The disposal of sulfide mine tailings in an environmentally sound, yet cost-effective, manner is an issue facing most metal mines. Subaqueous tailing disposal is considered an attractive option for disposal that limits oxygen (O2) availability within sulfide mine tailings and controlling sulfide oxidation and the resultant acid mine drainage (AMD). Assuming that O2 profiles represent steady-sta...

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are natural constituents in many petroleum sources, including bitumen in the oil sands of Northern Alberta, Canada. Bitumen extraction processes produce tailings waters that cannot be discharged to the environment because NAs are acutely toxic to aquatic species. However, aerobic biodegradation reduces the toxic character of NAs. In this study, four commercial NAs and the...

AIM This study evaluates the effect of surface application of dried Class A biosolids on microbial populations within copper mine tailings. METHODS AND RESULTS Mine tailing sites were established at ASARCO Mission Mine close to Sahuarita Arizona. Site 1 (December 1998) was amended with 248 tons ha(-1) of Class A biosolids. Sites 2 (December 2000) and 3 (April 2006) were amended with 371 and 2...

Tailings impoundments frequently represent the most significant environmental liability associated with mining projects, both during the operational and decommissioning phases of a project. A spate of recent and well-publicized incidents involving tailings impoundments has placed the mining industry in general, and those responsible for tailings impoundment design and safety in particular, unde...

From the colonial era to modern times, gold mining has played a crucial role in shaping Brazil’s economy, culture, and landscape, particularly Iron Quadrangle region. Therefore, resulting waste accumulated tailings structures, either from deactivated circuits or plants still production. The present study reveals potential assessed based on set of metallurgical tests, assuming specific scenarios...

Agitation leaching is a promising technology in hydrometallurgy for treating copper–cobalt oxide ores. In this work, the behavior of ores containing around 2.3% Cu and 0.3% Co received from Congo was investigated varying particle size, acidity, pulp density, temperature, time, reduction potential. XRD, optical microscopy (OM), ICP-OES methods were used to examine chemical composition, morpholog...

Demand for raw materials is increasing exponentially. To satisfy that demand, more minerals need to be mined from the Earth’s crust. As a result, are being exhausted, and ore grades decline. Lower grade mines also mean energy, which in turn entails fossil fuel emissions climate change. This paper estimates specific energy beneficiation process of metals lead zinc as case studies. The evaluation...

A mine-tailings spill occurred on the island of Marinduque, Philippines, on 24 March 1996. Originating from the Marcopper Mine, tailings sludge flowed down the Boac River abruptly and during subsequent storm events. Most of the tailings material has since accumulated in the nearshore environment along the western coast of the island. Nineteen sediment cores were collected from this site and ana...