A Laboratory Study of ARD Neutralization and Prevention by Alkaline Rest Products : Waste rock from Maurliden

• Main Author: Andersson, Elin
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Life Earth Science; Bio- och geovetenskaper; Waste rock; Suldic mine waste; Alkaline rest products; Mesa lime; Fly ash; Green liquor dregs; Slag; Maurliden; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-46698

Boliden’s Maurliden mine, located in Northern Sweden, is a polymetallic VMS deposits with pyrite as the dominant sulfide mineral. At closure, waste rock will be backfilled into the open pit, covered, and the pit will then be allowed to flood to reduce oxidation. Boliden is considering the addition of alkaline material as a safeguard to buffer potential acid rock drainage (ARD). Therefore, characterization and leaching tests of waste rock were completed as part of this study. Characterization of alkaline rest products and leach tests with mixtures of waste rock and alkaline rest products were performed. Acid generation potential of the waste rock was determined together with neutralization experiments with alkaline rest products. Leach tests of the waste rock were conducted in 1m3 tanks under saturated and dry conditions, dewatered once a week. The pH in the water saturated tank was observed to increase from 2.4 to 5.6 as maximum over a 4 months period. pH was observed to decrease in the water saturated tank after 2 months of sampling to pH 3.5, most likely due to a higher evaporation and a lowered water table. A decrease of the pH in the dry tank from 6.7 to 1.4 over an 8 months period, with a minimum pH of 0.9 was observed. ICP-analysis of the leachate from the dry tank showed a significant increase in concentrations of elements such as S and Fe from µg/L to g/L, while the concentrations were constant at µg/L in the saturated tank. This shows the importance of saturated conditions to reduce the oxidation of sulfides. Alkaline rest products mesa lime, fly ash (FA) and green liquor dregs (GLD) from paper and pulp mills together with slag from steel industry were evaluated for their ARD neutralization potential. Waste rock crushed down to <6mm were mixed with different fractions of alkaline waste, 0.5%-5%, and leached in small scale for 1, 3, 8, 21 and 65 days. The 5% mixtures were leached for 115 days. After 65 days the analyzed pH was circum-neutral for most materials expect AOD slag with pH >10, mesa lime ...