Speciation and leachability of copper in mine tailings from porphyry copper mining: Influence of particle size

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 60; no. 10; pp. 1497 - 1503
• Main Authors: Hansen, Henrik K., Yianatos, Juan B., Ottosen, Lisbeth M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorption; Applied sciences; Chemical Fractionation; Citric Acid - chemistry; Copper; Copper - analysis; Copper - chemistry; Desorption; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrochloric Acid - chemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Industrial Waste; Mine tailing; Mining; Nitric Acid - chemistry; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Particle Size; pH-dependencies; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Sequential extraction; Speciation; Sulfides; Sulfuric Acids - chemistry; Wastes; Water Movements; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; South America; Chile; America; pH-dependencies; Particle size; Mine tailing; Sequential extraction; Desorption; Copper; Speciation; Copper ore; Tailings; Industrial waste; Environment impact; Size effect; Solid waste; Lixiviation; Mining industry; Mining waste
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.01.086

Mine tailing from the El Teniente-Codelco copper mine situated in VI Region of Chile was analysed in order to evaluate the mobility and speciation of copper in the solid material. Mine tailing was sampled after the rougher flotation circuits, and the copper content was measured to 1150
mg
kg
−1 dry matter. This tailing was segmented into fractions of different size intervals: 0–38, 38–45, 45–53, 53–75, 75–106, 106–150, 150–212, and >212
μm, respectively. Copper content determination, sequential chemical extraction, and desorption experiments were carried out for each size interval in order to evaluate the speciation of copper. It was found that the particles of smallest size contained 50–60% weak acid leachable copper, whereas only 32% of the copper found in largest particles could be leached in weak acid. Copper oxides and carbonates were the dominating species in the smaller particles, and the larger particles contained considerable amounts of sulphides.