Oxidative Dissolution of Sulfide Minerals in Single and Mixed Sulfide Systems under Simulated Acid and Metalliferous Drainage Conditions
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Fan, Rong
Huang, Jianyin
Pring, Allan
Harmer, Sarah L
Zhang, He
Rea, Maria Angelica D
Brugger, Joel
Teasdale, Peter R
Gibson, Christopher T
Schumann, Russell C
Smart, Roger St C
Gerson, Andrea R
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Abstract
Chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite commonly coexist with pyrite in sulfidic waste rocks. The aim of this work was to investigate their impact, potentially by galvanic interaction, on pyrite oxidation and acid generation rates under simulated acid and metalliferous drainage conditions. Kinetic leach column experiments using single-minerals and pyrite with one or two of the other sulfide minerals were carried out at realistic sulfide contents (total sulfide <5.2 wt % for mixed sulfide experiments), mimicking sulfidic waste rock conditions. Chalcopyrite was found to be most effective in limiting pyrite oxidation and acid generation with 77–95% reduction in pyrite oxidation over 72 weeks, delaying decrease in leachate pH. Sphalerite had the least impact with reduction of pyrite dissolution by 26% over 72 weeks, likely because of the large band gap and poor conductivity of sphalerite. Galena had a smaller impact than chalcopyrite on pyrite oxidation, despite their similar band gaps, possibly because of the greater extent of oxidation and the significantly reduced surface areas of galena (area reductions of >47% for galena vs <1.5% for chalcopyrite) over 72 weeks. The results are directly relevant to mine waste storage and confirm that the galvanic interaction plays a role in controlling acid generation in multisulfide waste even at low sulfide contents (several wt %) with small probabilities (≤0.23%) of direct contact between sulfide minerals in mixed sulfide experiments.
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Environmental Science & Technology
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55
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4
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This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Environmental Science & Technology, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c07136
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Geology
Science & Technology
Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Engineering, Environmental
Environmental Sciences
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Qian, G; Fan, R; Huang, J; Pring, A; Harmer, SL; Zhang, H; Rea, MAD; Brugger, J; Teasdale, PR; Gibson, CT; Schumann, RC; Smart, RSC; Gerson, AR, Oxidative Dissolution of Sulfide Minerals in Single and Mixed Sulfide Systems under Simulated Acid and Metalliferous Drainage Conditions, Environmental Science & Technology, 2021, 55 (4), pp. 2369-2380