Effects of bioleaching on the mechanical and chemical properties of waste rocks

Bioleaching processes cause dramatic changes in the mechanical and chemical properties of waste rocks, and play an important role in metal recovery and dump stability. This study focused on the characteristics of waste rocks subjected to bioleaching. A series of ex- periments were conducted to investigate the evolution of rock properties during the bioleaching process. Mechanical behaviors of the leached waste rocks, such as failure patterns, normal stress, shear strength, and cohesion were determined through mechanical tests. The results of SEM imaging show considerable differences in the surface morphology of leached rocks located at different parts of the dump. The minera- logical content of the leached rocks reflects the extent of dissolution and precipitation during bioleaching. The dump porosity and rock size change under the effect of dissolution, precipitation, and clay transportation. The particle size of the leached rocks decreased due to the loss of rock integrity and the conversion of dry precipitation into fine particles.

Effects of caving–mining ratio on the coal and waste rocks gangue flows and the amount of cyclically caved coal in fully mechanized mining of super-thick coal seams

Aimed at determining the appropriate caving–mining ratio for fully mechanized mining of 20 m thick coal seam, this research investigated the effects of caving–mining ratio on the flow fields of coal and waste rocks, amount of cyclically caved coal and top coal loss by means of numerical modeling. The research was based on the geological conditions of panel 8102 in Tashan coal mine. The results indicated the loose coal and waste rocks formed an elliptical zone around the drawpoint. The ellipse enlarged with decreasing caving–mining ratio. And its long axis inclined to the gob gradually became vertical and facilitating the caving and recovery of top coal. The top coal loss showed a cyclical variation; and the loss cycle was shortened with the decreasing in caving–mining ratio. Moreover, the mean squared error(MSE) of the amount of cyclically caved coal went up with increasing caving–mining ratio, indicating a growing imbalance of amount of cyclically caved coal, which could impede the coordinated mining and caving operations. Finally it was found that a caving–mining ratio of 1:2.51 should be reasonable for the conditions.

Leaching behavior of V,Pb,Cd,Cr,and As from stone coal waste rock with different particle sizes

This paper investigates the leaching behavior of heavy metals(V,Pb,Cd,Cr,and As) from stone coal waste rocks with various particle sizes using dynamic leaching experiments.The results show that the dissolved concentrations of V and As initially increased and then slightly decreased as time progressed and that the dissolved concentrations of Pb,Cd,and Cr were high in the early stage before decreasing.The particle size of the stone coal waste rocks strongly influenced the heavy metal concentration in the leaching solutions.The effects of the particle size of the stone coal waste rocks on the dissolved concentrations of V,Pb,and As decreased in the order fine fraction > medium fraction > coarse fraction,and the effects of particle size on the dissolved concentrations of Cr and Cd decreased in the order medium fraction > coarse fraction > fine fraction and coarse fraction > medium fraction > fine fraction,respectively.The quantities of heavy metals dissolved from the stone coal waste rock with fine particle sizes were observed to decrease in the order V(17104.36 μg/kg) > As(609.41 μg/kg) > Pb(469.24 μg/kg) > Cr(56.35 μg/kg) > Cd(27.52 μg/kg),and the dissolution rates decreased in the order As(2.96%) > Pb(0.93%) > V(0.35%) > Cd(0.25%) > Cr(0.01%).The specific surface area,pore size of the stone coal waste rocks,and chemical forms of heavy metals also influenced the release of heavy metals from the stone coal waste rocks.Kinetic analysis showed that the dissolution of heavy metals fundamentally agreed with the rate equation controlled by the shrinking core model.The results of this study are expected to serve as a reference for the evaluation of heavy metals contamination from stone coal waste rocks.

Non-explosive mining and waste utilization for achieving green mining in underground hard rock mine in China

Innovations of mining technologies were proposed by beneficial utilizations of unfavorable factors such as high geostress,high geotemperature and high mining depth to achieve green mining as mining depth increases inevitably.Cuttability of deep hard rock was investigated by experimental and regressed analyses to find the reasonable stress adjustment method to improve non-explosive mechanized fragmentation for hard ore-rock.A non-explosive mechanized and intellectualized mining method was proposed to continuously and precisely exploit phosphate underground,which promoted the high-recovery,low-waste and high-efficiency exploitation of phosphate with recovery rate over 90%,dilution rate near 5%and cutting efficiency about 107.7 t/h.A circular economy model and the backfill system were proposed to conduct resource utilizations of solid waste,by which the utilization amount of waste increased year after year.In 2018,the utilization amounts of phosphogypsum,yellow phosphorus slag and waste rock increased to 1853.6×10^3 t/a,291.1×10^3 t/a and 1493.8×10^3 t/a,respectively.

Rock Mass Characteristics in Beishan,A Preselected Area for China's High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal

Geological and hydrological characteristics, joint geometric features, rock physical and mechanical properties and rock mass quality are studied in the Beishan area, preselected for China5 s high-level radioactive waste(HLW) disposal engineering. A comprehensive survey method is developed to study joint geometric features in the outcrop and samples from borehole BS06 into the Xinchang rock mass were tested. The optimal joint sets are determined by rose diagrams and equal-area lower hemisphere plots of joint poles. Results show that: 1) the distribution of joint occurrence obeys a normal distribution, while the distribution of joint spacing obeys a negative exponential distribution; 2) concentric circular and tangent circular sampling windows are applied to study the trace length and the trace midpoint density. Results indicate that tangent circular sampling window is more stable and reasonable; 3) Beishan granite shows high density, low porosity and high strength based on many laboratory tests and the physical properties and mechanical properties are closely related; and4) a synthesis index, Joint Structure Rating(JSR), is applied to evaluate the quality of rock mass. Through the research results of rock mass characteristics, the Xinchang rock mass in the Beishan preselected area has the favorable conditions for China's HLW disposal repository site.

An Evaluation on the Physical and Chemical Composition of Coal Combustion Ash and Its Co-Placement with Coal-Mine Waste Rock

In the last few decades, the utilization of coal to generate electricity was rapidly increasing. Consequently, the production of coal combustion ash (CCA) as a by-product of coal utilization as primary energy sources was increased. The physical and geochemical characteristics of CCA were site-specific which determined by both inherent coal-source quality and combustion condition. This study was intended to characterize the physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of a coal-combustion ash (CCA) from a site specific power plant and evaluate the leachate characteristic of some scenario on the co-placement of CCA with coal-mine waste rock. The physical properties such as specific gravity, dry density, porosity and particle size distribution were determined. Chemically, the CCA sample is enriched mainly in silica, aluminum, iron, and magnesium along with a little amount of calcium and sodium which includes in the class C fly ash category. Moreover, it is found that the mineral phases identified in the sample were quartz, mullite, aragonite, magnetite, hematite, and spinel. Co-placement experiment with mudstone waste rock shows that the CCA, though it has limited contribution to the decreasing permeability, has important contributed to increase the quality of leachate through releasing higher alkalinity. Moreover, addition of CCA did not affect to the increase of the trace metal element in the leachate. Hence, utilization of CCA by co-placement with coal mine waste rock in the dumping area is visible to be implemented.

Settlement behavior of coal mine waste in different surrounding rock conditions

In order to investigate the influence of complex conditions of in-situ surrounding rocks on the settlement behavior of nubbly coal mine waste subjected to high gravity pressure,four kinds of loading chambers made of different similar materials with different elastic moduli in experiments were used to simulate the deformation features of in-site rocks,including soft,moderate hardness,hard and extra-hard rocks. The results show that all the settlement-axial load (or axial strain-stress) curves obtained under four different surrounding rock conditions present power-exponential function feature. The final settlement of coal mine waste under the same axial load is closely related to the lumpiness gradations and the deformation behavior of chamber materials used to simulate behaviors of different in-situ surrounding rocks. In the same surrounding rock condition,the final settlement under the same maximum axial load decreases with the decrease of the proportion of larger gradation of coal mine waste. While for the same lumpiness gradation case,the settlement increases with the decrease of elastic modulus of simulated surrounding rocks and the lateral pressure induced by axial load increases with the increase of elastic modulus of loading chambers that are used to simulate different surrounding rocks. The test results also reveal that both the compaction curve and lateral pressure curve show a three-stage behavior,and the duration of each stage,which is closely related to gradations and the deformation feature of loading chamber materials,decreases with the increase of the proportion of the small size of coal mine waste and elastic modulus of the simulated rock materials.

Safety assessment of waste rock dump built on existing tailings ponds

The construction of waste rock dumps on existing tailing ponds has been put into practice in China to save precious land resources. This work focuses on the safety assessment of the Daheishan molybdenum mine waste rock dump under construction on two adjoining tailings ponds. The consolidation of the tailings foundation and the filling quality of the waste rock are investigated by the transient electromagnetic method through detecting water-rich areas and loose packing areas, from which, the depth of phreatic line is also estimated. With such information and the material parameters, the numerical method based on shear strength reduction is applied to analyzing the overall stability of the waste rock dump and the tailings ponds over a number of typical cross sections under both current and designed conditions, where the complex geological profiles exposed by site investigation are considered. Through numerical experiments, the influence of soft lenses in the tailings and possible loose packing areas in the waste rock is examined. Although large displacements may develop due to the soft tailings foundation, the results show that the waste rock dump satisfies the safety requirements under both present and designed conditions.

Hydrochemistry of Surface and Groundwater in the Vicinity of a Mine Waste Rock Dump: Assessing Impact of Acid Rock Drainage (ARD)

Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) is a well-known problem related to the mining industry due to its hazardous environmental effects. Metal-rich drainage and acid effluent transmitted from mine waste dumps compromise environmental quality of groundwater and surface water systems destroying aquatic life and increasing human health risks. This study was aimed at assessing the acid and metal drainage potential from the Subriso East Rock Dump (SERD) located in the Wassa East district of Ghana on ground and surface water quality in the catchment using a system of monitoring boreholes, reference boreholes and river samples. Water samples were collected from deep and shallow monitoring boreholes and surface water within the immediate environs of the SERD from August 2012 to February 2013 for laboratory and statistical analysis. Parameters analyzed include sulphate, alkalinity, Arsenic (As), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Aluminum (Al), Silver (Ag) and lead (Pb) and their concentrations compared with Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) GSB (2009) and WHO (2017) standards. Results indicate that surface and groundwater were not impacted by the SERD possibly because there was no generation of acid or metal-loaded effluent from the SERD into the environment. Physicochemical variables between monitoring boreholes did not differ significantly from conditions in the reference boreholes. Similarly, comparison of upstream and downstream river conditions did not yield any statistical significance (p > 0.05). Mn and Fe concentrations were above the WHO (2017)/GSB (2009) standards. Heavy metal concentrations in surface and groundwater were below detection limits except manganese and iron whose concentrations exceeded the recommended guidelines. No significant environmental impacts exist that could be attributed to the waste rock dump and may be as a result of engineering designs and mechanisms which prevent acid generated water from reaching the external environment. Furthermore, the geology of the study area potentially could be slightly inert having the potential to generate ARD under appropriate conditions. Again, the young age of the waste rock dump is a factor that may contribute to ARD generation under appropriate condition. Routine monitoring of groundwater and surface water sources is required to determine future acid generation of the SERD and its environmental impacts. The results of this study will assist decision makers and environmental managers to plan effectively to mitigate future impacts as mining waste rock dumps are known to increase in acid generation potential with age.

Can sealing of rock hosting a repository for highly radioactive waste be relied on?

Multibarrier systems are commonly proposed for effective isolation of highly radioactive waste (HLW). Presently considered concepts take the host rock as a barrier claiming it to retard migration of possibly released radionuclides from HLW containers to the biosphere. This capacity is small unless water-bearing fracture zones intersecting the blasted waste-containing tunnels and excavation-disturbance zones around them can be sealed by grouting and construction of bulkheads, but this is effective only for a very limited period of time as explained in the paper. The disturbed zones thence make the entire repository serve as a continuous hydraulic conductor causing quick transport of released radionuclides up to the biosphere. The dilemma can be solved by accepting the shortcircuiting function of the disturbed zones along the tunnels on the condition that totally tight waste containers be used. Deep holes bored in the site selection phase through the forthcoming repository can be effective pathways for radionuclides unless they are properly sealed. They are small-scale equivalents of tunnels but do not have any excavation damage and can be effectively sealed by using clay and concrete of new types. Applying this principle to very deep boreholes with a diameter of a few decimeters would make it possible to safely store slim, tight HLW canisters for any period of time.

Physicochemical and Mineralogical Characterizations of Wastes Coming from Phosphate Ore Processing of Hahotoéand KpogaméMines

In the framework of various phosphates discharges valorization, we have realized physicochemical and mineralogical characterizations of these discharges. We have undertaken the physicochemical and mineralogical characterizations of this waste by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis and Atomic Emission Spectrometry Coupled to an Inductive Plasma Source. The results of these analyze show that phosphate sludge and screen rejects could be used in ceramics, in the manufacture of aggregates, in agriculture and other fields. On the other hand, rich magnetic waste could be used in heterogeneous photocatalysis in waste liquids treatment.

Recovery of Mining Wastes in Building Materials: A Review

The use of materials from waste in buildings compensates for the lack of natural resources, solves the problem of waste management and provides an alternative technique for protection of the environment. There are a large number of industrial wastes that are used for full or partial replacement of raw materials in some construction materials. This review assesses mining waste in concrete as a substitute for aggregates and cement;in fired bricks as a substitute for soil;and in road backfill as a substitute for soil. This paper reviews some mining tailings, mine waste rocks and some slags obtained in the exploitation and/or processing of some ores including iron, gold, lead, phosphate, copper, coal, etc. Different physical properties, mechanical properties, chemical properties, heavy metal content, mineralogic composition, geotechnical properties and environmental properties (leaching test) of the mine wastes were examined. The physical, mechanical and environmental properties of the materials obtained by substitution of raw materials by mine waste were examined and compared to reference materials. Mining waste in cementitious materials offers good compressive strengths, while the porosity of the concrete and/or mortar is a factor influencing its toxicity. As for the waste in fired bricks, fired at a temperature of 900°C or more, it offers convincing compressive and flexural strengths. The few research studies obtained on the use of mining waste in road embankments have shown that mining waste can be used as a sub-base layer and backfill as long as it is not toxic. In addition, several other mining wastes require special attention as substitutes for raw materials in construction materials, such as coltan, cobalt.

Optimal ways of disposal of highly radioactive waste

Multibarrier concepts are commonly proposed for effective isolation of highly radioactive waste (HLW). Present concepts consider the host rock as a barrier by retarding migration of possibly released radionuclides to the biosphere, containers for preventing release of radionuclides, and “buffer clay” embedding the canisters for providing ductility and minimizing the risk of container breakage and for delaying migration of possibly escaping radionuclides. Closer analysis of the isolating functions shows that rock will only serve as a mechanical protection of the “nearfield”, the containers of proposed types can be short-lived, and the surrounding clay will be increasingly permeable and stiffen hence becoming less ductile with time. A different approach, representing an alternative to the common concepts, can be safer and cheaper. It takes the HIPOW copper canister as the only major barrier and a cheap but sufficiently efficient buffer as embedment. The repository can consist of an abandoned copper mine, an option being to place HLW in emptied drifts while mining is still going in not yet exploited parts of the ore body.

A cleaner production strategy for acid mine drainage prevention of waste rock:A porphyry copper case

An in-process technology approach is proposed to identify the source of acid mine drainage(AMD)generation and prevent its formation in a porphyry copper waste rock(WR).Adopting actions before stockpiling the WR enables the establishment of potential contaminants and predicts the more convenient method for AMD prevention.A WR sample was separated into size fractions,and the WR’s net acidgenerating potential was quantified using chemical and mineralogical characterization.The diameter of physical locking of sulfides(DPLS)was determined,and the fractions below the DPLS were desulfurized using flotation.Finally,the WR fractions and tailing from the flotation test were submitted to acid-base accounting and weathering tests to evaluate their acid-generating potential.Results show that the WR’s main sulfide mineral is pyrite,and the DPLS was defined as 850μm.A sulfide recovery of 91%was achieved using a combination of HydroFloat
and Denver cells for a size fraction lower than DPLS.No grinding was conducted.The results show that size fractions greater than DPLS and the desulfurized WR are unlikely to produce AMD.The outcomes show that in-processing technology can be a more proactive approach and an effective tool for avoiding AMD in a porphyry copper WR.

利用废岩棉制备高性能泡沫玻璃陶瓷的实验研究

以工业垃圾废岩棉和废玻璃为原料,以CaCO_(3)为发泡剂制备出高强度泡沫玻璃陶瓷。研究了废岩棉和废玻璃的添加量及烧结温度对泡沫玻璃陶瓷材料性能的影响。结果表明:随着废岩棉添加量的增加和烧结温度的提高,熔体黏度会降低,不利于气泡结构的稳定;在废岩棉添加量为40%、750℃烧结温度下得到的样品容重为0.54 g/cm^(3)、孔隙率为62.5%、抗压强度为4.76 MPa;样品主晶相为亚硅酸钙和石英晶相,加入TiO_(2)作为晶核剂后主晶相改变为榍石;TiO_(2)掺量为10%时,在750℃烧结20 min更经济,所得样品容重为0.82 g/cm^(3)、孔隙率为50%、抗压强度为7.76 MPa。

铁尾矿废石免烧透水砖制备及性能研究

以铁尾矿废石、水泥和铁尾矿粉为原材料,静压成型制备铁尾矿废石免烧透水砖,研究了成型压力、保压时间、养护时间、水胶比、孔隙率对透水砖抗压强度、透水系数的影响,通过SEM分析样品的微观形貌。结果表明:配合比设计参数为设计孔隙率20%,水泥10%,铁尾矿粉10%,铁尾矿废石80%,水胶比0.4,减水剂掺量为1.5%;透水砖的最佳工艺条件为成型压力8 MPa,保压时间50 s,标准养护28 d,在此条件下制得的透水砖抗压强度为10.4 MPa,透水系数为2.24×10^(-2) cm/s。

四川某锂辉石废石重介分选

这是一篇矿物加工工程领域的文章。研究对象为四川某锂辉石废石,根据该锂辉石废石的矿物特性,对该锂辉石废石三种不同入料粒度(-15+0.5 mm、-10+0.5 mm、-5+0.5 mm)分别进行实验室重液分选实验,实验结果表明,该锂辉石废石采用重液分选效果较好,且以-10+0.5 mm作为后续重介实验的入料粒度范围,并选择2.70 g/cm^(3)作为分选密度时,重液分选指标相对较好,但根据实际生产重介分选实验结果,最终在入选粒度为-15+0.5 mm,介质密度为2.0 g/cm^(3)时,分选指标相对较好。

贵州某难选硅质胶磷矿正-反浮选试验研究

对贵州某难选硅质胶磷矿进行正-反浮选试验研究,以GC-4为捕收剂,经过一粗二精一扫正浮选脱硅和一段反浮选脱镁工艺流程,最终获得磷精矿P_(2)O_(5)品位34.65%、回收率92.39%,MER值7.18%的良好指标,该磷精矿可直接用于湿法磷酸的生产,同时获得了P_(2)O_(5)品位19.80%、SiO_(2)含量29.23%、MgO含量1.23%,倍半氧化物含量12.52%的中精矿,该部分可直接用于生产中低端磷复肥。试验结果表明,GC-4是一种多功能捕收剂,泡沫稳定性可控,流动性好,最终指标较好,可以作为单一捕收剂参与正-反浮选,同时避免了因pH不同造成多种捕收剂相互影响的局面,也有利于正-反浮选回水的混合再利用;WFS是磷化工酸性废水,在磷矿反浮选中取得较好效果,可以代替H_(2)SO4作为反浮选的抑制剂,同时节约生产成本,提高社会效益。GC-4和WFS在本试验的成功应用为该类复杂难处理胶磷矿规模化利用提供技术参考。

瑶岗仙黑钨矿采矿废石资源化利用研究

湖南瑶岗仙黑钨矿采选历史悠久,近百年的开采产生了大量的废石,不仅造成了资源浪费,还存在环境风险。本文针对瑶岗仙黑钨矿采矿废石资源综合利用开展了系统研究:采用两段一闭路制砂工艺可以得到–31.5 mm+20 mm、–20 mm+10 mm、–10 mm+5 mm三个粒级的粗骨料和–5 mm+1 mm粒级的细骨料,其物理化学性能均能满足国家标准中各类砂石骨料的技术要求;对制砂过程产的–1 mm次生细泥采用强磁粗选—摇床精选联合工艺,可以得到合计品位为55.75%、回收率为58.39%的钨精矿产品。该技术基本实现了黑钨废石的资源化利用和有价金属的综合回收。

废弃生物质破岩燃烧剂的性能研究

为探究废弃生物质在破岩燃烧剂中替代部分铝粉的可行性,对废弃生物质破岩燃烧剂进行了对外做功能力与热分解性能研究。采用弹道抛掷法进行对外做功能力测试,利用DTA-TG技术对废弃生物质破岩燃烧剂进行热分解特性分析。结果表明,当废弃花生壳替代铝粉用量为30%时,其对外做功能力达到52.6 J·g^(-1),较未替代前增加59%。随着温度的升高,生物质先发生热解,随后KNO_(3)与铝粉和废弃生物质发生反应,最后KNO_(3)与生物质热解产生的焦炭发生反应。废弃生物质的加入可提高破岩燃烧剂的做功能力,其中热值最高的花生壳使其做功能力提升最大,且更加钝感,起始分解温度增加6.7℃,既提高了破岩燃烧剂的安全性,又降低了成本。