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Comparison of Sulfide Oxidation in Unweathered Pyritic Mine Tailings

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dc.contributor.authorGleisner, M.
dc.contributor.authorHerbert, R.
dc.contributor.authorSalmon, S. U.
dc.contributor.authorMalmström, M. E.
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-01T21:00:29Z
dc.date.available2025-05-01T21:00:29Z
dc.date.issued2003
dc.descriptionThe study focuses on sulfide oxidation processes in unweathered pyrite-rich mine tailings from a soil-covered impoundment in northern Sweden. To simulate the oxygen-limited conditions in water saturated tailings two long-term column experiments were performed. Results are presented for the first 11 months of the experiments at room temperature. The tailings used in the experiments were of two different grain sizes (one coarse grained, in the range 0.02 - 0.6 mm with a grain surface area of 1.86 m2 g-1, and one fine-grained, in the range 0.0015 - 0.06 mm with a grain surface area of 10.00 m2 g-1) and with slightly different mineralogical composition. The S:Fe molar ratio in the leachates (1.0 - 1.5) indicates either that pyrrhotite is the main iron sulfide undergoing oxidation in our experiments, or, alternatively that the S:Fe molar ratio in the leachate is determined by pyrite weathering in conjunction with other processes releasing iron or immobilising sulfate. However, speciation modelling of the leachates indicates that ferrihydrite was close to saturation, suggesting that a ferric oxyhydroxide may have dissolved/ precipitated during the experimental period, thereby affecting the S:Fe molar ratio. Pyrite oxidation rates obtained from the two column experiments during ‘steady-state’ were 2.25 × 10-13 and 8.45 × 10-14 mol m-2 s -1 in the coarse and fine tailings, respectively. Pyrrhotite oxidation rates, as an alternative, were 2.31 × 10-12 and 1.24 × 10-11 mol m-2 s -1 in the coarse and fine tailings, respectively. Natural microbial activity was confirmed in both the tailings and the leachates; therefore, the obtained oxidation rates are not strictly abiotic. It is thus concluded, based on the experimental results, that tailing heterogeneity will result in zones with different oxidation rates, related to their physical and chemical properties.
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.7939/r3-125s-vk41
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsUse of this product is restricted to current faculty, staff, and students of the University. It is the responsibility of each user to ensure that he or she uses this product for individual, non-commercial educational or research purposes only, and does not systematically download or retain substantial portions of information. Users may not reproduce or redistribute unprocessed/raw data portions of the data to any third party, or otherwise engage in the systematic retransmission or commercialization of the data.
dc.subjectSurface Flux Modelling
dc.subjectWaste Rock
dc.subjectTailings
dc.subjectUnderground
dc.subjectCovers
dc.subjectPrediction
dc.subjectPit Lakes
dc.subjectRegulations
dc.subjectTreatment
dc.subjectNon-mining
dc.subjectCoal Characterisation/Assessment
dc.titleComparison of Sulfide Oxidation in Unweathered Pyritic Mine Tailings
dc.typehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501 http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
ual.jupiterAccesshttp://terms.library.ualberta.ca/authenticated

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Sixth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage