Mineralurgical and Environmental Characterization of the Mine Tailings of the IOCG Mine of Guelb Moghrein, Akjoujt, Mauritania

Mineralurgical and Environmental Characterization of the Mine Tailings of the IOCG Mine of Guelb Moghrein, Akjoujt, Mauritania

Since 2004, the processing of the iron oxide–copper–gold (IOCG) ore of Guelb Moghrein, Akjoujt, Mauritania, has resulted in the generation of approximately 40 million tons of mine tailings. The storage of these tailings poses significant environmental challenges particularly to surface and undergrou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied sciences Vol. 14; no. 4; p. 1591
Main Authors: Ba, NDiarel Baidy, Souissi, Radhia, Manai, Faouzi, Taviche, Imad Khalil, Bejaoui, Bochra, Bagga, Mohamed Abdallahi, Souissi, Fouad
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-02-2024
Subjects:
Analysis
Aquatic resources
Australia
Canada
Carbonates
CND
Copper
Drainage
Ferric oxide
Gold
IOGC ore
Iron compounds
Leaching
Mauritania
mine tailings
Mineralization
mineralurgical characterization
Mining
Oxidation
Oxides
Precipitation
PTE
static prediction test
Sulfides
Tunisia
United States
Canada
Mauritania
Australia
United States
Tunisia
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Summary:Since 2004, the processing of the iron oxide–copper–gold (IOCG) ore of Guelb Moghrein, Akjoujt, Mauritania, has resulted in the generation of approximately 40 million tons of mine tailings. The storage of these tailings poses significant environmental challenges particularly to surface and underground water resources. To address this issue, we propose an approach involving both mineralurgical and environmental characterization. Our mineralogical analysis reveals that the TSF tailings consist of sulfides and iron oxides associated with a silico-carbonated matrix. This mineralogical analysis also shows that the TSF tailings consist of secondary minerals, resulting from sulfides oxidation. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the chemical analysis of the TSF tailings contains potential toxic elements (PTEs) such as Cu, As, Co, Ni, Sb, and Se. Regarding the environmental characterization of the tailings, conducted through acid-based accounting (ABA) static tests, we demonstrate that leaching from the tailings generates a contaminated neutral drainage (CND).
ISSN:2076-3417
2076-3417
DOI:10.3390/app14041591