Leachability of metals from gold tailings by rainwater: an experimental and geochemical modelling approach

Authors

  • BPC Grover Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • RH Johnson SM Stoller Corporation, Grand Junction, CO 81503, USA
  • H Tutu Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v42i1.05

Keywords:

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Abstract

Mine leachates from gold tailings impoundments usually contain elevated concentrations of metals and sulphates that impact negatively on water quality. This study was aimed at assessing the leachability of such metals from tailings by rainwater. Oxidised and unoxidised tailings were leached experimentally and through simulations using the PHREEQC geochemical modelling code. The results revealed that the majority of readily leachable metals were held in secondary mineral phases, mainly sulphates. A good agreement between experimental and modelling techniques was obtained, indicating the potential use of geochemical modelling in future metal release studies for the site. A list of reactive minerals for the tailings material was compiled. These minerals may or may not be present in the tailings; however, the list provides a means of estimating future reactivity or bulk metal release from the tailings.

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Published

2016-01-27

Issue

Vol. 42 No. 1 January (2016): Water SA

Section

Research paper

License

Copyright (c) 2022 BPC Grover, RH Johnson, H Tutu

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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The content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.  Users are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal under the terms of this Licence, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author, provided the source is attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors.

How to Cite

BPC Grover, RH Johnson and H Tutu (2016) “Leachability of metals from gold tailings by rainwater: an experimental and geochemical modelling approach”, Water SA, 42(1 January). doi:10.4314/wsa.v42i1.05.