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15
CH3041
OTHER MINE WASTES
Tailings from all old mines are a problem.
The volumes are large (USA
2 billion tons / y).
• Most mine dumps
release sulphuric acid.
In particular coal mines with pyrite wastes.
4FeS2 + 15O2 + 14H2O ® 4Fe(OH)3 + 8H2SO4
In particular coal mines with pyrite wastes.
4FeS2 + 15O2 + 14H2O ® 4Fe(OH)3 + 8H2SO4
• Release of
elements that were not extracted
from the ore is a general problem. The tailings are finely divided and the generation of acidity aids in the mobilization
of heavy metals.
• These are the types of problems that environmental geochemists deal with.
See EA3005 for further details.
See EA3005 for further details.
