Evaluation of Chemically Treated and Lime Stabilized Gold Mine Tailings: Effect on Unconfined Compressive Strength

Mashifana Tebogo; Nastassia Thandiwe Sithole

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.803.366

Paper Titles

Strontium in Phosphate-Modified Calcium Aluminate Cement
p.341

Synthesis and Characterization of Bio-Based Rigid Polyurethane Foams with Varying Amount of Blowing Agent
p.346

The Effect of Solvent Polarity on Phase Transformation of Citrogypsum via Hydrothermal Process
p.351

Effect of Ingredient Loading and Temperature on Tensile Properties of Surfactant-Loaded Natural Rubber Vulcanizates
p.356

Electron Beam Radiation Crosslinking of Natural Rubber Prepared by Latex Mixing Filled Silica-Graphene Blend
p.361

Evaluation of Chemically Treated and Lime Stabilized Gold Mine Tailings: Effect on Unconfined Compressive Strength
p.366

The Effect of Cellulose Fibers on the Formation of Petroleum-Based and Bio-Based Polyurethane Foams
p.371

Granulation and Photocatalytic Performance of Anodized TiO₂Nanotubes with Microwave-Assisted Annealing
p.377

Influence of Sargassum crassifolium Extract on the Absorption of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle via Green Synthesis Route
p.382

HomeKey Engineering MaterialsKey Engineering Materials Vol. 803Evaluation of Chemically Treated and Lime...

Evaluation of Chemically Treated and Lime Stabilized Gold Mine Tailings: Effect on Unconfined Compressive Strength

Abstract:

For over 200 years of gold mining, little has been done to minimize the negative impact of gold mine tailings to the environment. The overall generation of tailing by South African gold mining industry is approximately 300 million tons of slimes. This study was conducted to develop an effective chemical treatment process to reduce major heavy metals in the gold mine tailings, to stabilize the treated gold tailings with lime, to enhance its unconfined compressive strength. Two reagents were investigated namely, citric acid and oxalic acid, the concentrations were varied between 0.25 M and 0.5 M. The leaching tests were conducted at temperatures of 25, 50 and 85 °C. The Elemental, mineralogical and micrograph analysis were conducted on the raw gold mine tailing, treated tailings and stabilized tailing. The results showed a higher relative proportion of magnesium, aluminium silicon, iron and sulphate. The relative proportion for all other metals was below 1 wt%. Citric acid proved to be the best chemical reagent and the optimum results were obtained when the leaching tests were conducted at a temperature of 85 °C, with the concentration of 0.5 M. The final treated solid products had major constituents which enhances material strength development, thus silica and aluminium. Stabilising the treated tailings with 30% hydrated lime, improved the unconfined compressive strength from 1.14 MPa to 2.9 MPa.

You might also be interested in these eBooks

View Preview

Info:

Periodical:

Key Engineering Materials (Volume 803)

Pages:

366-370

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.803.366

Citation:

Cite this paper

Online since:

May 2019

Authors:

Mashifana Tebogo*, Nastassia Thandiwe Sithole

Keywords:

Citric Acid, Gold Tailings, Leaching, Stabilization

Export:

RIS, BibTeX

Price:

Permissions:

Request Permissions

* - Corresponding Author

References

[1] M. Liefferink,The Federation for sustainable Environment. AngloGold Ashanti Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Environmental Management Programme Report. (2008) 1-15.

Google Scholar

[2] E.M. Hlanganani Tutu, Radioactive disequilibrium and geochemical modelling as evidence of uranium leaching from gold tailings dumps in the Witwatersrand Basin. Int. J. Environ. Anal. Chem. (2009) 688-702.

DOI: 10.1080/03067310902968749

Google Scholar

[3] F.M. Aidan Gotz, The changing face of tailings retreatment. (2013) 1-3.

Google Scholar

[4] M.M. Wright, Risk perceptions of dust and its impacts among communities living in a mining area of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Clean. Air .J. 24 (2014) 1-6.

DOI: 10.17159/caj/2014/24/1.7052

Google Scholar

[5] N. Rembuluwani, F.A. Dacosta, F. A, J.R. Gumbo, Environmental Risk Assessment and Risk Management Strategies for Abandoned New Union Gold Mine in Malamulele, Limpopo, South Africa. In International Mine Water Association conference proceedings. (2014) 367-373.

Google Scholar

[6] R. Larba, Citric acid as an alternative lixiviant for zinc oxide dissolution. Hydrometallurgy. (2012) 117-123.

DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2013.02.002

Google Scholar

[7] B.J. Seh-Bardan, R. Othman, S.A. Wahid, A. Husin, F. Sadegh-Zadeh, Bioleaching of heavy metals from mine tailings by Aspergillus fumigatus. Bioremediat. J. 16 (2012) 57-65.

DOI: 10.1080/10889868.2012.665958

Google Scholar

[8] P.V. Sivapullaiah, A.A.B. Moghal, Role of gypsum in the strength development of fly ashes with lime. J. Mater. Civil. Eng, 23(2) (2010) 197-206.

DOI: 10.1061/(asce)mt.1943-5533.0000158

Google Scholar