autotrophic processes, especially Pb seems to be mobilized by heterotrophic microbial action. Even under increasingly unfavorable conditions (increase in solid content, decrease in initial pH) the mixed culture demonstrated a high diversity and a good viability. As a result, it was clearly shown that heterotrophic processes also play an important role in the mobilization of metals in such acid-generating materials. Heterotrophic microorganisms improve the solubility of metals primarily released by biooxidation, and enhance the transport of these environmentally relevant metals by excretion of complexing agents. The synergistic action of both autotrophic and heterotrophic bioleaching processes generates at such sites a long-range contamination of ground- and surface-water.

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.

Environmental impact and geochemistry of old tailing pile from the Sanggok mine creek, Republic of Korea

This study evaluates the pollution load on a creek based on the physicochemical and mineralogical properties of old tailings. The Sanggok mine is one of the largest lead–zinc producers in the Hwanggangri mining district, Republic of Korea. The vertical profile of the old tailings in the mine area can be divided into three units based on color change, and mineralogical and textural variations, as well as physical and chemical properties. Unit I (surface accumulation and oxidized heterogeneous tailing soil) has lower pH and higher Eh than unit II (originally unoxidized dumped tailing soil) and unit III (pebble-bearing bottom soil). The conductivity data indicates that unit I and II have very high values compared to unit III and basement. The mine area consists mainly of carbonate rocks; however, mineral constituents of tailing soil and sediments near the mine were mainly composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, amphibole, calcite, dolomite, magnesite, and clay minerals. Units I and II are characterized by high abundances of siderite, locally pyrite, and dolomite. Precipitates in the mining drainage mainly included: smectite, illite, berthierine, quartz, siderite, hexahydrite, and Ca-ferrate. Among the separated metallic minerals, tailing soils and sediments of highly concentrated toxic metals are found: some pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, malachite, goethite, various hydroxide, and uncertain secondary minerals. Units I and II are characterized by relatively high concentrations of Ca, Fe, Mn and low contents of Al, Mg, K, Na, Ti, rare earth elements (REEs) that correlated with the proportion of secondary minerals. Potentially toxic elements such as Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn are highly enriched in the upper two units. This metal concentration can be influenced by changes in the depth because of oxic and suboxic zonal distribution. The removal zone (unit I) has probably migrated below the elevation of the maximum enrichment layer due to deepening of the oxic/suboxic boundary. In most of the materials, the enrichment index is higher than 3.62. The highest value of 42.55 is found in the oxidation surface soils of the tailing pile. An average enrichment index of the profiles and precipitates are 27.62 and 22.62, respectively. Rocky basement soils have an average enrichment index of 6.63, which is influenced by overlying the tailing pile. The water quality and habitat of the Sanggok creek are severely polluted. Polluted surface water may also negatively impact the agricultural soil and groundwater.

Diatom analysis of late Holocene sediment cores from Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania

Seventy five diatom species are identified in two sediment cores from Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania. Benthic taxa are overwhelmingly dominant, although peaks in the abundance of the planktonic Ditylum brightwellii could be traced across the area. Diatom assemblages are mostly homogeneous but assemblages from the most recent samples are clearly identifiable. Biodiversities before and after the impact of the Queenstown copper-lead-zinc mine were little different. The modern diatom assemblages, which have been affected by tailings sedimentation, are clearly differentiated from older, pre-mining assemblages. However, the differences are based on differing relative abundances of diatom species rather than different communities.

Distribution and Transition of Heavy Metals in Mine Tailing Dumps

The vertical distributions of heavy metals and other elements in sediment core samples in a landfill of abandoned mine tailings were examined. Core samples were analyzed by XRF and XRD, and further examined by ICP-AES measurements after acid-sequential extraction with HCl, HF, and HNO3. According to XRD, the sediments contained α-quartz as the main component, and sericite, chlorite, rhodochrosite, pyrite, jarosite, sphalerite, and galena as minor components. A complete decomposition method using sequential extraction for the mine tailings sediments was established at ambient temperatures. Acid sequential extraction was useful for the analysis of minerals in mine tailings which are difficult to detect by XRD. Rhodochrosite and chlorite were dissolved by HCl-extraction, quartz and sericite by HF-extraction, and sulfides by HNO3-extraction. Rhodochrosite was the main source of high concentrations of Mn in mine drainage, highly distributed below the −100 cm zone in the mine tailings, combined with pyrite but not with sericite and quartz. The distributions of most heavy metals were related to those of pyrite.

Toxic metal contamination in the lateral lakes of the Coeur d'Alene River valley, Idaho

The 11 lateral lakes of Coeur d'Alene River valley in northern Idaho have received heavy metal contamination from over a century of upstream mining. The lateral lakes lie within the flood plain of the Coeur d'Alene River, and in their bottom sediments is preserved a stratigraphic record of the upstream mining operations. To characterize the contaminated sediments in the lateral lakes, sampling techniques, including the Livingston piston corer and the Huttenen freeze box, have been developed by Quaternary geologists to preserve the vertical stratigraphy in the samples. From 26 cm to over 55 cm of undisturbed tailing sediments, commonly with “varve-like” features, have been found in each of the lateral lakes, with maximum concentrations by weight of lead at 3.8%, zinc at 3.4%, arsenic at 340 mg/kg, cadmium at 120 mg/kg and mercury at 7 mg/kg. The contamination in the lakes appears to be restricted to the shallow subsurface and heavy metal concentrations generally drop to background levels within a meter of depth.

Polymer flocculation and coagulation for sedimentation of copper flotation tailings

Employing a combination of two types of polyelectrolyte might become necessary to enhance both the settling rate of the flocs and the water clarity of a fine-particle suspension in a high-capacity thickening process. The sequence of addition, mixing, type and dosage of polymer all affect the overall performance and capacity of a thickening process. For the sedimentation of copper flotation tailings, the cylinder test results showed that two different techniques may be used to achieve the required performance, i.e., a high settling rate of the flocs and the deisired underflow density and overflow water clarity. The required performance can be acheived by either adjusting the pH prior to anionic polyelectrolyte flocculation or using a combination of polymer flocculant and coagulant (dual-polymer system). The dynamic thickening test results showed that only the approach using a dual-polymer system is capable of meeting the required performance. The effects of polyelectrolyte dosage, the sequence and numbers of polyelectrolyte addition, the feed concentration, the bed level and the rake speed on the settling rate, underflow percent solids and water clarity were studied in cylinder tests and in a laboratory dynamic thickening unit. The dynamic test is especially valuable in evaluating the addition and mixing of polymers. The results were evaluated quantitatively using total suspended solids in supernatant, underflow density and capacity per unit of settling area per unit of time. The objective of this study was to quantify and explain some of the parameters involved in the sedimentation of copper flotation tailings.

Prediction of water-soluble metal concentrations in fluvially deposited tailings sediments, upper Clark Fork Valley, Montana, U.S.A.

Mine tailings deposited by historic floods contaminate large areas of the upper Clark Fork floodplain. Metal sulfates precipitate on the floodplain surface as byproducts of sulfide weathering and are concentrated by evaporation of soil moisture. These salts dissolve readily releasing high concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and H + to rainwater and cause periodic fish kills when contaminated runoff reaches the river. A pollution index is proposed to quantify the average enrichment of water-soluble metals over aquatic hazard levels which occur in floodplain surface sediments. A strong correlation between pH and the pollution index was observed. Because the pollution index can be predicted from pH, reconnaissance mapping of metal contamination in surface sediments on the Clark Fork floodplain and in other contaminated river systems can be conducted simply with a pH meter.