Field Study of the Chemical and Physical Stability of Highly Sulphide-Rich Tailings Stored Under a Shallow Water Cover

Awoh, Akué Sylvette; Mbonimpa, Mamert; Bussière, Bruno

doi:10.1007/s10230-012-0213-5

Cited by 15 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…A laboratory study on pyritic tailings (80% pyrite content with very low neutralizing capacity) placed under a water cover for various hydrodynamic conditions was carried out by Awoh et al [33]. The same material was studied in the field to assess their in situ chemical and physical stability [34]. Hence, most of the work on sulfide-rich tailings with low neutralizing potential focused on controlling their AMD generation using laboratory or field scale water cover.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogeochemical Behavior of Reclaimed Highly Reactive Tailings, Part 1: Characterization of Reclamation Materials

Kalonji-Kabambi¹,

Bussière

Demers³

2020

Minerals

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The production of solid mine wastes is an integral part of the extraction and metallurgical processing of ores. The reclamation of highly reactive mine waste, with low neutralizing potential, is still a significant challenge for the mining industry, particularly when natural soils are not available close to the site. Some solid mine wastes present interesting hydro-geotechnical properties which can be taken advantage of, particularly for being used in reclamation covers to control acid mine drainage. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the use of mining materials (i.e., tailings and waste rock) in a cover with capillary barrier effects (CCBE) to prevent acid mine drainage (AMD) from highly reactive tailings. The first part of the project reproduced in this article involves context and laboratory validation of mining materials as suitable for a CCBE, while the companion paper reports laboratory and field results of cover systems made with mining materials. The main conclusions of the Part 1 of this study were that the materials studied (low sulfide tailings and waste rocks) had the appropriate geochemical and hydrogeological properties for use as cover materials in a CCBE. Results also showed that the cover mining materials are not acid-generating and that the LaRonde tailings are highly reactive with pH close to 2, with high concentrations of metals and sulfates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogeochemical Behavior of Reclaimed Highly Reactive Tailings, Part 1: Characterization of Reclamation Materials

Kalonji-Kabambi¹,

Bussière

Demers³

2020

Minerals

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“…These covers can act as a water barrier, or, in humid climates, as an oxygen barrier. Water covers [11,12], covers with capillary barrier effects (CCBE; [13][14][15]), and monolayer covers coupled with an elevated water table [16][17][18][19] are efficient reclamation techniques, which all rely on water to control oxygen diffusion. Indeed, oxygen concentration in water is around 30 times lower than in air, and the diffusion coefficient of oxygen in water is approximately 10,000 times smaller than in air [20,21], which makes water (or water-saturated granular materials) an efficient barrier to oxygen diffusion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Valorisation of Partially Oxidized Tailings in a Cover System to Reclaim an Old Acid Generating Mine Site

et al. 2021

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The reclamation of acid-generating mine tailings typically involves building cover systems to limit interactions with water or oxygen. The choice of cover materials is critical to ensure long-term performance, and partly determines the environmental footprint of the reclamation strategy. The objective of this research was to evaluate if tailings pre-oxidized on-site could be used in cover systems. Column experiments were performed to assess the effectiveness of a cover with capillary barrier effects (CCBE), where the moisture retention layer (MRL) was made of pre-oxidized tailings with little to no remaining sulfides (LS tailings). The columns were submitted to regular wetting and drying cycles, and their hydrological and geochemical behaviour was monitored for 510 days. The LS tailings showed satisfying hydrological properties as an MRL and remained saturated throughout the test. The concentrations of Cu in the drainage decreased by more than two orders of magnitude compared to non-covered tailings. In addition, the pH increased by nearly one unit compared to the control column, and Fe and S concentrations decreased by around 50%. Despite these improvements, the leachate water remained acidic and contaminated, indicating that acid drainage continued to be generated despite a hydrologically efficient CCBE.

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“…Several techniques currently exist for controlling oxygen migration, including: water covers (e.g. 31 Aubertin et al 1999;Yanful et al 2004;Awoh et al 2012) and engineered soil covers (Yanful et 32 al. 1999;Aubertin et al 1995) such as monolayer covers with elevated water table (e.g.…”

Section: Introduction 22mentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxygen migration through a cover with capillary barrier effects colonized by roots

et al. 2020

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2 Covers with capillary barrier effects (CCBE) are multilayered oxygen barrier covers used in humid 3 climates to reclaim reactive mine tailings and limit the generation of acid mine drainage. Once 4 constructed, CCBEs are colonized by surrounding plants. Roots modify water storage and respire 5 oxygen. The performance of CCBEs could evolve over time due to root colonization. Twenty-five 6 plots with varying vegetation were investigated at a seventeen-year-old CCBE in the mixed forest 7 of Québec, Canada. Geotechnical parameters and root colonization of the moisture-retaining layer 8 (MRL) of the CCBE were characterized. The performance of the MRL to control oxygen migration 9 was assessed using oxygen consumption tests and numerical modeling. Despite root colonization 10 at the surface of the MRL, oxygen fluxes generally complied with the CCBE's design criteria. 11Roots presence created oxygen consumption in the MRL, which could be expressed with a 12 reactivity coefficient (Kr). A positive correlation (R 2 = 0.65) was found between root length density 13 and Kr. Oxygen consumption by root respiration helped to lower oxygen fluxes by 0.5 to 76 g/m 2 /yr 14 with an average of 13 g/m 2 /yr. These results will help to better understand the influence of roots 15 on CCBEs' performance to control oxygen migration. 16

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Field Study of the Chemical and Physical Stability of Highly Sulphide-Rich Tailings Stored Under a Shallow Water Cover

Cited by 15 publications

References 19 publications

Hydrogeochemical Behavior of Reclaimed Highly Reactive Tailings, Part 1: Characterization of Reclamation Materials

Hydrogeochemical Behavior of Reclaimed Highly Reactive Tailings, Part 1: Characterization of Reclamation Materials

Valorisation of Partially Oxidized Tailings in a Cover System to Reclaim an Old Acid Generating Mine Site

Oxygen migration through a cover with capillary barrier effects colonized by roots

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