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The Effect of Particle Size on Mine Waste Sulfide Oxidation Rates and Conceptual Treatment Costs

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Abstract

Acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) oxidation reaction rates were determined using oxygen consumption rates in a high sulfur overburden rock from the Australian Latrobe Valley coal provinces, and a mid to low range sulfur waste rock from a porphyry copper deposit in Papua, New Guinea. Nine grain sizes were tested, ranging from material retained by a 0.038 mm sieve through to a 40 mm sieve. Oxygen consumption rates in sealed cells were measured to establish pyrite oxidation rates (POR) in each sample. The oxygen consumption rates displayed a strong exponential reaction correlation with particle size for the material. The POR was found to range from 0.28 to 10.90 wt%/year FeS2 for the materials tested. A relationship between particle size and POR was established for comparative purposes. The smaller grind sizes included in this study extend the AMD/POR particle size data set available in the literature and will assist with geochemical engineering for designing tailings storage facilities. The potential economic and mine design ramifications of additional reactivity of fine mine materials is assessed and discussed using a unit cost framework for applying neutralizing materials.

Zusammenfassung

Die Oxidationsreaktionsraten in saurem Minenabwasser (AMD) wurden unter Verwendung der Sauerstoffverbrauchsraten in einem Abraumgestein mit hohem Schwefelgehalt aus den australischen Kohleprovinzen im Latrobe-Tal und einem Abraumsubstrat mit mittlerem bis niedrigem Schwefelgehalt aus einer Porphyrkupferlagerstätte in Papua Neuguinea bestimmt. Es wurden neun Korngrößenfraktionen getestet, die von Material, das durch ein 0038 mm-Sieb zurückgehalten wurde, bis zu einem 40 mm-Sieb reichten. Die Sauerstoffverbrauchsraten wurden in versiegelten Zellen gemessen, um die Pyritoxidationsraten (POR) in jeder Probe zu bestimmen. Die Sauerstoffverbrauchsraten zeigten eine starke exponentielle Reaktionskorrelation mit der Partikelgröße des Materials. Es wurde festgestellt, dass die POR für die getesteten Materialien im Bereich von 0,28 bis 10,9 Masse- % FeS2 pro Jahr lag. Zu Vergleichszwecken wurde ein Zusammenhang zwischen Partikelgröße und POR hergestellt. Die in dieser Studie enthaltenen kleineren Korngrößen erweitern den in der Literatur verfügbaren Partikeldatensatz für AMD/POR und unterstützen die geochemische Ingenieurkunst bei der Planung von Speicheranlagen für Tailings. Die möglichen wirtschaftlichen und konstruktiven Auswirkungen der zusätzlichen Reaktivität feiner Abraumsubstrate werden anhand eines Einheitskostenrahmens für die Anwendung neutralisierender Materialien bewertet und diskutiert.

Resumen

Las tasas de reacción de oxidación de AMD se determinaron usando las velocidades de consumo de oxígeno en una roca de alto contenido de azufre de las provincias de carbón de Latrobe Valley de Australia y una roca de desecho de azufre de rango medio a bajo de un depósito de pórfido de cobre en Papua, Nueva Guinea. Se probaron nueve tamaños de grano, desde material retenido por un tamiz de 0,038 mm hasta un tamiz de 40 mm. Se midieron las velocidades de consumo de oxígeno en células selladas para establecer las velocidades de oxidación de pirita (POR) en cada muestra. Las velocidades de consumo de oxígeno mostraron una fuerte correlación exponencial con el tamaño de partícula para el material. Se encontró que el POR oscilaba entre 0,28 y 10,90% en peso/año de FeS2 para los materiales probados. Con fines comparativos Se estableció una relación entre el tamaño de partícula y el POR. Los tamaños de molienda más pequeños incluidos en este estudio amplían el conjunto de datos de tamaño de partículas AMD/POR disponible en la literatura y ayudarán con la ingeniería geoquímica para diseñar instalaciones de almacenamiento de relaves. Las posibles ramificaciones económicas y de diseño minero de la reactividad adicional de los materiales finos se evalúan y discuten utilizando un marco de costo unitario para aplicar materiales neutralizantes.

粒度对矿山废物的硫化物氧化速度和概念性处理成本的影响

利用澳大利亚拉特罗布山谷(Latrobe Valley)聚煤盆地的富硫煤层顶板覆岩和巴布亚新几内亚斑岩铜矿的中、低硫废矿石的耗氧速率确定AMD氧化速度。试验了粒径从0.038 mm到40 mm的9种筛余材料。通过测量密闭实验装置内的耗氧速率来确定每个试验样品的黄铁矿氧化速度(POR)。耗氧速率与材料的粒径呈密切指数相关关系。试验材料的黄铁矿氧化速度(POR)为0.28 ~ 10.90 wt %/yr(重量百分比/年,以FeS2计)。为便于直接对比,建立了颗径与黄铁矿氧化速度(POR)的关系。试验已经涵盖了系列AMD/POR文献涉及的更小粒径范围,因此研究能够为尾矿存储设施设计所需的地球化学试验提供借鉴和参考。以铺设中和材料为目的,利用单位成本框架方法,评价和讨论了细粒材料的附加反应引起的潜在经济与矿山设计方面的问题。.

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Dettrick, D., Bourgeot, N., Costelloe, J. et al. The Effect of Particle Size on Mine Waste Sulfide Oxidation Rates and Conceptual Treatment Costs. Mine Water Environ 38, 735–745 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-019-00641-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-019-00641-1

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