Calabrese, J. P., Sexstone, A. J., Bhumbla, D. K., Skousen, J. G., Bissonnette, G. K., & Sencindiver, J. C. (1994). Long-term study of constructed model wetlands for treatment of acid mine drainage. In Special Publication – United States. Bureau of Mines, Report: BUMINES-SP-06B-94 (406). Proceedings of the International land reclamation and mine drainage conference and Third international conference on The abatement of acidic drainage; Volume 2 of 4; Mine drainage.
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Pettit, C. M., Scharer, J. M., Chambers, D. B., Halbert, B. E., Kirkaldy, J. L., & Bolduc, L. (1999). Neutral mine drainage. In D. Goldsack, N. Belzile, P. Yearwood, & G. J. Hall (Eds.), Sudbury '99; mining and the environment II; Conference proceedings. Sudbury: Sudbury Environmental.
Abstract: Acid mine drainage is recognized as a serious environmental issue at mine sites world wide. While sulphate and metal concentrations in acidic drainage can reach exceptionally high levels, these can also be elevated and of concern in neutral drainage from waste rock and tailings. “Neutral mine drainage” (NMD) has not yet received as widespread attention as acid mine drainage (AMD). The oxidation of sulphide minerals and the production of either acidic or neutral contaminated drainage is affected by many factors. This paper examines the specific factors that result in the production of “neutral mine drainage” from mine wastes. Several case studies are presented which involve predictive geochemical modelling to illustrate the possible time frame and magnitude of contaminated neutral drainage.
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Benzaazoua, M., & Bussiere, B. (1999). Desulphurization of tailings with low neutralizing potential; kinetic study and flotation modeling. In D. Goldsack, N. Belzile, P. Yearwood, & G. Hall (Eds.), Sudbury '99; Mining and the environment II; conference proceedings.
Abstract: Environmental desulphurization is an attractive alternative for acid generating tailings management as demonstrated during the last few years. In fact, such process placed at the end of the primary treatment circuit allows to reduce greatly the amount of problematic tailings by concentrating the sulphidic fraction. Moreover, the desulphurized tailings (non-acid generating) have the geotechnical and environmental properties for being used as fine material in a cover with capillary barrier effects. To produce desulphurized tailings, non selective froth flotation is the most adapted method as shown in many previous works. Desulphurization level is fixed by tailings sulphur content (or sulphide content) and neutralization potential NP. The final residue should have enough NP to compensate for his acid generating potential AP. In this paper, the authors present the results of laboratory tests conducted in Denver cells for studying the sulphide flotation kinetics of four mine tailings which are characterized by a weak neutralization potential (under 37 kg CaCO (sub 3) /t). Tailings 1, 2, 3 and 4 contain respectively 5.27, 10, 4.25 and 16.9 sulphur Wt. %. Tailings 1 and 2 are cyanide free and are well floated at pH around 11 by using amyl xanthate as collector. Collector dosage was optimized for these tailings and the results show that Tailing 2 need more collector. However, Tailings 3 and 4, which come from a gold cyanidation process, could not provide good sulphide recovery with xanthate collector because of the pyrite depression. To overcome this problem, amine acetate was used successfully but induces important entrainment. The consumption of this collector was also optimized. The results of kinetic tests and collector dosage were combined and modeled to establish relationships which allow to estimate the desulphurization performances.
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Weeks, R. E., Krohn, R., & Walker, T. H. (2000). Water management during the Pinto Valley removal action. In Tailings and Mine and Waste 2000, Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference, Fort Collins, US, Jan 22 26, 2000 (pp. 499–506).
Abstract: Der Bruch des Dammes einer Halde der Grube Nr. 14 des Kupfer- Bergbaubetriebes Pinto Valley in Arizona, USA, im Jahre 1997 führte zum Eintrag von 370000 yd(exp 3) Bergematerials und Tailings in das Bett des Flusses Pinto Creek, USA, wodurch letzteres blockiert wurde. Der Vorfall ereignete sich in bergigem Gelände unterhalb eines 14 Quadratmeilen großen Abschnittes des Flusseinzugsgebietes oberhalb des Sees Roosevelt Lake, USA, einer Trinkwasserquelle für Phoenix, USA. Aufgrund der Bedeutung des Gebietes wurde eine Strategie zur Verhütung weiterer Beeinträchtigungen der Wasserqualität ausgearbeitet. Diese beinhaltete Managementaspekte zur Gewährleistung einer schnellen Planung und Ausführung der notwendigen Arbeiten gekoppelt mit der Planung, dem Bau und dem Betrieb von Rückhalte und Umleitungssystemen für auftretende Wässer. Die Auslegung dieser Systeme erfolgte auf der Grundlage der Daten des Einzugsgebietes und der klimatischen Verhältnisse, wobei verschiedene Wahrscheinlichkeiten der Überschreitung der ermittelten Werte berücksichtigt wurden. Innerhalb von acht Monaten konnten die Tailings aus dem betroffenen Gebiet entfernt werden, ohne dass belastete Oberflächenwässer freigesetzt wurden.
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Carlson, L., & Kumpulainen, S. (2001). Retention of harmful elements by ochreous precipitates of iron. Tutkimusraportti Geologian Tutkimuskeskus, -(154), 30–33.
Abstract: The capability of soil fines to fix harmful elements, e.g. heavy metals and arsenic, depends on specific surface area and other characteristics, such as surface charge. In the pH-range typical of natural waters (pH 5,5-7,5), the surfaces of fine-grained silicate particles and manganese oxides are negatively charged; consequently cations, such as heavy metals, fix effectively to them. The iron oxide surfaces are usually positively charged and typically fix anions, such as sulphate and arsenate. Retention of anions is especially extensive to precipitates formed from acid mine drainage (pH 2,5-5,0). For example, precipitates found at Paroistenjarvi mine, Finland, contain more than 70 g/kg of arsenic (dry matter). Adsorbed anions, e.g. sulphate, enhance the capacity of precipitate to fix heavy metal cations in low-pH environments.
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