To provide the basic information about the release of heavy metals from the pyrite tailings of Huangjiagou pyrite mine, the pyrite tailings were investigated through a series of batch experiments under different initial pH of extractant, temperature, liquid-solid (LS) ratio, and soaking time conditions. Moreover, calcium carbonate was added in the pyrite tailings to determine the reduction effe...

Consolidation of clay particles in aqueous tailings suspensions is a major obstacle to effective management of oil sands tailings ponds in northern Alberta, Canada. We have observed that microorganisms indigenous to the tailings ponds accelerate consolidation of mature fine tailings (MFT) during active metabolism by using two biogeochemical pathways. In Pathway I, microbes alter porewater chemi...

Phytostabilization is a remediation technology that uses plants for in-situ stabilization of contamination in soils and mine tailings. The objective of this study was to identify native plant species with potential for phytostabilization of the abandoned mine tailings in Nacozari, Sonora in northern Mexico. A flora of 42 species in 16 families of angiosperms was recorded on the tailings site an...

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are natural constituents in many petroleum sources, including bitumen in the oil sands of Northern Alberta, Canada. Bitumen extraction processes produce tailings waters that cannot be discharged to the environment because NAs are acutely toxic to aquatic species. However, aerobic biodegradation reduces the toxic character of NAs. In this study, four commercial NAs and the...

The successful establishment of revegetation using native plants is crucial to help phytostabilization of mine tailings. To assess arsenic (As) and copper (Cu) pollution levels and the feasibility of using native plants in rehabilitation of mine areas, a preliminary investigation was conducted to measure As and Cu in mine wastes and native plants at Telfer Gold Mine. The top layer of soil/mine ...

High water usage is necessary while ore passes through the many stages of a mineral processing plant. However, dewatering system filters final pulp product to remove water, which reutilized in previous processes. This step fundamental reducing fresh new consumption. Usually, several tanks, pumps, and form system—any failure or shutdowns from those components disbalance flow. The waste tons prod...

Sulfide minerals (mainly FeS2) contained in lead-zinc tailings are easy to be acidified the air. The acidification mechanism is that tailing sand generates sulfuric acid and sulfate under catalysis of oxidant, water oxygen. acidic liquid generated by reaction will continue react with metal oxides form an insoluble precipitate.In order reveal corresponding changes chemical properties physical du...

The geochemical behavior of zinc, lead and copper from sulfidic tailings in a mine site with potential to generate acidic drainage (pyrite (55%) and sphalerite (2%)) is reported in this paper. The mining area is divided in two zones, considering the topographic location of sampling points with respect to the tailings pile: (a) outer zone, out of the probable influence of acid mine drainage (AMD...

Article history: Received: 11.11.2014. Received in revised form: 4.2.2015. Accepted: 6.2.2015. The disposal of mine tailings is identified as one source of an environmental impact finally resulting in a typically degraded ecosystem. It can easily cause air and water pollution and is a source of man-made mudslides with high-potential socioeconomic-energy impacts. Pollution control and ecological...