Evaluation of the generating potential of mine acid in mining tailings in the state of Zacatecas
Abstract
In this work, the acid-generating potential and the concentration of base metals in a sample of mining tailings from the State of Zacatecas were studied. The results showed that the mining tailings have a pH of 7.2, that is, it contains a low concentration of alkaline phases capable of attenuating acid. In addition, the concentration of some dangerous elements (EPT's) was higher than the limits established by the SEMARNAT standard (2004), so the mining tailings sample can be classified as a risk to the environment. Likewise, the PN/PA ratio =0.24 confirms that the mining tailings have a high potential for generating acid drainage and, as a consequence, abundant EPT's dissolution can be generated; however, the 3.7% of pyrite present in the mining tailings is associated with silicates, which is why it could not be easily oxidized by oxygen and moisture, and, therefore, acid production will not occur.
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References
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Copyright (c) 2022 Ángel Ruiz Sánchez, Julio Cesar Juárez-Tapia, Gretchen L. Lapidus
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