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The Geochemical Behaviour of Mine Tailings from the Touiref Pb–Zn District in Tunisia in Weathering Cells Leaching Tests

Geochemisches Verhalten von Aufbereitungsrückständen des Touiref Pb-Zn-Distrikts, Tunesien, im Rahmen von Laugungstests mit Verwitterungszellen

El comportamiento geoquímico de las colas de minas del distrito Touiref en Túnez en tests de lixiviación

突尼斯Touiref矿区铅-锌尾矿在风化箱溶滤试验中的地球化学行为

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Abstract

Flotation tailings associated with the extraction of Pb and Zn in the Touiref mining district, Tunisia, contain galena, sphalerite, pyrite, and marcasite in a carbonate gangue. The geochemical behaviour of oxidized and unoxidised tailings were consistent with their mineralogical and chemical characteristics. The leaching proceeded under neutral to slightly alkaline condition (pH 7.3–8.5), and positive Eh (250–470 mV). The concentrations of sulfate and Ca released during the leaching tests were associated with the neutralization of acidity by carbonates and the dissolution of gypsum initially present in the tailings. The iron precipitated, but significant amounts of Zn (5–3,300 μg/L), Cd (3–18 μg/L), and Pb (28–83 μg/L) were released during leaching, with the latter two exceeding international environmental norms (5 μg/L for Cd and 10 μg/L for Pb).

Zusammenfassung

Die Flotationsabgänge der Pb–Zn-Aufbereitung im Touiref Bergbau-Distrikt, Tunesien enthalten Galenit, Sphalerit, Pyrit und Markasit in karbonatischer Gangart. Das geochemische Verhalten oxidierter bzw. nicht-oxidierter Tailings stand im Einklang mit ihren mineralogischen und chemischen Eigenschaften. Die Laugungstests wurden unter neutralen bis schwach alkalischen pH-Bedingungen (pH 7,3–8,5) und positivem Redoxpotenzial (250-470 mV) durchgeführt. Die während der Laugungstests ausgetragenen Sulfat- und Kalziumkonzentrationen werden mit Neutralisationsreaktionen durch Karbonate sowie die Auflösung von in den Tailings bereits ursprünglich enthaltenem Gips in Verbindung gebracht. Während Eisen im Rahmen der Laugungsversuche ausfiel, wurden signifikante Mengen an Zn (5 - 3300 μg/L), Cd (3 - 18 μg/L) und Pb (28 - 83 μg/L) freigesetzt, wobei die Cd- und Pb-Konzentrationen internationale Umweltnormen (5 μg/L für Cd, 10 μg/L für Pb) überschritten.

Resumen

Las colas de flotación asociadas con la extracción de Pb y Zn en el distrito minero de Touiref, Túnez, contienen galena, esfalerita, pirita y marcasita en una ganga de carbonatos. El comportamiento geoquímico de las colas oxidadas y no oxidadas fue consistente con sus características mineralógicas y químicas. La lixiviación procedió bajo condiciones neutras o ligeramente alcalinas (pH 7,3 – 8,5) y valores positivos de Eh (250 a 470 mV). Las concentraciones de sulfato y calcio liberados durante los tests de lixiviación fueron asociados con la neutralización de la acidez por carbonatos y la disolución de yeso inicialmente presente en las colas. El hierro precipitó pero cantidades significativas de Zn (5 a 3300 μg/L), Cd (3 a 18 μg/L) y Pb (28 a 83 μg/L) fueron liberadas durante la lixiviación, con los últimos dos superando las normas ambientales internacionales (5 μg/L para Cd y 10 μg/L para Pb).

抽象

在突尼斯Touiref矿区,铅-锌浮选尾矿的碳酸盐类矸石含有方铅矿、闪锌矿、黄铁矿和白铁矿。氧化与未氧化尾矿的地球化学行为与它们的矿物学和化学特征吻合。溶滤试验在中性-弱碱性(pH = 7.3 ~ 8.5)和正氧化-还原电位(Eh = 250 ~ 470 mV)条件下进行。溶滤试验释放的硫酸盐和钙离子浓度与尾矿最初的碳酸盐中和作用及石膏溶解作用有关。铁离子发生了沉淀,大量锌(5-3300 μg/L)、镉(3-18 μg/L)和铅(28-83 μg/L)释放出来,而且后两离子浓度超过了国际环境标准(镉5 μg/L,铅10 μg/L)。

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Tunisian Ministry of High Education and Scientific Research and the URSTM of the University of Quebec; Rouyn-Noranda, Canada. We also thank Mathieu Villeneuve, Benoit Plante, Erol Yilmaz, and Alain Perreault for their assistance and willingness to perform the experiments and analyses, and Mohamed Ali Fedaoui and Fethi Ouerghi from the municipality of Touiref for their technical support. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for their comments, which greatly improved the quality of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Matériaux Utiles, Technopole of Sidi Thabet, 2026, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia

    Mohamed Ali Othmani & Fouad Souissi

  2. Laboratory of Ressources Minérales et Environnement, Univ Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

    Mohamed Ali Othmani

  3. URSTM, University of Quebec, Rouyn-Noranda, Canada

    Hassan Bouzahzah & Bruno Bussiere

  4. Office National des Mines, Charguia-Tunis, Tunisia

    Abdelbaki Mansouri

  5. UQAT, University of Quebec, Rouyn-Noranda, Canada

    Mostafa Benzaazoua

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  1. Mohamed Ali Othmani
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Correspondence to Fouad Souissi.

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Othmani, M.A., Souissi, F., Benzaazoua, M. et al. The Geochemical Behaviour of Mine Tailings from the Touiref Pb–Zn District in Tunisia in Weathering Cells Leaching Tests. Mine Water Environ 32, 28–41 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-012-0210-8

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