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The influence of structural features of three serpentine-group minerals (antigorite, chrysotile, and lizardite) on the hydration of heat-treated materials and the formation of magnesium silicate binder has been studied. Initial serpentine samples have been fired in the interval 550–800 °C with a step of 50 °C; acid neutralization capacity (ANC) values have been determined for all samples. Antigorite samples (SAP) have exhibited a maximum reactivity at a temperature of 700 °C (ANC 7.7 meq/g). We have established that the acid-neutralizing capacity of chrysotile and lizardite samples in the temperature range of 650–700 °C differ slightly; the capacity varied in the interval of 19.6–19.7 meq/g and 19.6–19.7 meq/g, respectively. The samples obtained at optimal temperatures (antigorite—700 °C, lizardite, and chrysotile—650 °C) have been studied. Heat-treated serpentines have interacted with water vapor for a year; serpentine hydration has been investigated. The strength characteristics of the resulting binder agents were studied after 7, 28, 180, and 360 days. Upon hardening within 7 days, the strengths of the SAP and SCH samples have been almost the same (2.2 MPa), whereas this indicator for the SLH and SLK samples has been significantly lower (0.5 MPa). After hardening for over a year, the chrysotile sample SCH had the highest strength (about 8 MPa), whereas the strength of antigorite SAP was 3 MPa. The samples of initial, heat-treated, and hydrated heat-treated serpentines have been studied using XRD, differential scanning calorimetry, and surface texture analysis. The serpentine structure is crucial in destroying the mineral crystal lattice during heat treatment. In contrast to heat-treated chrysotile and lizardite, antigorite did not adsorb water. Structural features of chrysotile provided the highest compressive strength of the binding agent compared with antigorite and lizardite. The acid-neutralizing ability of lizardite was noticeably higher than antigorite, whereas its compressive strength was lower due to the layered mineral structure and impurities. We have established that the minerals’ structural features are crucial for the hydration of heat-treated serpentines; the structure determines material utilization in various environmental technologies.

Multi-stage deposition of metals from a sulfate solution with a high concentration of iron, aluminum, copper, zinc, and nickel has been studied. The concentrations of the components correspond to the composition of the sub-basement waters of the Gaisky GOK. Granular magnesia-silicate reagent based on serpentinite (Khalilovsk magnesite deposit, the Orenburg region, Russia) has been used as an alkaline agent. The magnesia-silicate reagent's ability to reduce the acidity of solutions is due to the presence of products of destruction of the original serpentine mineral, mainly magnesium oxide. The results of the solutions multi-stage purification from metals simulation have been presented. It has been found that the reagent did not wholly exhaust its activity during a single contact with the solution. Therefore, the possibility of its repeated use for the 2nd and 3rd time has been studied. As the solution is neutralized according to the known pH range of the beginning and complete deposition of metal compounds, first iron, and then aluminum are deposited. For copper and nickel, the effect of co-precipitation is observed until the pH of precipitation of poorly soluble compounds is reached. Iron is the main component of precipitations at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd stages, which corresponds to pH = 2.4-3.7. At the 4th stage (pH = 4.0), the precipitations consisted mainly of aluminum compounds. The copper and nickel content in precipitations increase due to decreased concentration of major components (aluminum and iron) and a pH increase. The deposition of zinc from the solution occurs not to the precipitations, but on the granules surfaces. Precipitations enriched in aluminum and iron have been obtained. Sorption and co-precipitation processes have been observed for copper, zinc, and nickel, which prevents individual precipitation by these metals. Thermally activated serpentine minerals can be considered a promising alkaline reagent for technogenic solutions neutralization and purification.

A study of the hydrophysical properties of substrates of technogenic landscapes, an assessment of the prospects of using thermoactivated vermiculite as an ameliorant was carried out. Contaminated areas are characterized by the absence of vegetation and a low probability of initiating the process of soil formation without direct intervention. Thermally activated vermiculite has been proposed as an ameliorant to improve the quality of soil and reduce the geochemical mobility of metals. The proposed materials have water-retaining properties, high sorption activity with respect to a number of metals, developed specific surface area and availability in sufficient quantities. The use of local mining enterprises as remediators of waste makes it possible to increase the profitability of developments and helps to reduce the volume of accumulated waste.

Serpentine heat treatment at temperatures of 650–750 °C yields magnesium–silicate reagent with high chemical activity. Precise and express control of roasting conditions in laboratory kilns and industrial aggregates is needed to derive thermally activated serpentines on a large scale. Color change in serpentines with a high iron content during roasting might be used to indicate the changes in chemical activity in the technological process. This study gives a scientific basis for the express control of roasting of such serpentines by comparing the colors of the obtained material and the reference sample. Serpentines with different chemical activity were studied by X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and optical spectroscopy. The color parameters were determined using RGB (red, green, blue), CIELAB (International Commission on Illumination 1976 L*a*b), and HSB (hue, brightness, saturation) color models. The color of heat-treated samples was found to be affected by changes in the crystallochemical characteristics of iron included in the structure of the serpentine minerals. The color characteristics given by the CIELAB model were in good coherence with the acid-neutralizing ability and optical spectra of heat-treated serpentines. Thus, in contrast to the long-term analysis by these methods, the control by color palette provides an express assessment of the quality of the resulting product.