Abstract
The abandoned Zgounder Mine (Morocco) was exploited for Ag from 1982 to 1990 and generated nearly 490,000 t of mill tailings before it was closed without being reclaimed. The tailings contain low concentrations of sulfide (mainly as pyrite, sphalerite, and galena) and carbonates (mainly dolomite). Silicates (muscovite, albite, chlorite, labradorite, actinolite, and orthoclase) occur in high concentrations. The most abundant trace elements are As, Ti, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Pb. We studied the geochemical behavior of the mine wastes to identify the main factors controlling drainage water chemistry. Particular emphasis was put on sorption phenomena to explain the low As concentrations in the leachates despite significant As levels in the tailings. Weathering cell tests carried out on various tailings produced two types of contaminated drainage: acidic and neutral. The kinetic test leachates contained high concentrations of some contaminants, including As (0.8 mg L−1), Co (11 mg L−1), Cu (34 mg L−1), Fe (70 mg L−1), Mn (126 mg L−1), and Zn (314 mg L−1). Acidity and contaminants in the leachates were controlled by dissolution of soluble salts and Fe hydrolysis rather than sulfide oxidation. Batch sorption tests quantified the significance of As sorption, and sequential extraction showed that most of the As sorption was associated with the reducible fractions (Fe and Mn oxides and oxyhydroxides).
Zusammenfassung
Von 1982 bis 1990 wurde in der verlassenen Zgounder Mine (Marokko) Silber produziert. Dabei fielen nahezu 490.000 t von Aufbereitungsrückständen an, bevor der Bergbau ohne Rekultivierung eingestellt wurde. Die Rückstände enthalten niedrige Konzentrationen von Sulfiden (hauptsächlich Pyrit, Zinkblende und Bleiglanz) und Karbonaten (hauptsächlich Dolomit). Silikate (Muskovit, Albit, Chlorit, Labradorit, Aktinolith und Orthoklas) kommen in hoher Konzentration vor. Die häufigsten Spurenelemente sind As, Ti, Fe, Mn, Zn und Pb. Wir untersuchten das geochemische Verhalten der Aufbereitungsrückstände, um die wichtigsten Faktoren zu identifizieren, welche die Chemie der Sickerwässer kontrollieren. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt betraf Sorptionsphänomene, um die niedrigen As-Konzentrationen in Laugungslösungen zu erklären, trotz signifikanter Arsengehalte in den Aufbereitungsrückständen. Zellenversuche der Verwitterung verschiedener Rückstände ergaben zwei Typen kontaminierter Dränage: sauer und neutral. Laugungslösungen aus kinetischen Versuchen enthielten hohe Konzentrationen einiger Kontaminanten, unter anderem As (0.8 mg L-1), Co (11 mg L-1), Cu (34 mg L-1), Fe (70 mg L-1), Mn (126 mg L-1) und Zn (314 mg L-1). Azidität und Kontaminanten der Laugungslösungen waren eher durch die Auflösung löslicher Salze und Fe-Hydrolyse kontrolliert als durch Sulfidoxydation. Chargensorptionstests quantifizierten die Bedeutung der As-Sorption, und sequentielle Extraktion zeigte, daß der größte Teil der As-Sorption mit reduzierbaren Fraktionen assoziiert war (Fe und Mn Oxyde und Oxyhydroxyde).
Resumen
La mina abandonada Zgounder (Marruecos) fue explotada para la recuperación de Ag desde 1982 a 1990 y generó cerca de 490.000 toneladas de colas antes de que fuera cerrada. Las colas contienen bajas concentraciones de sulfuros (principalmente como pirita, esfalerita y galena) y carbonatos (principalmente dolomita). Los silicatos (moscovita, albita, clorita, labradorita, actinolita y ortoclasa) están presentes en grandes concentraciones. Los elementos traza más abundantes son As, Ti, Fe, Mn, Zn y Pb. Hemos estudiado el comportamiento geoquímico de los residuos mineros para identificar los principales factores que controlan la química del drenaje. Se ha puesto particular énfasis sobre el fenómeno de sorción para explicar las bajas concentraciones de As en los lixiviados a pesar los elevados niveles de As en las colas. Los ensayos en celdas húmedas sobre las colas produjeron dos tipos de drenajes contaminados: ácidos y neutros. Los ensayos cinéticos mostraron lixiviados con altas concentraciones de algunos contaminantes incluyendo As (0,8 mg L-1), Co (11 mg L-1), Cu (34 mg L-1), Fe (70 mg L-1), Mn (126 mg L-1) y Zn (314 mg L-1). La acidez y los contaminantes en los lixiviados estuvieron controlados por la disolución de sales soluble y por la hidrólisis de Fe más que por la oxidación de los sulfuros. Los ensayos en batch cuantificaron la sorción de As y la extracción secuencial mostró que la mayor parte de esta sorción estaba asociada con las fracciones reducibles (óxidos y oxohidróxidos de Fe y Mn).
抽象
废弃的Zgounder银矿(摩洛哥)在1982~1990年生产期间遗留近490,000吨未处理尾矿。尾矿含有少量硫化物(主要为黄铁矿、闪锌矿和方铅矿)与碳酸盐(主要为白云石)和丰富硅酸盐(主要为白云母、钠长石、绿泥石、拉长石、阳起石和正长石)。尾矿内最丰富的微量元素是As、Ti、Fe、Mn、Zn及Pb。本文研究了尾矿的地球化学行为以识别影响尾矿排放废水水质的主要因素,通过吸附试验研究固体尾矿砷含量高而渗出液砷浓度低的原因。各种类型尾矿的模拟风化实验生成了酸性和中性两种污染废水。动态实验渗出液的高浓度污染物包括As(0.8 mg/L)、 Co (11 mg/L)、Cu (34 mg/L)、Fe (70 mg/L)、Mn (126 mg/L)和Zn (314 mg/L)。渗出液酸度及所含污染物主要受尾矿可溶盐溶解及铁氧化物水解控制而不受硫化物氧化控制。批次吸附试验量化了砷(As)吸附过程,顺次提取试验揭示了砷吸附与还原态铁、锰氧化物及氢氧化物有关的规律。
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Financial support for this study was provided through the International Research Chairs Initiative, a program funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and by the Canada Research Chairs program (Canada).
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Fig. S1
Photographs showing sampling points in the North (a and b) and South (c) tailings pond trenches: ZG1, ZG3, and ZG6 for surface, ZG4 for slightly altered tailings, ZG2, ZG5, and ZG7 as fresh tailings (PDF 4179 kb)
Fig. S2
SEM backscattered images showing: a) Cd-sphalerite grain, b) Fe-oxide resulting from pyrite weathering, both pyrite and Fe-oxide contain As, c) Fe oxide grain, which contains As, Zn, Cu, and S (PDF 2317 kb)
Fig. S3
Absolute and normalized sequential extractions results for As for the initial tailings samples (a and b) and for post-testing samples (c and d) (PDF 472 kb)
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El Adnani, M., Plante, B., Benzaazoua, M. et al. Tailings Weathering and Arsenic Mobility at the Abandoned Zgounder Silver Mine, Morocco. Mine Water Environ 35, 508–524 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-015-0370-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-015-0370-4