Abstract
Millions of tonnes of Pb–Zn ore flotation tailings and waste rock have been discharged at sites in northern Tunisia without concern for environmental issues. The tailings are dominantly fine grained (<125 μm), with high porosity and permeability. The tailings were characterized to assess base metal (Pb, Zn, and Cd) mobility. The relatively low percentage of iron sulphide and the dominance of carbonates in the matrices of the tailings indicated that only neutral mine drainage is likely. Batch sequential testing showed that the calcium and sulphate, which are the major ionic species in solution, are derived mainly from the dissolution of gypsum and not from neutralization of acidity generated by pyrite oxidation. Yet, despite the carbonate setting, the resultant neutral to slightly alkaline pH, and prolonged weathering, the studied flotation tailings maintain their capacity to release contaminants, notably Zn and Cd, into the environment. The amount of Zn that dissolves (2,400 μg L−1, on average), though significant, is below the background concentrations in the Mejerda River and the environmental norms established for surface waters. Pb concentrations come close to the standards, but only Cd (18 μg L−1, on average) sometimes exceeds current river water concentrations and environmental standards.
Zusammenfassung
Der Pb–Zn Bergbau im nördlichen Tunesien hinterließ Millionen Tonnen von Bergehalden und Flotationsabgängen, welche ohne Rücksicht auf Umweltbelange abgelagert wurden. Die Flotationsabgänge sind überwiegend feinkörnig (<125 µm) und haben hohe Porosität und Permeabilität. Diese Arbeit dient der Einschätzung der Mobilität von Buntmetallen (Pb, Zn und Cd), welche in den Abgängen enthalten sind. Der darin relativ geringe Anteil von Eisensulfiden und die Dominanz von Karbonaten in der Gangart lassen vermuten, dass Sickerwässer neutral sind. Sequentielle Lösungsversuche zeigen, dass Kalzium und Sulfat als wichtigste Ionen überwiegend aus der Lösung von Gips stammen, nicht aus der Neutralisierung von Säure, welche durch Pyritverwitterung gebildet wurde. Trotz des karbonatischen Milieus und des resultierenden neutral bis gering alkalischen pH, sowie langjähriger Verwitterung, haben die Flotationsabgänge die Fähigkeit, die Kontaminanten Zn und Cd in die Umwelt abzugeben. Gelöstes Zn liegt im Durchschnitt bei 2,400 µg L−1; obwohl signifikant, ist diese Konzentration doch geringer als der Hintergrund im Fluß Mejerda und liegt auch unter den Grenzwerten für Oberflächenwässer. Pb liegt nahe an den Grenzwerten. Nur Cd (im Durchschnitt 18 µg L−1) erreicht in Einzelfällen höhere Konzentration als das Flusswasser bzw. die Umweltstandards.
Resumen
Millones de toneladas de colas de flotación de un mineral de Pb–Zn y residuos de roca han sido descargadas en el norte de Túnez sin ningún cuidado por el posible impacto ambiental. Las colas son predominantemente de grano fino (<125 µm), con alta porosidad y permeabilidad. Las colas fueron caracterizadas para relevar la movilidad de los metales bases (Pb, Zn y Cd). El relativo bajo porcentaje de sulfuro de hierro y la predominancia de carbonatos en la matriz de las colas indica que sólo es esperable drenaje de mina neutro. Pruebas en batchs secuenciales mostraron que calcio y sulfato, las principales especies iónicas en solución, provienen principalmente de la disolución de yeso y no de la neutralización de la acidez generada por la oxidación de pirita. Sin embargo, a pesar de la matriz de carbonatos, el pH resultante, neutro o ligeramente alcalino a través de un lavado prolongado liberan contaminantes (principalmente Zn y Cd) al medio ambiente, de las colas de flotación estudiadas. La cantidad de Zn que disuelve (2,400 µg L−1, en promedio), aunque significativo, es menor que las concentraciones propias del río Mejerda y de las que las normas ambientales establecen para aguas superficiales. Las concentraciones de Pb son cercanas a los estándares, mientras que Cd (18 µg L−1, en promedio) algunas excede las actuales concentraciones en el agua de río y los estándares ambientales.
抽象
在突尼斯北部,成千上万吨铅-锌矿石的浮选尾矿和废矿石在没有考虑环境影响的条件下遗留采场。这些尾矿粒径小(<125 祄)、孔隙度大、渗透性好,可用来评价铅、锌和镉等金属活性特征。尾矿主要由碳酸盐岩和少量黄铁矿组成,滤出液以中性矿山废水为特征。批次顺序测验表明,尾矿滤出液主离子Ca2+和SO4 2−的主要来源是石膏溶解,而不是黄铁矿的氧化、产酸及中和过程。虽然尾矿在碳酸盐岩环境中经历了长时间风化,也能使滤出液pH值维持中性至微碱性,但浮选尾矿仍具有向环境释放污染物(尤其是锌和隔离子)的能力。尽管锌离子浓度很高(平均浓度2,400 mg L−1),该值仍低于Mejerda河水的背景浓度和地表水环境质量标准。同时,铅离子浓度接近水质标准值,镉离子浓度(平均浓度18 mg L−1)有时会超过目前河水浓度及环境标准。
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Associate Editor, Alex Waterhouse, for her helpful comments. In addition, we thank Faysal Souissi, English Department, College of Humanities of Tunis, University of Tunisia, for his kind and thorough reviews of the English language in this manuscript. The ICP and AAS chemical analyses were performed by Raouf Jebali in the INRAP Chemistry Lab.
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Souissi, R., Souissi, F., Chakroun, H.K. et al. Mineralogical and Geochemical Characterization of Mine Tailings and Pb, Zn, and Cd Mobility in a Carbonate Setting (Northern Tunisia). Mine Water Environ 32, 16–27 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-012-0208-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-012-0208-2