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Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II

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A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 34062

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Prof. Dr. Mostafa Benzaazoua

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Geology and Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Lot 660 Hay Moulay Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
Interests: inorganic industrial and mining wastes; environmental characterization; treatment and recycling of industrial and mining wastes; waste reprocessing; integrated management of mining wastes; geometallurgy
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Dr. Yassine Taha

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Guest Editor

Geology & Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
Interests: sustainable mining; circular economy; mine waste repurposing; resource recovery; critical raw materials; industrial ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The mining sector is the largest solid wastes’ producer in the world. The current management methods of mine wastes are still based on a linear system through their storage and landfilling. The need for efficient and sustainable management methods of extractive mine wastes is continuously growing. These wastes often present serious management problems due to their important amounts and possible environmental threats. At the same time, mine waste could be considered as future ores to extract high value and critical metals and minerals. Additionally, their use as alternative materials in the construction and building sector could help respond to the growing demand for construction materials. This Special Issue will include a state-of-the-art papers based on works around recent management techniques of mine wastes and replacing raw material resources by secondary resources. Insights related to industrial and mine waste characterization, landfilling, underground backfilling, reprocessing of secondary metal recovery or environmental purposes, valorization in various sectors, etc., are some examples of themes to be included in this Special Issue. Scientists, industry, and governance stakeholders have to face these new challenges to find the future best management practices.

Main topics:

Problems around industrial and mine wastes;
Fine characterization of industrial and mine wastes;
Latest available technical and environmental solutions to efficiently manage both types of wastes; treatment and processing before disposal;
High value elements recovery from industrial and mining wastes; towards defining effective, low cost and ecofriendly methods;
Recycling of industrial and mining wastes as alternative resources in different sectors;
Development minerals;
Laboratory, pilot and/or industrial scale studies related to these topics;
Circular economy and life cycle assessment.

Prof. Dr. Mostafa Benzaazoua
Prof. Dr. Yassine Taha
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

inorganic industrial and mining wastes
environmental characterization
treatment, stabilization, reprocessing, and recycling
integrated management
valorization

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3118 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Strength Model of Cemented Tailings Deposit Body in Underground Tailings Reservoir

by Xi Zhang, Hongjiang Wang, Liuhua Yang and Thomas A. Bier

Minerals 2023, 13(11), 1377; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13111377 - 28 Oct 2023

Viewed by 914

Abstract

Due to the lack of clarity in the strength design of underground tailings reservoirs, it is imperative to investigate the interaction between the tailings deposit body (TDB) and surrounding rock. Taking the TDB as the subject of analysis, a differential equation for vertical stress on the TDB is proposed, considering the stresses from the hanging wall of the surrounding rock and physical and structural parameters of the TDB. Considering the similarity between the underground tailings reservoir and one-step subsequent filling, in situ data of the one-step subsequent filling body from a mine was utilized to compare calculated values of the theoretical model. The resulting theoretical prediction error was less than 10%, thus verifying the reliability of the proposed model. According to the theoretical model analysis, the height of the TDB exerts the most significant influence on vertical stress, while the width and length of the TDB have a negligible impact. Moreover, internal friction angle has a more pronounced effect on vertical stress than cohesion force. A case study for a lead–zinc mine in China is presented in this work. Through uniaxial compressive strength and triaxial shear experiments, the key mechanical parameters of TDB at different ratios of cement to tailings are obtained. According to the theoretical model proposed herein, the distribution law of vertical stress in the height direction of TDB is determined for various ratios of cement to tailings. The original technical scheme of the mine has been optimized by using uniaxial compressive strength greater than vertical stress as the evaluation index, achieving both storage safety and cost reduction goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II)

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13 pages, 795 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Criteria Analysis for Circular Economy Promotion in the Management of Tailings Dams: A Case Study

by Vinka Monardes and Juan M. Sepúlveda

Minerals 2023, 13(4), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13040486 - 30 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1530

Abstract

Copper ore is a non-renewable resource with lower ore grades, which means that the extraction of more rock material is required to produce the same amount of copper, implying a greater consumption of materials, reagents, water, and energy. Since there is a greater amount of copper sulfide present in nature, concentration using the bubble flotation method will generate a greater number of tailings. This article discusses the environmental issues resulting from tailings dams and how multi-criteria decision analysis can help prioritize those sites in order to promote circular economy measures to compensate for and reduce the impacts of this type of waste generated by the copper mining industry. This work aims to contribute to this purpose by taking information from abandoned and non-active tailings, which are currently present as a result of the lack of regulations in times prior to environmental obligations and because they are metallurgical waste from old operations that had metal recovery rates that were much lower than the current rates. We propose a model based on the multi-criteria Promethee method to prioritize the tailings dams according to the commercial value of the existing materials in the deposits. A case study with an application of the model to 103 dams in the mining region of Coquimbo in northern Chile is shown. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II)

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20 pages, 7244 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Re-Mining of Waste Rock Dumps from a Closed Lead–Zinc Mine—Characterisation of the Residuals

by Lukas Maroušek, Sabrina Dollinger, Simone Elmer, Wolfgang Öfner, Hanspeter Nussbacher, Frank Melcher and Helmut Flachberger

Minerals 2023, 13(3), 361; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030361 - 4 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1819

Abstract

The lead–zinc mine Bleiberg-Kreuth located in the Austrian federal state of Carinthia has had a long mining history, spanning from the early 14th century to the 1990s. The mining and processing activities undertaken over the centuries and, consequently, the composition of the waste rock material changed throughout this period. Today, the focus on waste rock dumps is motivated firstly by environmental interests and secondly by economic aspects. This article provides a comprehensive approach for the characterisation of three different waste rock dumps. The characterisation covers both mineralogical–geological methods and those involving the use of a mineral processor. The characterisation method presented herein starts with the sampling and calculation of the sampling mass, followed by sieve analysis and sink–float analysis, resulting in a two-dimensional fractional analysis. The consolidated results of the fractional and chemical analyses allow for a simplified forecast model for an ideal classification and density separation. Finally, the practical processability of a pre-concentration was tested by trials for comminution, classification, and density sorting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II)

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16 pages, 2355 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Studies on the Enrichment Feasibility of Rare Earth-Bearing Minerals in Mine Tailings

by Jose L. Corchado-Albelo and Lana Alagha

Minerals 2023, 13(3), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030301 - 21 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1840

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the potential of enrichment of rare-earth-bearing minerals in historic mine tailing using the froth flotation process. Characterization studies indicated that tailings contained 11,000 ppm of rare earth elements (REEs). The major mineral in the tailings was apatite at ~84%, which was associated with iron oxides (~16%). TESCAN’s integrated mineral analysis (TIMA) showed that monazite was the main REE mineral, and 69% of monazite was locked in apatite grains. Characterization studies suggested that the separation of REEs-bearing apatite from iron oxides is possible using froth flotation, wherein apatite was floated and iron oxides were depressed. Zeta potential experiments were conducted to understand the behavior of the main minerals in the feed when selected depressants of iron oxides were added. Depressants included corn starch, sodium metasilicates, polyacrylamide (PAM), hybrid polyacrylamide (HyPAM), and chitosan. Zeta potential results suggested that chitosan and polyacrylamide-based polymers had the strongest adsorption on magnetite at pH 7 and pH 9, respectively, as indicated by the large shift in the zeta potential of magnetite suspensions. Flotation results were consistent with zeta potential findings and showed that Hy-PAM and chitosan had the best depression efficiency of iron oxides at pH 9 and pH 7, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II)

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17 pages, 8169 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilization of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) as an Admixture for the Synthesis of a Gold Mine Tailings-Based Geopolymer Composite

by Einstine M. Opiso, Carlito Baltazar Tabelin, Christian V. Maestre, John Paul J. Aseniero, Takahiko Arima and Mylah Villacorte-Tabelin

Minerals 2023, 13(2), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13020232 - 6 Feb 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2964

Abstract

The repurposing of gold (Au) mine tailings from artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM) operations via alkali activation technology is a promising strategy for waste reduction in developing countries. Direct activation of mine tailings, however, is challenging because these materials contain relatively low aluminum (Al)-bearing minerals. In this study, palm oil fuel ash (POFA) was elucidated as a high Al-bearing waste derived-admixture for the synthesis of an ASGM tailings-based geopolymer composite. Semi-quantitative XRD analysis showed that the tailings contained quartz (SiO₂) (~58%), pyrite (FeS₂) (~20%) and calcite (CaCO₃) (~15%) with minor to trace amounts of aluminosilicates (~7%). Substantial amounts of environmentally regulated pollutants such as mercury (Hg) (40 mg/kg), lead (Pb) (8430 mg/kg) and arsenic (As) (300 mg/kg) were also found in the tailings. SEM-EDS, XRD and ATR-FTIR results showed the successful formation of a hybrid geopolymer-CASH matrix, which improved the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of geopolymer composites from ~5 MPa to ~7 MPa. Furthermore, POFA did not significantly affect the thermal resistivity of geopolymer composites based on thermal analysis. Finally, the TCLP results showed that the Pb leaching concentrations from ASGM tailings exceeded environmental standards (~15,000 µg/L), which was suppressed after alkali activation to 300–500 µg/L. This means that POFA addition to ASGM tailings-based geopolymer composite improved not only its applicability as backfill, pavements and bricks but also its ability to immobilize toxic elements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II)

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14 pages, 6079 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Applied Methodological Approach for the Assessment of Soil Contamination by Trace Elements around Abandoned Coal Mines—A Case Study of the Jerada Coal Mine, Morocco

by Abdessamad Khalil, Yassine Taha, Mostafa Benzaazoua and Rachid Hakkou

Minerals 2023, 13(2), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13020181 - 26 Jan 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2633

Abstract

Previously conducted studies have established that soil contamination by trace elements (TEs) around coal mines affects ecological biodiversity and human health. One of the ways to protect the health of the surrounding population of coal mine sites is through the assessment of contamination impacts by accurate procedures for the establishment of relevant reclamation plan. The aim of the study is to develop an applied methodological approach to easily assess and quantify the impact of coal mining on the surrounding soils. To achieve this goal, a set of relevant geochemical indexes (enrichment factor—EF, geochemical background—GB, and geoaccumulation index—Igeo) and a geostatistical interpolation for mapping soil contamination were applied. It is experimentally established that the process of combining these techniques can be of great interest in highlighting the anomalous areas and revealing the contamination sources. A case study has been carried out on of the abandoned coal Jerada mine site in Morocco. Soils and coal mine waste rocks (CMWR) samples were collected from this site. Soil and CMWR samples were analyzed for their geochemical content. CMWRs were characterized further for their mineralogical composition and environmental behavior. Based on the EF, three TEs (As, Pb, and Zn) were targeted. The results of GB and Igeo calculations have established an evident relationship between the CMWR dump and the occurred soil contamination. TEs distribution pattern has been revealed using the obtained geochemical maps. The developed methodological approach may be in high demand when assessing soil contamination in most of abandoned coal mine sites around the word. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II)

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16 pages, 4824 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recovery of Lead (II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using G-26 and MTS9570 Resins with Sulfonic/Phosphonic Functional Groups

by Salem Elfeghe, Qiuyue Sheng, Abbas Mamudu, Lesley Anne James and Yahui Zhang

Minerals 2022, 12(10), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12101312 - 18 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2035

Abstract

This study presents Pb(II) recovery/removal from water solutions using two different commercial ion-exchange resins, i.e., Dowex G-26 with sulfonic functional group and Puromet™ MTS9570 with sulfonic and phosphonic functional groups. Overall, 100% Pb(II) recovery/removal by both resins was obtained at solution pH 3.5, resin dosage 25 g/L, adsorption time 30 min, room temperature, and initial Pb(II) concentration 1000 mg/L. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms were used to model the experimental data. The mechanism of the adsorption process was investigated using kinetic and thermodynamic models. The experimental data fitted very well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and thermodynamic analysis showed that the adsorption of Pb(II) from acidic solution onto both resins was a spontaneous and endothermic process in nature. Regeneration of the resins loaded with lead ions was tested for three cycles to evaluate the resin recyclability. Good stability of G-26 and performance degradation of MTS9570 resin was observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II)

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15 pages, 13890 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gold Recovery from Sulfide Concentrates Produced by Environmental Desulfurization of Mine Tailings

by Olivier Allard, Mathieu Lopez, Isabelle Demers and Lucie Coudert

Minerals 2022, 12(8), 1011; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12081011 - 12 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2960

Abstract

Environmental desulfurization is gaining attention as an efficient approach to manage sulfidic mine tailings by separating sulfide minerals from tailings. While extensive research has been done to reuse desulfurized tailings in mine site reclamation, the responsible management or potential of valorization of desulfurization concentrates did not receive as much attention. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential to recover Au from desulfurization concentrates originating from active gold mine sites. Desulfurization concentrates were produced by froth flotation of tailings and characterized. Cyanidation tests and gravity separation experiments were performed on the concentrates. Desulfurization concentrates, mostly composed of fine particles, contained high amounts of S (between 23.0 and 34.5% S) and variable contents of Au (between 0.7 and 1.9 g/t). Mineralogical characterization by SEM showed that 99% of Au-bearing particles were locked, mainly in pyrite (94%). Cyanidation allowed the recovery of 13 to 78% of Au, depending on the desulfurization concentrate. Low Au-bearing particles liberation, and possibly the presence of Cu, were identified as parameters negatively affecting the Au recovery. Gravity separation was poorly efficient (<50%) in recovering Au, which is quite consistent with physical (small particle size) and mineralogical characterizations. A desulfurization concentrate reprocessing flowsheet is proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II)

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23 pages, 2744 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Rheology Measurements Techniques for Pressure Loss in Mine Paste Backfill Transportation

by Haitham M. Ahmed, Bhargav Bharathan, Mehrdad Kermani, Ferri Hassani, Mohammed A. Hefni, Hussin A. M. Ahmed, Gamal S. A. Hassan, Essam B. Moustafa, Hussein A. Saleem and Agus P. Sasmito

Minerals 2022, 12(6), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12060678 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3125

Abstract

Understanding the rheology behavior of non-Newtonian mine paste backfill is critical to ensure its flowability in the pipeline distribution system. Several rheology measurements methods for paste backfill have been proposed in the literature to quantify the rheology properties. However, there is no definite conclusion on the best measurement method to correctly predict pressure loss in the paste backfill pipeline system with a high solid concentration. This study addresses the issue by comparing several rheology measurements techniques, i.e., coaxial rheometer with various configurations, vane viscometer, and slump and pipe loop tests, with regard to Bingham yield stress, Bingham plastic viscosity, and pressure loss using statistical analysis. The paste backfill samples are prepared from two different mine tailings: finer and coarser particles. The pressure loss from the pipe loop test along with Buckingham-Reiner transformation using the Darcy-Weisbach equation are used as reference properties. The results suggest that a simple slump test can accurately predict the Bingham yield stress for coarser tailing. At the same time, a coaxial rheometer with MVDIN cup is found to predict the Bingham paste properties accurately for finer tailing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II)

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Review

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18 pages, 1485 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

Mining Wastes as Road Construction Material: A Review

by Pauline Segui, Amine el Mahdi Safhi, Mustapha Amrani and Mostafa Benzaazoua

Minerals 2023, 13(1), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13010090 - 6 Jan 2023

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 11147

Abstract

The mining industry manages large volumes of tailings, sludge, and residues that represent a huge environmental issue. This fact has prompted research into valorization of these wastes as alternative aggregates for concrete production, embankments, pavement material, etc. The use of mining wastes as a resource for construction presents two benefits: conserving natural resources and reducing the environmental impacts of mining. In the case of road construction, the use of mining wastes has not yet been developed on a large scale and there is a major lack of specific legislation. This gap is due to the variety of exploited rocks, the diversity of tailings, mine residues, or valuable by-products slated for valorization, and the environmental specifics. This paper presents a review on recycling mine wastes as road construction material, including waste rock and mine tailings. Those materials were mostly used in infrastructure where soils had initially poor geotechnical properties (low bearing capacity, frost susceptibility, swelling risk, etc.). Different mining wastes were used directly or stabilized by a hydraulic binder through geopolymerization or, in some cases, with bituminous treatment. Overall, the use of mine wastes for road construction will have a considerable environmental impact by reducing the volume of waste and offering sustainable raw materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II)

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Other

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17 pages, 6454 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Geological and Geomechanical Characterization of Phosphate Mine Waste Rock in View of Their Potential Civil Applications: A Case Study of the Benguerir Mine Site, Morocco

by Safa Chlahbi, Tikou Belem, Abdellatif Elghali, Samia Rochdane, Essaid Zerouali, Omar Inabi and Mostafa Benzaazoua

Minerals 2023, 13(10), 1291; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13101291 - 3 Oct 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1748

Abstract

Sedimentary phosphate extraction in open-pit operations generates large volumes of waste rock (WR), which are mainly overburdens and interburdens. Traditionally, the WR is mixed and stored on the surface in waste rock piles (WRPs). This paper presents a case study of the Benguerir mine site in Morocco. It investigates the potential valorization of each WR lithology based on the geological and geomechanical properties to reduce their environmental footprint and create added value to “waste.” The WR samples (soils and rocks) were collected from drill cores and mining trenches in the Benguerir mine. The geological characterization results using petrographic descriptions indicate the presence of nine phosphate layers and, in addition to the overburdens, eight interburdens. Four types of WR are identified: carbonate, siliceous, marly clay, and phosphate. The geomechanical characterization of soil-like samples showed an average plasticity index (PI) of 50% according to the methylene blue value (MBV) of 7.1, classifying them in the A3–A4 categories as plastic and clayey marl soils. The hard rock samples have excellent mechanical properties in terms of their uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), Los Angeles abrasion value (LA), and micro-Deval value (MD). The average compressive strength is 104 MPa for the flint, 35 MPa for the phosphate flint, 32 MPa for the silexite, 26 MPa for the limestone, 11 MPa for the indurated phosphate, and 8 MPa for the marly limestone. Based on the obtained results, these WRs can be considered as an excellent alternative secondary raw material for use in civil engineering applications, ceramics, and cement industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, Volume II)

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