Metal deportment in Pb-Zn mine wastes from a historic tailings pond, Plombières, East Belgium

The exploitation of mine waste materials as secondary resources requires in-depth mineralogical analyses, with metal deportment being particular relevance for recovery. Using a combination the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)-based Mineral Liberation Analyser (MLA) and Probe Micro-Analyser (EPMA) methods, lead zinc in historic Plombières site (East Belgium) was investigated. comprises four different materials: soil, metallurgical waste, brown yellow tailings. integration MLA EPMA data allowed identification quantification Pb- Zn-bearing phases, including minerals present low abundances well slag phases. Different types Pb oxides phases are main sources samples. These host 65 to 99 % Pb, rest is distributed between cerussite (0 37 %), and/or anglesite 17 %). Approximately 95 Zn hosted by slags or fraipontite, minor amounts contributed sphalerite (0.1 3 gahnite (1.0 2.4 willemite 2.9 bannisterite MLA/EPMA measurements were validated comparing calculated grades bulk measured X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. coefficients correlation values found be 0.89 0.80 zinc. Uncertainties on deportments estimated bootstrap resampling typically low. highest uncertainties observed when metal-bearing abundances, which particularly noticeable Considering promising results, integrated approach applied this study should applicable other metals deposits across globe.