Technological Characterization of Tailings

from Iron and Gold Mining

with a Geoenvironmental Focus for Reuse
in Geotechnical Application

Thaís Guimarães dos Santos1(&), Luís Fernando Ribeiro Martins1,

and Evelin Rodriguez Sosa2
1
University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
thaisguimaraess@hotmail.com
2
Central University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba

Abstract. The use of mining tailings to stabilize the materials normally used in
civil works is already a fairly common practice. Tailings are commonly used in
landfill layers, in the construction of houses where they replace conventional
materials, as well as their use as a filler in the cement industry, among other
applications. Thus reducing the exploitation of the deposits and preserving the
environment. However, while studies show improvement in mechanical
behavior in soils with the addition of tailings, they can also act to contaminate
soil and water resulting from excess heavy metals. In this context, the present
research aims to evaluate the mobility and availability of the metals present in
the tailings. The iron reject studied comes from the Iron Quadrangle and the
gold is from northwestern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The studies covered the
physical and geochemical-environmental characterization of the material. With
the results, it was possible to know the characteristics of these materials when
they are in contact with water as a means of dissolution, allowing the evaluation
of the influence of such aspects on the behavior of the mixtures and to evaluate
the potential use of these materials in civil works.

Keywords: Metal
Mobility
Disponibility

1 Introduction

Mining, complemented by steelmaking, is one of the essential activities in the devel-

opment of the modern world. In this context, Brazil, due to its mineral diversity and
territorial extension, holds a prominent position in the world scenario when it comes to
reserves and production of mineral goods. Mainly metallic mineral goods [1].
Despite the great economic importance of the mining industry, this represents a
potentially degrading agent of the physical environment to which it is inserted. With
the production of iron and gold, it is not different, with the greatest environmental
impacts arising from these productions being the large volume of waste generated in
the beneficiation process [2].

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019

L. Zhan et al. (Eds.): ICEG 2018, ESE, pp. 253–260, 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2227-3_31
254 T. G. dos Santos et al.

The tailings, however, can still contain expressive metallic contents and can be
returned to the production process. In addition, tailings can contain materials with
potential uses in civil works, which would mitigate damage to the environment.
However, the evaluation of reuse of mining tailings is not trivial. The studies should
not only evaluate the mechanical behavior of the new materials in face of the possible
requests that may be submitted, but also investigate the interaction of the tailings with
the environment. The present study is aimed at evaluating the potential reuse of iron
and gold residues in geotechnical applications, but giving a geoenvironmental
approach, in order to verify the availability and mobility of the metals present in the
tailings.

2 Reuse of Iron Mining Rejection in Civil Construction

Brazil occupies a prominent position in the world scenario in what concerns the
reserves and production of iron ore. As a consequence of the large volumes produced,
this is also the mineral good responsible for the largest volume of mining waste
generated in the country [3].
Based on the scientific literature, it was verified the existence of researches related
to the characterization of mining tailings in order to reuse them in civil works. Among
the possible uses of iron tailings found are:
• Incorporated to cement for use in base and sub-base layers of highways [4].
• Filler in asphalt mixtures [2].
• In the production of concrete elements for paving [5].
• As a stabilizing material mixed to a lateritic soil in the northeastern region of Brazil
for use in base and sub-base layers of highways [6].
• Incorporation in cement, concrete, mortar and ceramics manufacturing and use in
paving works [2].
• As alternative material for road infrastructure in the base layer of pavements [7].
Also noteworthy are studies carried out with the reject of the Monjolo pile, from the
Quadrilátero Ferrífero (MG), performed pro Gratão et al. [8] and Echeverri [9].
Gratão et al. [8] studied the reuse of the iron reject from the Monjolo drainage of
the Quadrilátero Ferrífero for use in road works by means of mixtures of tailings (25%
and 50% by mass) with a latosol (HB9) from the Federal District. The authors verified
that the results obtained in the tests of non-confined compression demonstrate an
increase in the values of resistance to simple compression with the increase of the
content of mixed mixed to the soil.
Echeverri [9] evaluated the use of iron ore tailings from the Monjolo pile in the
Quadrilátero Ferrífero as a filter in land works, mainly for dams, replacing the natural
sand found in the rivers and dunes. The author found that the properties of resistance
and durability of this waste can be considered as a good material to be used in filters of
dams.
It is verified that the tailings of the processes of iron processing have an important
potential of use in works of paving, based, mainly, on their granulometric
characteristics.
 Technological Characterization of Tailings from Iron and Gold Mining 255

For the gold tailings, studies prove its potential use for the production of sulfuric
acid for the manufacture of fertilizers [10].
Studies for gold reject are still limited due to economic and environmental issues.
We highlight the current Brazilian scenario of reprocessing of refusals due to the low
levels currently recorded in the country. And environmental issues such as the presence
of sulfide minerals that are likely to cause environmental problems.
In spite of numerous studies in the area, the rejects present a great variability of
properties. This occurs because of the natural geological heterogeneity of the mineral
goods and the various processes that the ores can be submitted, that can alter even the
physico-chemical of the surface of the particles. In this way, the studies on the reuse of
tailings are not exhausted.

3 Methodology

The studied wastes were collected from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The tailing of
iron comes from the Monjolo tailings pile, in the iron quadrilateral, which is one of the
largest reserves of mineral goods in the world. The tailing of gold comes from the
northwest region of the state of Minas Gerais, of the Santo Antônio dam. Both were
collected in the waste pipes.
The characterization of the metallic wastes was carried out using the methodology
developed by Sosa [11], which involves physical, mineralogical, chemical, geochem-
ical and geoenvironmental. Described below.

3.1 Physical Characterization

The physical characterization of the tailings has the purpose of obtaining texture,
prognosis of its nature, in addition to the indication of a large number of geotechnical
characteristics such as strength, permeability, compaction characteristics, estimation of
parameters for filters, capillarity, amplitude of chemical reactions. The texture affects
soil properties such as hydraulic conductivity and moisture retention, thus having an
important effect on the transport and retention capacity of metals.
The tests carried out for the physical characterization of the wastes were carried out
according to NBR 7181 “Soil - Granulometric Analysis” [12] and specific mass of
grains, which were performed using the PENTAPYC 5200e “Quantachrome Instru-
ments” model pentapicnometer.

3.2 Mineralogical Characterization

The purpose of the mineralogical characterization is to identify the minerals present in
the tailings and thus to allow the evaluation of the physical and chemical behavior,
allowing the optimum use of the resources.
For the mineralogical knowledge of the tailings, the technique of Difratometry of
rays X (XRD).
256 T. G. dos Santos et al.

3.3 Chemical and Geochemical Characterization

The purpose of the chemical and geochemical characterization was the qualitative and
quantitative analysis of the chemical species present in the tailings, interaction of the
particles, to verify the mobility potential of the metals in the tailings and in the aqueous
medium.
The chemical analyzes were performed using the Plasma Optical Emission Spec-
trometry (ICP) technique. The pH was measured using 4 g of residue and adding
10 mL of deionized water, maintaining the ratio of 1: 2.5 (w/v). Samples were agitated
for half an hour at low speed followed by 30 min rest and separation of the liquid
extract by centrifugation and filtration. After the process, measurements were taken.
For extraction with CaCl2 , 4 g of residue was used and 10 ml of (0.01 M) CaCl2
was added, also maintaining the ratio 1: 2.5 (w/v). Samples were agitated for half an
hour at low speed followed by 30 min rest and separation of the liquid extract by
centrifugation and filtration. After the process, the filtrate was sent for analysis in ICP.
The extraction with meteoric water was done by weighing 1 g of waste and 50 ml
of meteoric water (distilled water with HCl) of pH 6.0 ± 0.1, the average pH of the
Brazilian rainfall. The samples were agitated for one hour at low speed followed by
30 min rest and separation of the liquid extract by centrifugation and filtration. After
the process, the filtrate was sent for analysis in ICP.

4 Results

In Fig. 1 are the grain size curves of iron and gold tailings.

100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0
% passant

50.0
40.0
30.0
Tailing of Iron
20.0
10.0 Tailing of Gold

0.0
0.0001 0.0010 0.0100 0.1000 1.0000 10.0000 100.0000
Particle diameter (mm)

Fig. 1. Size distribution curves of the tailing

 Technological Characterization of Tailings from Iron and Gold Mining 257

The tailing of iron is in the granulometric range of the medium to thin sands. The
tailing of gold is located in the granulometric range of the fine sands, since the gold
finds widespread in the mineral body, being necessary greater comminution of the ore
to expose the gold for collection. Both are non-uniform.
The iron waste has granulometry that falls under DNIT 141 “Paving - Granulo-
metrically Stabilized Base - Service Specification” for less intense traffic [13]. Already
the gold waste presents thinner than allowed.
Also according to the particle size analysis obtained, both tailings have the potential
to be used as soil-cement, according to DNIT 143 “Paving - Base of soil-cement -
Service specification” [14].
The specific masses of the grain of the tailings were 3.49 g/cm3 for the tailing of
iron and 3.22 g/cm3 for the tailing of gold.
The mineral analyses performed by the XRD indicate that the tailings of iron
presents quartz and hematite.
The results of XRD for the tailings of gold identified the minerals quartz, hematite,
kaolinite, goethite, anastasis, rutile, pyrite, calcite, dolomite, montmorillonite, sepiolite
and ferroactinolite. Calcite and dolomite being the minerals responsible for the high pH
verified, described later.
The result of the XRD of the gold waste does not indicate the presence of
arsenopyrite, a trace mineral of the mine that has a correlation with gold [15]. However,
the possible presence of this mineral in the tailing cannot be ruled out. It is known that
ray X diffraction presents the limitation of not guaranteeing the identification of
minerals in small amounts in the samples.
The results of the chemical analysis of the tailings are presented below (Table 1).

Table 1. Chemical analysis of tailings

Chemical elements Tailing of Iron Tailing of Gold
mg/Kg % mg/Kg %
Al 3,265.190 0.327 24.345,950 2.435
As 36.057 0.004 25,847 0.003
Ba 49.078 0.005 2.616,519 0.262
Ca 12,581.380 1.258 72.657,543 7.266
Cd 77.123 0.008 63,624 0.006
Co 1.002 0.002 228,647 0.023
Cr 1.502 0.004 79,529 0.008
Cu 256.287 0.026 97,921 0.010
Fe 334,572.000 33.457 166.922,353 16.692
K 3,028.850 0.303 14.598,623 1.460
Mg 776.234 0.001 35.311,071 0.001
Mn 660.134 0.078 3.836,301 3.531
Mo 26.041 0.066 25,350 0.384
Na 35.056 0.003 99,412 0.003
(continued)
258 T. G. dos Santos et al.

Table 1. (continued)
Chemical elements Tailing of Iron Tailing of Gold
mg/Kg % mg/Kg %
Ni 54.364 0.005 65,115 0.010
P 211.837 0.021 15,035.980 1.504
Pb 194.157 0.019 40.759 0.004
Se 497.042 0.005 40.759 0.004
Si 35,414.268 3.541 15,527.356 1.553
Sr 7.512 0.001 1,595.559 0.160
Ti 135.215 0.014 69,588.260 6.959
Zn 144.730 0.014 421.009 0.042
Zr 31.550 0.003 1,307.265 0.131

Among the metals identified in the tailings, there are some that can act as envi-
ronmental contaminants, such as aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium
(Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), selenium
(Se) and zinc (Zn). However, only the quantification of these elements is not enough to
determine the possible contamination of the environment by the tailings, it is necessary
the study of the mobility of these metals, which is closely linked with the chemical
speciation. For example, the solid species tend to have less mobility than the colloidal
and dissolved forms.
The pH values of the tailings are 7.40 and 9.16 for the iron and gold tailings,
respectively, indicating basic pH. Values of pH above six favor the retention of metals
in the porous medium, which decreases the mobility of metals in solution [16].
However, it should be noted that in the gold residue there is pyrite, detected by XRD
and there is a likelihood of containing arsenopyrite. These minerals, when exposed to
environmental conditions, oxidize, generating acid mine drainage (DAM), as well as
the dissolution of a number of other metals present in the tailings, such as Al, Mn, Cu,
As, Zn, Pb and Cd These elements can be solubilized and mobilized in drainage waters
and can be absorbed at toxic levels by plants and incorporated into the trophic chain
[17]. This is one of the most serious environmental impacts associated with the mining
activity, besides the fact that arsenic is an element that presents potential for toxicity.
For the simple extractions with CaCl2 and meteoric water, only the elements Al,
As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Se and Zn were analyzed, see Table 2.

Table 2. Simple Extraction with CaCl2 and rainwater

Chemical elements Extraction with CaCl2 Extraction with rainwater
Tailing of Iron Tailing of Gold Tailing of Iron Tailing of Gold
ml/L ml/L ml/L ml/L
Al 0,457 0,643 0,450 6,400
As 0,060 0,064 0,240 0,385
(continued)
 Technological Characterization of Tailings from Iron and Gold Mining 259

Table 2. (continued)
Chemical elements Extraction with CaCl2 Extraction with rainwater
Tailing of Iron Tailing of Gold Tailing of Iron Tailing of Gold
ml/L ml/L ml/L ml/L
Ba 0,124 1,588 0,130 1,840
Cd 0,079 0,083 0,010 N.I
Cr 0,011 0,004 0,045 0,040
Cu 0,022 0,024 0,125 0,185
Fe 0,020 N.I 3,750 17,800
Mn 0,156 0,010 1,000 1,345
Pb 0,028 0,015 0,180 0,190
Se 0,021 0,077 0,255 0,270
Zn 0,209 0,311 0,730 2,230
N.I - Not identified

The extractor with 0.01 M CaCl2 must extract the species that correspond to the
fraction with soluble and exchangeable properties. These fractions are the ones that
allow greater availability of the metals in soil, greater phytoabsorbability, being formed
by free ions in solution, soluble complexes and metals connected electrostatically to the
ion exchange sites existing in the surfaces of the colloids of the soil. In both extractions
the low capacity of transfer of metals to the aqueous medium was verified. Except for
Cr, Fe, Mn and Pb, all other metals present more mobility in the gold waste than in the
iron ore.

5 Conclusions

The iron and gold tailings are sand and fall within Brazilian paving standards, however,
the chemical analysis identified metals harmful to the environment in both tailings.
However, pH and geoenvironmental studies realized, although simple, provide an
indication of the low mobility and availability of metals in contact with water as a
means of dissolution, which makes feasible the reuse of these in geotechnical works.
However, for the reuse certification of the material, it is indicated to perform a more
complex extraction as sequential extractions to understand the chemical speciation of
the materials and to analyze the availability of living organisms.
Undoubtedly, mining tailings, in general, can be reused in geotechnical works,
based mainly on their granulometric characteristics as aggregates. In this sense, the
research carried out here presents an important step in relation to the environmental
characterization of mineral tailings.
260 T. G. dos Santos et al.

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