Cadmium distribution in Pb-Zn slags from Upper Silesia, Poland: Implications for cadmium mobility from slag phases to the environment

Tyszka, Rafał; Pietranik, Anna; Kierczak, Jakub; Zieliński, Grzegorz; Darling, James

doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2017.12.001

Cited by 29 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…considered as primary phase related to Zn-Pb ore smelting is silicate glass. Glass occurs in similar proportions in all three horizons (4-7%), but it is a rare phase in Zn-Pb slags in Świętochłowice [22], which are mostly crystalline [21]. It is consistent with two different sources of glass: non-liberated slag-derived glass dominating in horizon C and liberated glass dominating in horizons A and B (Table 1).…”

Section: Individual Phase Characteristic and Mineral Associationssupporting

confidence: 65%

“…Even in a single heap, phase composition of slags [21,27] and proportions of primary and secondary phases [19,20] may vary strongly. Additionally, the relationship between primary and secondary phases may be disturbed by hydrothermal crystallization from hot fluids remaining in the slag heap shortly after the slag deposition [22,28]. All these processes contribute to the complexity of the weathered zone developing on slag heaps.…”

Section: Improving Characteristic Of Weathered Slag Heap Using Automamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this paper, such a technique was applied to delineate the material sources contributing to a complex weathering profile in theŚwiętochłowice slag heap and see if the conclusions are consistent with those based on bulk and leachate chemistry [19]. The heap was previously extensively studied and is well characterized in terms of phase composition [19][20][21][22] and, therefore, is a perfect testing site to apply SEM-automated analyses. This paper also proposes some general features of automated SEM datasets based on heavy mineral fractions that can be used for analyses of similarly complex material, in particular, to classify and estimate the proportions between primary, secondary and detrital phases in weathered zones formed on slag heaps.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding Heterogeneity of a Slag-Derived Weathered Material: The Role of Automated SEM-EDS Analyses

et al. 2018

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Slag heaps over years may evolve into complexly weathered zones, which are a challenging material for analyses as they contain phases from numerous sources and at different stages of weathering. However, the weathered zones are important parts of slag heaps, because they contain both primary and secondary phases enriched in metal(oid)s that may become soluble under specific conditions. The weathering reactions related to metal release or precipitation may be recorded in a heavy mineral fraction as the fraction contains predominately minerals with elevated toxic elements concentrations. Therefore, an automated SEM analysis on a polished section of included heavy mineral particles was applied in this paper for a rapid recognition of phases in a complex setting and their classification into detrital, primary and secondary phases. The approach was applied to a slag heap inŚwiętochłowice (Upper Silesia, Poland) and it consisted of analyzing magnetic and non-magnetic heavy mineral fractions from three distinct horizons noted A, B and C. Materials had been previously interpreted as being sourced from the heap itself (lowermost horizon C) and from artificially added materials used later for superficial site remediation (upper horizons A and B). Instead, automated SEM analysis demonstrated that horizon C is derived from the slag heap weathering, horizon B is derived predominately from the artificially added materials, whereas horizon A is a mixture of the B and C horizons. Additionally, when slag particles in horizons A and C are compared, the lowermost horizon C contains more slag-derived secondary phases, whereas horizon A contains more primary slag phases. Therefore, horizon A remains the most prone to releasing toxic elements because, considering its position as the uppermost horizon, it can be submitted to climatic solicitation (fast water circulation).

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Section: Individual Phase Characteristic and Mineral Associationssupporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Improving Characteristic Of Weathered Slag Heap Using Automamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding Heterogeneity of a Slag-Derived Weathered Material: The Role of Automated SEM-EDS Analyses

et al. 2018

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“…Cadmium was not measured during the silicate and glass LA-ICPMS analysis. Instead, the highest Cd was measured in Sulfide A (9 mg/kg; Figure 12F) followed by Sulfide B (7 mg/kg; Figure 12F), with average contents in Oxides below 0.03 mg/kg; such values are regarded as low in comparison to Cd values reported at other sites (e.g., Lockington et al [46] Tyszka et al [47]). Compared to Cd, values of Ni and Co were much higher in all phases ( Supplementary Table S3), with the highest Ni measured in Silicate D (89 mg/kg; Supplementary Table S3), and Co in Oxide A (118 mg/kg; Supplementary Table S3).…”

Section: Element Deportmentmentioning

confidence: 76%

Geometallurgical Characterization of Non-Ferrous Historical Slag in Western Tasmania: Identifying Reprocessing Options

Parbhakar-Fox

Gilmour²,

Fox

et al. 2019

Minerals

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Pyrometallurgical processing of ore from the Zeehan mineral field was performed intermittently between 1896 and 1948, primarily recovering Pb, Ag and Cu. While Zn recovery was attempted at the time, it was unsuccessful using the available technology. Consequently, Zn reported to the slag during the smelting process. Today, the former smelter site consists of two large slag piles (North and South). Using a range of techniques (including X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and static testing) the geometallurgical and geo-environmental properties of these slag materials (n = 280) were determined. The South and North piles contain on average 15% and 11% Zn, respectively. A range of complex mineral phases were identified, and are dominated by glass, silicates (i.e., monticellite–kirschsteinite and hardystonite), oxides (gahnite and hercynite) and minor sulfides (sphalerite and wurtzite). Microtextural examinations defined nine mineral phases (Glass A, Silicates A to D, Oxides A and B, Sulfides A and B). Zn was concentrated in Sulfide A (26%), Glass A (24%) and the Silicates (43%), while Pb was concentrated in Oxide B (76%), with Sulfide B host to the highest Ag (45%) and Cu (65%). Considering this, recovery of Zn using conventional hydrometallurgical processes (i.e., sulfuric acid leaching) is suitable, however the application of unconventional biohydrometallurgical techniques could be explored, as well re-smelting. These slag materials are classified geo-environmentally as potentially acid forming, with leachate concentrations of Zn, Pb consistently above ANZECC (2000) aquatic ecosystem 80% protection guideline values, and, for the majority of samples, exceedances of Cu, Ni and Cd were also measured. Considering these findings, reprocessing of these historic slags for Zn extraction may provide an economically feasible management option for rehabilitating this historical site.

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“…Some PTMs (i.e., As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) of the slag are very high and more than these in the soil of its bottom weathering profile ( Table S1 ). Although most of the slag PTMs are generally dominated by polymetallic or other phases ( Ettler, Piantone & Touray, 2003 ; Scokart, Meeus-Verdinne & De Borger, 1983 ; Sobanska et al, 2016 ), they could be easily transported to the surrounding circumstances due to long-term natural weathering ( Sobanska et al, 2016 ; Tyszka et al, 2014 , 2018 ) or other processes occurring in acidic environments ( Scokart, Meeus-Verdinne & De Borger, 1983 ; Sobanska et al, 2016 ; Warchulski et al, 2019 ; Yang et al, 2006 ). There adds to the bioavailability of Cd that a possible transformation of Cd from metal oxides in smelting slags to adsorbed phases and carbonates ( Wang et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potentially toxic metal(loid) distribution and migration in the bottom weathering profile of indigenous zinc smelting slag pile in clastic rock region

Peng

Yang

Jin

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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Background There are contaminated by potentially toxic metal(loid)s (PTMs) that the surface soil and the weathering profiles around the indigenous zinc smelting slag piles or smelters in the smelting area. However, few systematic studies are currently focusing on the PTM distribution and migration among the slag and its bottom weathering profile. Methods This research determined the concentrations of PTMs and pH values. And we analyzed PTM distribution in the two weathering profiles (slag-covered and slag-absent) with a small horizontal distance in the clastic rock region in the smelting area. Results The soil As and Pb contents, respectively, within the 30 and 50 cm depth in the slag-covered section were higher than those in the slag-absent profile. All soil Cd and Zn contents of the slag-covered core were significantly higher than those in the slag-absent weathering section. Conclusions Compared with the slag-absent weathering section, some PTMs (i.e., As, Cd, Pb and Zn) in the bottom weathering profile were polluted by these elements in the covered slag in the clastic rock region, and their depths were influenced by the slag to varying degrees. Additionally, with time, some PTMs (especially Cd and Zn) of the slag might finally contaminate the groundwater by leaching and infiltration through its bottom weathering profile in the clastic rock region.

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Cadmium distribution in Pb-Zn slags from Upper Silesia, Poland: Implications for cadmium mobility from slag phases to the environment

Cited by 29 publications

References 38 publications

Understanding Heterogeneity of a Slag-Derived Weathered Material: The Role of Automated SEM-EDS Analyses

Understanding Heterogeneity of a Slag-Derived Weathered Material: The Role of Automated SEM-EDS Analyses

Geometallurgical Characterization of Non-Ferrous Historical Slag in Western Tasmania: Identifying Reprocessing Options

Potentially toxic metal(loid) distribution and migration in the bottom weathering profile of indigenous zinc smelting slag pile in clastic rock region

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