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Fly ash as a permeable cap for tailings management: pedogenesis in bauxite residue tailings

  • SOILS, SEC 2 • GLOBAL CHANGE, ENVIRON RISK ASSESS, SUSTAINABLE LAND USE • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Abstract

Purpose

Closure of tailings facilities typically involves either a ‘cap and store’ or ‘direct revegetation’ approach. Both have been used in the management of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings), with mixed results. This study evaluated the merit of an intermediate approach, using a permeable cap, and examined the pedogenic trajectory of the Technosol.

Materials and methods

Chemical, mineralogical and physical properties of samples from a Brazilian bauxite residue deposit, which had been capped with fly ash 14 years prior and supported a vegetation cover, were compared to evaluate soil formation and pedogenic trajectory of the developing Technosol according to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources. Samples were collected at three points along an elevation gradient, and from 0 to 150 cm below the surface.

Results and discussion

Rainfall leaching was identified as the most important pedogenic process occurring in the tailings, lowering salinity and pH. The Technosol classification was poorly suited to describe the soil materials within the study site because two wastes (fly ash and bauxite residue) were co-disposed in discrete layers.

Conclusions

The permeability of the fly ash cap is key to soil development in these tailings: it provides a suitable medium for plant growth whilst still allowing contact between the tailings and the surrounding environment. The introduction of a novel prefix qualifier, ordic, would enable more accurate description of layered Technosols. The Technosol at this site is likely to develop towards an Andosol or Ferralsol.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to the team at Alumar Saõ Luís, led by Hezio Oliviera, for sampling and shipping samples for analysis. Thanks also to Stephen Leavy at Alcoa of Australia Ltd for arranging transport of samples and arranging access to and training on analytical equipment. Part of this research was undertaken on the Powder Diffraction beamline (10BM1) at the Australian Synchrotron, Victoria, Australia, and the authors would like to thank Justin Kimpton and Qinfen Gu for assistance with XRD analyses on this beamline. This research was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award, UWA Geoffrey Kennedy Research Travel Award, and funding from the Minerals and Energy Research Institute of Western Australia, Alcoa of Australia Ltd, and BHP Billiton Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography, Planning, and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    Talitha C. Santini

  2. Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    Talitha C. Santini

  3. School of Earth and Environment, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Talitha C. Santini & Martin V. Fey

  4. Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

    Martin V. Fey

Authors
  1. Talitha C. Santini
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  2. Martin V. Fey
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Correspondence to Talitha C. Santini.

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Responsible editor: Jean Louis Morel

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Santini, T.C., Fey, M.V. Fly ash as a permeable cap for tailings management: pedogenesis in bauxite residue tailings. J Soils Sediments 15, 552–564 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-014-1038-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-014-1038-6

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