Skip to main content
Log in

The effect of flotation desulfurization on the trace element geochemistry of Sarcheshmeh mine tailings, SE of Iran: recycling and the environmental opportunities

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Thirty-seven years of mining and processing of Cu-porphyry ore has been resulting in the production more than 540 million tons of waste tailings in Sarcheshmeh industrial complex, Iran's largest Cu producer. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the changes that occurred in the trace elements content of Sarcheshmeh mine tailings during the flotation desulfurization process. Desulfurization of fresh tailings was carried out using the conventional flotation method. Four samples were analyzed geochemically and mineralogically for each flotation test: rougher feed tailings (RFT), desulfurized tailings (DT), cleaner stage tailings (CT), and cleaned concentrate (CC). Geochemical results showed a remarkable decrease in the concentration of eighteen potentially toxic elements (S, Se, Ag, Mo, Te, Co, Bi, Fe, As, Cu, Cd, Sb, Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn, Zr and Yb) that showed high enrichments in the sulfide (pyrite) concentrate of the desulfurization process. The economical aspect concentrations of S (46.59 ± 1.84%), Fe (40.09 ± 1.87%), Cu (10,620 ± 3980 mg/kg) and Mo (1002 ± 457) were observed in the cleaned concentrate derived from Sarcheshmeh mine tailings. Other sulfide minerals, such as chalcopyrite, chalcocite, molybdenite, and covellite, as well as pyrite, were also identified in the cleaned concentrate of Sarcheshmeh mine tailings. Desulfurized tailings, which consisted on average 84.74 weight percent of the rougher feed tailings, were composed of silicate minerals (quartz, sericite, albite, chlorite, and orthoclase) that is technologically easier to reprocess and use for certain recycling applications. Desulfurized tailings showed slightly enrichment of Ce, Ba, Na, Sr, Al, Mn, P, Si, Nb, Ti, K, Nd, Be, Th, Eu, Sm, Ta, Pr, Tl, Rb, La, Mg, Cs, V, Sc, W and Gd in compared with the primary rougher feed tailings. In addition to the economical aspect, the desulfurization of Sarcheshmeh mine tailings could improve the quality of the tailings dam recycled water on a long-term basis and in the ʻʻintegrated tailings management” approach provided new opportunities for more environmentally friendly tailings management strategies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adiansyah JS, Rosano M, Vink S, Keir G (2015) A framework for a sustainable approach to mine tailings management: disposal strategies. J Clean Prod 108:1050–1062

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmari S, Zhang L (2012) Production of eco-friendly bricks from copper mine tailings through Geopolymerization. Constr Build Mater 29:323–331

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrade S, Moffett J, Correa JA (2006) Distribution of dissolved species and suspended particulate copper in an intertidal ecosystem affected by copper mine tailings in Northern Chile. Mar Chem 101:203–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Aswathanarayana U (2005) Mineral Resources Management and the Environment. Taylor & Francis e-Library, 313 pp

  • Benvenuti M, Mascaro I, Corsini F, Lattanzi P, Parrini P, Tanelli G (1997) Mine waste dumps and heavy metal pollution in abandoned mining district of Boccheggiano (Southern Tuscany, Italy). Environ Geol 30:238–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Benzaazoua M, Bouzahzah H, Taha Y, Kormos L, Kabombo D, Lessard F, Bussiere B, Demers I, Kongolo M (2017) Integrated environmental management of pyrrhotite tailings at Raglan Mine: Part 1 challenges of desulphurization process and reactivity Prediction. J Clean Prod 162:86–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Benzaazoua M, Bussiére B, Demers I, Aubertin M, Fried E, Blier A (2008) Integrated mine tailings management by combining environmental desulphurization and cemented paste backfill: Application to mine Doyon, Quebec, Canada. Miner Eng 21:330–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Benzaazoua M, Bussiére B, Kongolo M, McLaughlin J, Marion P (2000) Environmental desulphurization of four canadian mine tailings using froth flotation. Int J Miner Process 60:57–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Benzaazoua M, Fall M, Belem T (2004) A contribution to understanding the hardening process of cemented pastefill. Miner Eng 17(2):141–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Benzaazoua M, Ouellet J, Servant S, Newman P, Verburg R (1999) Cementitious backfill with high sulfur content: physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization. Cement Concrete Res 29:719–725

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger BR, Ayuso RA, Wynn JC, Seal RR (2008) Preliminary model of porphyry copper deposits: U.S Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1321, 55 p

  • Bett AK, and Maranga SM (2012) Considerations for Beneficiation of Low Grade Iron Ore for Steel Making in Kenya. Proceedings of the Mechanical Engineering Conference on Sustainable Research and Innovation, Volume 4, 3rd-4th May 2012

  • Bruckard WJ (2007) and McCallum DA (2007) Treatment of sulphide tailings from base metal and gold operations—a source of saleable by-products and sustainable waste management. World Gold Congress, Cairns, Australia 22–24:85–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Bussiére B, Benzaazoua M, Aubertin M, Mbonimpa M (2004) A laboratory study of covers made of low sulfide tailings to prevent acid mine drainage. Environ Geol 45:609–622

    Google Scholar 

  • Chepushtanova TA, Luganov VA (2007) Processing of the pyrite concentrates to generate sulfurous anhydride for sulfuric acid production. J Miner Mater Cha Eng 6(2):103–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox LJ, Chaffee MA, Cox DP, Klein DP (1995) Porphyry Cu deposits: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95–831:75–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Dandautiya R, Singh AP (2019) Utilization potential of fly ash and copper tailings in concrete as partial replacement of cement along with life cycle assessment. Waste Manag 99:90–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Demers I, Bussiére B, Benzaazoua M, Mbonimpa M, Blier A (2008) Column test investigation on the performance of monolayer covers made of desulphurized tailings to prevent acid mine drainage. Miner Eng 21:317–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Dold B (2008) Sustainability in metal mining: from exploration, over processing to mine waste management. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 7(4):275–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Dold B, Fontboté L (2001) Element cycling and secondary mineralogy in porphyry copper tailings as function of climate, primary mineralogy, and mineral processing. J Geochem Explor 74:2–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Driussi C, Jansz J (2006) Technological options for waste minimization in the mining industry. J Clean Prod 14:682–688

    Google Scholar 

  • Edraki M, Baumgartl T, Manlapig E, Bradshaw D, Franks DM, Moran CJ (2014) Designing mine tailings for better environmental, social and economic outcomes: a review of alternative approaches. J Clean Prod 84:411–420

    Google Scholar 

  • Förstner U (1999) Introduction. In: J.M. Azcue (ed.), Environmental impacts of mining activities, chap. 1: p. 1–3. Berlin: Springer

  • Franks DM, Boger DV, Cote CM, Mulligan DR (2011) Sustainable development principles for the disposal of mining and mineral processing wastes. Resour Policy 36:114–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Geise G, LeGalley E, Krekeler MPS (2011) Mineralogical and geochemical investigations of silicate-rich mine waste from a kyanite mine in central Virginia: implications for mine waste recycling. Environ Earth Sci 62:185–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon RB (2002) Production residues in copper technological cycles. Resour Conserv Recycl 36(2):87–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Hesketh AH, Broadhurst JL, Harrison STL (2010) Mitigating the generation of acid mine drainage from copper sulfide tailings impoundments in perpetuity: a case study for an integrated management strategy. Miner Eng 23:225–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Jafarizadeh A, Sarrafi A, Izadpanah MR, Aminian F, Ghotbi E (2011) Production of ceramic tiles from the waste materials of copper extraction process, Conference: 12th Conference of the European Ceramic Society—ECerS XII At: Stockholm, Sweden

  • Johansson N, Krook J, Eklund M, Berglund B (2013) An integrated review of concepts and initiatives for mining the technosphere: towards a new taxonomy. J Clean Prod 55:35–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Khorasanipour M (2015) Environmental mineralogy of Cu-porphyry mine tailings, a case study of semi-arid climate conditions, Sarcheshmeh mine, SE Iran. J Geochem Explor 153:40–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Khorasanipour M, Eslami A (2014) Hydro-geochemistry and contamination of trace elements in Cu-porphyry mine tailings: a case study from the Sarcheshmeh Mine, SE Iran. Mine Water Environ 33:335–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Khorasanipour M, Esmailzadeh E (2018) Determination of enriched elements in the Sarcheshmeh Cu mine tailings, Rafsanjan, Kerman Province. J Nat Environ 71(2):151–176 (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Khorasanipour M, Moore F, Naseh R (2011a) Lime treatment of mine drainage at the sarcheshmeh porphyry copper mine. Iran Mine Water Environ 30(3):216–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Khorasanipour M, Tangestani MH, Naseh R, Hajmohammadi H (2011b) Hydrochemistry, mineralogy and chemical fractionation of mine and processing wastes associated with porphyry copper mines: a case study from the Sarcheshmeh mine, SE Iran. Appl Geochem 26:714–730

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinnunen P, Ismailov A, Solismaa S, Sreenivasan H, Räisänen ML, Levänen E, Illikainen M (2018) Recycling mine tailings in chemically bonded ceramics-review. J Clean Prod 174:634–649

    Google Scholar 

  • Lessard F, Bussiére B, Côté J, Benzaazoua M, Boulanger-Martel V, Marcoux L (2018) Integrated environmental management of pyrrhotite tailings at Raglan Mine: Part 2 desulphurized tailings as cover material. J Clean Prod 186:883–893

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinson AA (1974) Introduction to exploration geochemistry. Applied Publishing Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, p. 611

  • Liu W, Chen X, Li W, Yu Y, Yan K (2014) Environmental assessment, management and utilization of red mud in China. J Clean Prod 84:606–610

    Google Scholar 

  • Long H, Chun T, Di Z, Wang P, Meng Q, Li J (2016) Preparation of metallic iron powder from pyrite cinder by carbothermic reduction and magnetic separation. Metals 6(4):88. https://doi.org/10.3390/met6040088

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lottermoser BG (2003) Mine waste: Characterization, treatment and environmental impacts. Springer, Berlin, p 277

    Google Scholar 

  • Lottermoser BG (2011) Recycling, reuse and rehabilitation of mine wastes. Elements 7(6):405–410

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu H, Qi C, Chen Q, Gan D, Xue Z, Hu Y (2018) A new procedure for recycling waste tailings as cemented paste backfill to underground stopes and open pits. J Clean Prod 188:601–612

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu X, Li LY, Wang L, Lei K, Huang J, Zhai Y (2009) Contamination assessment of mercury and arsenic in roadway dust from Baoji, China. Atmospheric Environ 43:2489–2496

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyu Z, Chai J, Xu Z, Qin Y, Cao J (2019) A Comprehensive Review on reasons for tailings dam failures based on Case History. Adv Civil Eng 9:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Menezes RR, Lisiane NL, Santana G, Araújo N, Ferreira HC (2012). Recycling of mine wastes as ceramic raw materials: an alternative to avoid environmental contamination. https://doi.org/10.5772/31913,Inbook:EnvironmentalContamination

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss R, De La Cerda RP (2006) Technical review of operations at Mineral Valle Central. 94 p. Available at: http://amerigoresources.com/_resources/MossPoblete_March2006.pdf.

  • Muwanguzi AJB, Karasev AV, Byaruhanga JK, and Jonsson PG (2012) Characterization of Chemical Composition and Microstructure of Natural Iron Ore from Muko Deposits. International Scholarly Research Network, ISRN Materials Science, Volume 2012, Article ID 174803, 9 pages. doi:https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/174803

  • Oliveira MLS, Ward CR, Izquierdo M, Sampaio CH, de Brum IAS, Kautzmann RM, Sabedot S, Querol X, Silva LFO (2012) Chemical composition and minerals in pyrite ash of an abandoned sulphuric acid production plant. Sci Total Environ 430:34–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Onuaguluchi O, Eren O (2012) Durability-related properties of mortar and concrete containing copper tailings as a cement replacement material. Mag Concr Res 64(11):1015–1023

    Google Scholar 

  • Onuaguluchi O, Eren O (2016) Reusing copper tailings in concrete: corrosion performance and socioeconomic implications for the Lefke-Xeros area of Cyprus. J Clean Prod 112(1):420–429

    Google Scholar 

  • Park I, Tabelin CB, Jeon S, Li X, Seno K, Mayumi Ito M, Hiroyoshi N (2019) A review of recent strategies for acid mine drainage prevention and mine tailings recycling. Chemosphere 219:588–606

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-López R, Sáez R, Álvares-Valero AM, Nieto JM, Pace G (2009) Combination of sequential chemical extraction and modelling of dam-break wave propagation to aid assessment of risk related to the possible collapse of a roasted sulphide tailings dam. Sci Total Environ 407:5761–5771

    Google Scholar 

  • Pradhan N, Nathsarma KC, Srinivasa Rao K, Sukla LB, Mishra BK (2008) Heap bioleaching of chalcopyrite: a review. Miner Eng 21:355–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritcey GM (2005) Tailings management in gold plants. Hydrometallurgy 78:3–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Runkel M, Sturm P (2009) Pyrite roasting, an alternative to sulfur burning. J South Afr Inst Min Metall 109:491–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Santander M, Valderrama L (2019) Recovery of pyrite from copper tailings by flotation. J Mater Res Technol 8(5):4312–4317

    Google Scholar 

  • Shotyk W, Blaser P, Grunig A, Cheburkin AK (2000) A new approach for quantifying cumulative, anthropogenic, atmospheric lead deposition using peat cores from bogs: Pb in eight Swiss peat bog profiles. Sci Total Environ 249:281–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer DA, Berger VI, Moring BC (2008) Porphyry copper deposits of the world—Database and grade and tonnage models: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1155

  • Skandrani A, Demers I, Kongolo M (2019) Desulfurization of aged gold-bearing mine tailings. Miner Eng 138:195–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Song W, Zhou J, Wang B, Li S, Han J (2020) New insight into investigation of reduction of desulfurization ash by pyrite for clean generation SO2. J Clean Prod 253:120026

    Google Scholar 

  • Spears DA, Tarazona MRM, Lee S (1994) Pyrite in UK coals: its environmental significance. Fuel 37:1051–1055

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas BS, Damare A, Gupta RC (2013) Strength and durability characteristics of copper tailing concrete. Constr Build Mater 48:894–900

    Google Scholar 

  • Tugrul N, Derun EM, Piskin M (2007) Utilization of pyrite ash wastes by pelletization process. Powder Technol 176:72–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaughan DJ, Craig JR (1978) Mineral chemistry of metal sulfides. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, Cambridge Earth Science Series

    Google Scholar 

  • Waterman GC, Hamilton RL (1975) The Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper, deposit. Econ Geol 70:568–576

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickland B, Wilson GW (2005) Research of co-disposal of tailings and waste rock. Geotechnical News September. pp. 35–38

  • Zhang C (2007) Fundamentals of environmental sampling and analysis. Wiley, Chichester, p 457

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang GF, Yang QR, Yang YD, Wu P, McLean A (2013) Recovery of iron from waste slag of pyrite processing using reduction roasting magnetic separation method. Can Metall Q 52(2):153–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Shen W, Wu M, Shen B, Li M, Xu G, Zhang B, Ding Q, Chen X (2020) Experimental study on the utilization of copper tailing as micronized sand to prepare high performance concrete. Constr Build Mater 244:118312

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng Y, Liu Z (2011) Preparation of monodispersed micaceous iron oxide pigment from pyrite cinders. Powder Technol 207:335–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu DQ, Chun TJ, Pan J, Guo ZQ (2013) Preparation of oxidised pellets using pyrite cinders as raw material. Ironmak Steelmak 40:430–435

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The professional editing and comprehensive reviews of an earlier version of the manuscript by the editor and two anonymous reviewers from the Journal of Environmental Earth Sciences are greatly appreciated. Dr. Sh. Samani is thanked for editing the first draft of the manuscript and her constructive suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mehdi Khorasanipour.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Khorasanipour, M., Karimabadi, F.R., Espahbodi, M. et al. The effect of flotation desulfurization on the trace element geochemistry of Sarcheshmeh mine tailings, SE of Iran: recycling and the environmental opportunities. Environ Earth Sci 80, 420 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09615-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09615-5

Keywords

Navigation