Physico-chemical properties of tailing slurries during environmental desulphurization by froth flotation

Benzaazoua, Mostafa; Kongolo, M.

doi:10.1016/s0301-7516(02)00129-1

Cited by 44 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…[9][10][11] Moreover, the treatment of such wastes constitutes reduction on environmental load. [12][13][14] The application of flotation to concentrate valuable minerals or the treatment of flotation tailings is environmental-friendly and economically feasible since the materials involved have been reduced to size suitable for direct treatment, and also less volume of material resulting in a reduction of energy requirement for the down stream processes (metal recovery) or containment facility for environmental control. However, the fine materials also pose other challenges, such as; surface oxidation, agglomeration during exposure to air and moisture, high fine particle contents, and others that will affect flotation conditions, including collector/frother selections and concentrations, extend of surface modification by attrition or addition of promoters and depressants among others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of a Flotation Process with De-Sliming and Attrition to Upgrade and Recover Cu and Mo from a Cu-Mo Flotation Tailing

et al. 2011

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In some (Cu-Mo) mines around the world, Mo recovery is low due to poor liberation, fine dissemination in gangue minerals, and losses of Cu and Mo to tailing streams. Studies to recover these materials as a new resource will increasingly become an attractive option. In the current study, a flotation tailing sample obtained from a mine recovering only 40% Mo was re-floated to upgrade Cu and Mo. The sample containing 0.07% Cu and 0.01% Mo, was used in the study and the goal was to improve the grades to over 2.0% Cu and 0.5% Mo, to obtain an additional feed for the flotation process. Sodium aluminium silicate (NaAlSi 3 O 8 ) and quartz (SiO 2 ) were observed as the dominant mineral phases. The original samples were milled and screened to pass 105 mm screen to be used in the subsequent tests. To evaluate the efficiency of the process, both single and multi-stage flotation steps including de-sliming for the removal of fines and attrition for surface activation, together with other parameters (pH, PAX concentration, time) were performed. Based on the experimental results, a four-stage flotation process allowed the improvement of Cu and Mo grades to 1.63% and 0.24% respectively. A single-stage flotation process with de-sliming and attrition stages before flotation with PAX and MIBC concentrations of 40 g/t improved Cu and Mo grades to 2.07% and 0.64%, with a recovery of 48.60% and 65.97% respectively.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of a Flotation Process with De-Sliming and Attrition to Upgrade and Recover Cu and Mo from a Cu-Mo Flotation Tailing

et al. 2011

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“…The grain-size distribution of the homogenized tailings used in this study ( Fig. 2) was typical of the tailings that result from mineral processing, before their deposition in an impoundment [5,8,13]. D 10 (diameter at which 10 % of particles pass) was about 2.9 lm, D 50 was 27 lm, and D 90 was 105 lm ( Table 1).…”

Section: Tailings' Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 92%

Effect of cementitious amendment on the hydrogeological behavior of a surface paste tailings’ disposal

Ichrak

Benzaazoua

Maqsoud

et al. 2016

Innov. Infrastruct. Solut.

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Surface paste disposal (SPD) can be considered as an effective alternative technique for mine waste management. The technique consists of first removing upstream water (by thickening and/or filtration) from tailings, then depositing them at the surface in a paste-like state. These techniques allow for the recycling of water, limit risks related to the failure of dikes, and favor progressive mine site rehabilitation. However, there are, thus far, only a few studies on the environmental behavior of tailings deposited using the SPD technique. To evaluate the hydrogeological and geochemical behaviors of a sulphidic tailings' deposit simulating the SPD method, a laboratory study was performed using a physical model. Paste tailings were prepared and deposited inside the physical model in nine layers. In the first stage, only the first two bottom layers were amended with cement (2 % w/w of PC10 Portland cement). The physical model was then subjected to wetting and drying cycles, and the water collected after each flush was analysed for chemistry and its volume was measured. At the end of the 27th cycle, a tenth layer of cemented tailings was deposited on the top of the tailings' stack. Testing was performed for 34 cycles, and then, the model was dismantled and the collected samples were analysed through a multidisciplinary fine characterisation. The results of this investigation showed that the volume of collected water at the bottom of the physical model varied over the test's duration. This could be due to seasonal variations in the temperature and moisture of the laboratory. The cemented layer deposited on the top of the physical model appears to play the role of protecting against underlying layers from evaporation. Finally, diffuse oxidation that progressed along the preferential pathway was observed.

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“…This method consists of separating sulfide minerals from mine tailings using froth flotation. The resulting desulfurized fraction can be managed separately [29,30] or backfilled in underground mines [31]. Desulfurization has been demonstrated as an economically and environmentally effective technique to decrease the acid-generation potential of mine tailings, in particular for operating mines and new mine projects [32][33][34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Desulfurization of the Old Tailings at the Au-Ag-Cu Tiouit Mine (Anti-Atlas Morocco)

et al. 2019

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Tailings from the abandoned Tiouit mine site in Morocco are mainly composed of sulfides, hematite, and quartz. They contain 0.06–1.50 wt % sulfur, mostly in the form of pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite. The tailings also contain gold (3.36–5.00 ppm), silver (24–37 ppm), and copper (0.06–0.08 wt %). Flotation tests were conducted to reprocess the tailings for Au, Ag, and Cu recovery, and at the same time to prevent acid mine drainage (AMD) generation through the oxidation of sulfide minerals, including pyrite, sphalerite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, galena. The flotation results confirmed that environmental desulfurization is effective at reducing the overall sulfide content in the tailings. The recovery of sulfides was between 69% and 75%, while Au recovery weight-yield was between 2.8% and 4.7%. The test that showed the best sulfur recovery rate and weight-yield was carried out with 100 g/t CuSO4 (sulfide activator) and 50 g/t of amyl xanthate (collector). The goal of this study was also to assess the remaining acid-generating potential (AP) and acid-neutralizing potential (NP) of the desulfurized tailing. The geochemical behavior of the initial tailings sample was compared to that of the desulfurized tailings using kinetic weathering cell tests. The leachates from the desulfurized tailings showed higher pH values than those from the initial tailings, which were clearly acid-generating. The residual acidity produced by the desulfurized tailings was most likely caused by the hydrolysis of Fe-oxyhydroxides.

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Physico-chemical properties of tailing slurries during environmental desulphurization by froth flotation

Cited by 44 publications

References 6 publications

Investigation of a Flotation Process with De-Sliming and Attrition to Upgrade and Recover Cu and Mo from a Cu-Mo Flotation Tailing

Investigation of a Flotation Process with De-Sliming and Attrition to Upgrade and Recover Cu and Mo from a Cu-Mo Flotation Tailing

Effect of cementitious amendment on the hydrogeological behavior of a surface paste tailings’ disposal

Desulfurization of the Old Tailings at the Au-Ag-Cu Tiouit Mine (Anti-Atlas Morocco)

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