Geochemistry of decades-old spodumene mine tailings under a humid continental climate

Geochemistry and mineralogy of wastes from lithium-bearing granite-pegmatite mining: resource potential and environmental risks

“…Sulfur contents of Li-bearing granite/pegmatite wastes are not always reported, but those available are low (Table 2), suggesting that the wastes will not generate acid. This is confirmed by paste pH and leaching tests that yield waters with pH values between eight and nine (e.g., Chen and Goulet, 2022;Roy et al, 2022).…”

“…Melentiev et al (2022) detected Tl (1.51-5.49 mg/kg) in spodumene tailings from the Zabaikalsk mining and processing plant in Russia. Thallium (1.2-2.8 mg/kg) was also found in the Whabouchi tailings, in addition to minor amounts of Th (1.2-2.8 mg/kg) (Roy et al, 2022).…”

“…The evolution of spodumene flotation and analcimecontaining tailings from the former Quebec Lithium Corporation site in La Corne, Quebec, Canada during 55 years of storage was evaluated by (Roy et al, 2022). Textural analysis and sequential extraction data suggested that the tailings had not been significantly weathered nor formed secondary minerals.…”

“…The published studies of Roy et al (2022), Roy et al (2023) and Chen and Goulet (2022) are, to the author's knowledge, the few that have evaluated the long-term stability and potential impacts of Li granite-pegmatite mine wastes and related these to potential environmental impacts. Given the potential increase in hard-rock Li mining that may occur in the 2020s and 2030s, more research is needed, especially as high concentrations of Li have been found in other mining-affected areas (e.g., 13 mg/L Li in mine drainage; Aral and Veccio-Sadus (2008)).…”

“…Although bulk geochemical and mineralogical data for the Libearing granite/pegmatite wastes are documented in the literature, they are insufficient for understanding the effects of processing and weathering on the potential mobility of elements from the wastes, and for understanding how the presence of mineral impurities may affect the quality and stability of reuse, recycling or remining products (Table 3). Detailed mineral chemical and textural evidence such as that presented in Roy et al (2022) and Roy et al (2023) is required for these wastes to enable their full resource and environmental risk potentials to be evaluated. This information can be combined with geochemical data and leaching tests to understand the geochemical behaviour of the wastes and their products (Parbhakar-Fox et al, 2013;Jamieson et al, 2015), and in turn potentially increase the market value and demand for the latter.…”