Physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization of old tailings, in search of alternatives for its reuse

Authors

  • Cintia Gabriela Cordero Departamento Saneamiento, Facultad de Ciencias del Ambiente y la Salud, Universidad Nacional del Comahue.
  • Natalia Judith Marchevsky Departamento de Minería, Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Luis
  • Patricia Alejandra Chiacchiarini PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue.
  • María Alejandra Giaveno PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue.

Keywords:

tailings, mining wastes, Andacollo mining district, tailings reuse, environmental risk.

Abstract

Tailings from old mining operations constitute environmental pollution risks; however, these wastes can be useful for recovering minerals and metals of economic interest or use them for different purposes today. The objective of this study is to characterize tailings stored in old tailings dam from Andacollo (Neuquén province, Argentina) from the physical, chemical and mineralogical point of view in order to explore the alternatives for its reuse. Conductivity, porosity, real and apparent density, elemental composition (ICP-MS), pH, and Eh, were determined in study samples and XRD analysis were performed. Results showed a low probability of acid drainage generation, and metallic contents present in the tailings are too low to propose the economic recovery of these elements. Arsenic (As) was the only element in concentrations above the permissible limits, so that a possible agricultural, residential or industrial reuse of these techno soils would require a process for removing or reducing the content of this metalloid. Bulk density and porosity values found, would be favorable for vegetation growth considering a restoration plan.

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Author Biographies

Cintia Gabriela Cordero, Departamento Saneamiento, Facultad de Ciencias del Ambiente y la Salud, Universidad Nacional del Comahue.

Lic. Saneamiento y Protección Ambiental. Magister en Intervención Ambiental, orientación Ingeniería. Auxiliar de Primera. Departamento Saneamiento, Facultad de Ciencias del Ambiente y la Salud, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Argentina.

Natalia Judith Marchevsky, Departamento de Minería, Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Luis

Ingeniera en Minas con orientación en Metalurgia. Doctora en el Área de Recursos Naturales de la UNNE. Profesor Adjunto. Departamento de Minería, Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Argentina.

Patricia Alejandra Chiacchiarini, PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue.

Ingeniera Química. Magister en Ciencias Químicas. Profesor Adjunto. PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina.

María Alejandra Giaveno, PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue.

Ingeniera Química. Doctora de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas de la UNLP. Profesor Adjunto. PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina.

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Published

2022-04-13

How to Cite

Cordero, C. G., Marchevsky, N. J., Chiacchiarini, P. A., & Giaveno, M. A. (2022). Physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization of old tailings, in search of alternatives for its reuse. Minería & Geología, 38(1), 70–82. Retrieved from https://revista.ismm.edu.cu/index.php/revistamg/article/view/art6_No1_2022

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 1 (2022): Enero-marzo

Section

Medio ambiente
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