Physical–Chemical Characterization of the Neves Corvo Extractive Mine Residues: A Perspective Towards Future Mining and Reprocessing of Sulfidic Tailings

Neves Corvo is an underground high-grade Cu–(Sn)–Zn mine, located in the Portuguese part of world-class Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), which currently producing copper, zinc, and lead concentrates. The operation owned by SOMINCOR, a subsidiary Lundin Mining, with maximum capacity 2.6 Mtpy for copper processing plant 1.0 zinc plant. From 2010 till end 2019, mine has accumulated 7.3 Mt waste rock 17 thickened tailings. These mining residues are stored Cerro do Lobo Tailings Management Facility (Cerro TMF), completes volume 47 since beginning 1989 (30 slurry tailings). deposition method changed from subaquatic to sub-aerial tailings stack (vertical expansion) co-deposition potentially acid-generating (PAG) rock. X-ray fluorescence analysis have shown grades variation between 0.12 0.4%, 0.1% 0.3%, respectively, concentrations up 0.6% 1.3% Mineralogically, consist mainly pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, ± arsenopyrite, tetrahedrite-tennantite, gangue minerals such as quartz, phyllosilicates, carbonates, some oxides, non-uniform particle size distribution ranging 1 100 µm. fraction millimetric centimetric formed local host rocks, mineralogically consisting chlorite (clinochlore chamosite), calcite, variably abundant disseminated sulfides, largely dominated pyrite. Both might be envisaged materials valorization potential both base metal recovery (tailings) and/or non-metallic raw construction or other applications (waste rock).