[Acid producing potential of a lead/zinc mine tailings at Lechang, Guangdong Province].
The acid producing potential of a Pb/Zn mine tailings at Lechang City, Guangdong Province were studied using both net acid generation (NAG) and net acid production potential (NAPP) methods. The pyritic and total sulfur contents of the tailings were 12.57% and 18.68% respectively. The NAG and NAPP values were H2SO4 220 kg.t-1 and 326 kg.t-1, and both the NAG and NAPP results indicated that the tailings had high acid forming potential. NAG was more accurate than NAPP in predicting acid forming potential of the tailings due to the uncompleted oxidization of pyritic sulfur. Analysis of samples from two profiles test indicated that the acidification major occurred on the surface (0-20 cm) of the tailings because of limited oxygen diffusion and had little effects on the tailings at lower horizons. pH values were negatively related to EC, indicated that the acid released accelerate dissolution of the solid matrix and increase in both cations and actions in solution, the extractable Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd at the acidifying tailings surface.
Shu
W
W
State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol of School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Zhang
Z
Z
Lan
C
C
D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008906:Mining; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D013455:Sulfur; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc