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Formation and composition of cemented layers in low-sulphide mine tailings, Laver, northern Sweden

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Environmental Geology

A Publishers erratum to this article was published on 27 June 2006

Abstract

Cemented layers (hardpans) are common in carbonate or sulphide-rich mine tailings and where pyrrhotite is the predominating Fe-sulphide. Laver, northern Sweden, is an abandoned Cu-mine where the tailings have low pyrrhotite content, almost no pyrite and no carbonates. Two cemented layers at different locations in the Laver tailings impoundment were investigated, with the aim to determine their effects on metal mobility. The cementing agents were mainly jarosite and Fe-oxyhydroxides in the layer formed where the tailings have a barren surface, whereas only Fe-oxyhydroxides were identified below grass-covered tailings surface. Arsenic was enriched in both layers which also exhibit high concentrations of Mo, V, Hg and Pb compared to unoxidised tailings. Sequential extraction indicates that these metals and As were mainly retained with crystalline Fe-oxides, and therefore potentially will be remobilised if the oxic conditions become more reducing, for instance as a result of remediation of the tailings impoundment.

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Acknowledgements

We want to thank Dr. Erik Carlsson for his support and helpful discussions and Fredrik Jarleman, Olov Öhman, at the Department of Chemistry and Metallurgy at Luleå University of Technology, for their support when carrying out the XRD, SEM and EDS analyses. The ICP analyses were performed by Analytica AB in Luleå. Milan Vnuk prepared the figures. Special thanks to Birgitta Nyberg for her support in the laboratory. This research was financed by PIRAMID (Passive In-situ Remediation-Acid-Mine-Industrial-Drainage) and Luleå University of Technology.

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  1. Division of Applied Geology, Luleå University of Technology, 97187, Luleå, Sweden

    Lena Alakangas & Björn Öhlander

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  1. Lena Alakangas
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  2. Björn Öhlander
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Correspondence to Lena Alakangas.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0376-0

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Alakangas, L., Öhlander, B. Formation and composition of cemented layers in low-sulphide mine tailings, Laver, northern Sweden. Environ Geol 50, 809–819 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0253-x

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