A water retention curve (WRC) enables the quick determination of suction in a soil or tailings using gravimetric content degree saturation. However, establishing WRC is reliant on time consuming laboratory testing. Here an empirical method presented that allows to be estimated quickly, including its void ratio dependency, by relating fractal and other characteristics particle size distributions...

Dust from uncovered mine tailings at Giant mine, an abandoned in northern Canada, has been a concern for nearby residents. We have utilized microanalytical mineralogical analysis combined with quantitative measurements of phase distribution and bulk concentration to fully characterize the dust currently generated tailings. Surface material was sampled three impoundments on site sieved <63 μm as...

Copper smelter slag and copper smelter slag flotation tailings were leached using sulphuric acid solutions, without or with the addition of either ferric sulphate or hydrogen peroxide. Copper extraction from the slag was typically found to be twice as high as that from the slag flotation tailings. Hydrogen peroxide was determined to be the best lixiviant. Thus, copper and iron extractions were ...

The noxious potential of metallurgical tailings from the Ag/Pb/Zn/Cu mining district of Sta. María de la Paz (Mexico) is ascertained via the chemical characterization of slag material. Batch experiments using various extraction solutions (e.g. natural rainwater, water rich in humic substances, ammonium nitrate solution) revealed information on the dissolution behaviour of the elements Fe, Mn, N...

Mine tailings from an abandoned metal mine in Korea contained high concentrations of arsenic (As) and heavy metals [e.g., As: 67,336, Fe: 137,180, Cu: 764, Pb: 3,572, and Zn: 12,420 (mg/kg)]. US EPA method 6010 was an effective method for analyzing total arsenic and heavy metals concentrations. Arsenic in the mine tailings showed a high residual fraction of 89% by a sequential extraction. In To...

The oxi-hydroxides, present at trace level in uranium mill tailings, are responsible of about 70% of the 226 radium sorption, half being fixed on crystallized forms. This radionuclide (half time = 1622y), present at high level (50 to 100kBq.kg), can be released in groundwater, involving a possible contamination of the food chain (actual concentration limit = 0.37Bq.l). So, it is very important ...

Spontaneous growth of native vegetation in abandoned metal(loid) mine tailings can be valuable for phytomanagement restoration projects. This study aimed to assess the degree which spontaneous plant colonization from Mediterranean semiarid areas led functional soil improvement, and identify, if possible, a critical level indicating that this functionality was moving towards vegetated soils surr...