Artisanal gold mine spoil types within a common geological area and their variations in contaminant loads and human health risks

Reuse and Mechanochemical Processing of Ore Dressing Tailings Used for Extracting Pb and Zn

The increasing accumulation of rock waste obtained due to ore processing and its environmental impacts, such as acid mine drainage and elevated concentrations of heavy metals in soils, necessitates the transformation of mining technologies based on the concept of circular waste management. The research is aimed at improving the parameters of the mechanical activation effect produced on technogenic georesources, as well as at expanding the application scope of disintegrators in the field of using the partial backfill of the mined-out space when developing stratified deposits. In this regard, the research purpose was to substantiate the parameters of extracting metals from enrichment tailings using their mechanochemical activation to ensure cyclic waste management. The research involved the application of three-dimensional interpolation methods used for processing the data and the graphical representation. As a result, the following was found to be characteristic of the waste of the Sadonsky mine management. The degree of extracting zinc from pre-activated tailings increases logarithmically when the H2SO4 concentration and the NaCl proportion decrease 3.5 times. The degree of extracting lead from the activated tailings increases according to the Fourier law when decreasing the NaCl mass concentration, and an optimal range of the H2SO4 (0.38-0.51%) proportion decreases six times. One of the key results of the research is the justification of expanding the scope of applying disintegrators in the case of a directed activation influence exerted on the components of the stowing strips. The obtained results expand the understanding of the mechanism of the influence of the mechanochemical activation of dry tailings on the reactivity unevenness when extracting several metals from them.

Socio-Environmental Risks Linked with Mine Tailings Chemical Composition: Promoting Responsible and Safe Mine Tailings Management Considering Copper and Gold Mining Experiences from Chile and Peru

There is a need to define mine tailings in a clear, precise, multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and holistic manner, considering not only geotechnical and hydraulic concepts but also integrating environmental and geochemical aspects with implications for the sustainability of mining. This article corresponds to an independent study that answers questions concerning the definition of mine tailings and the socio-environmental risks linked with mine tailings chemical composition by examining the practical experience of industrial-scale copper and gold mining projects in Chile and Peru. Definitions of concepts and analysis of key aspects in the responsible management of mine tailings, such as characterization of metallic-metalloid components, non-metallic components, metallurgical reagents, and risk identification, among others, are presented. Implications of potential environmental impacts from the generation of acid rock drainage (ARD) in mine tailings are discussed. Finally, the article concludes that mine tailings are potentially toxic to both communities and the environment, and cannot be considered as inert and innocuous materials; thus, mine tailings require safe, controlled, and responsible management with the application of the most high management standards, use of the best available technologies (BATs), use of best applicable practices (BAPs), and implementation of the best environmental practices (BEPs) to avoid risk and potential socio-environmental impact due to accidents or failure of tailings storage facilities (TSFs).