Characterization of secondary products in arsenopyrite-bearing mine wastes: influence of cementation on arsenic attenuation

[EN]The secondary products of an arsenopyrite-bearing mine waste dump were characterized in order to ascertain their mineralogical, chemical and environmental features and to appraise their role in the abatement of As in the environment. To this purpose, representative surface samples of weathered s...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Murciego Murciego, Ascensión, Álvarez Ayuso, Esther, Aldana Martínez, S.C, Sanz-Arranz, A., Medina-García, J, Rull-Pérez, F., Villar Alonso, Pedro M.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Salamanca (USAL)
Repositorio:GREDOS. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Salamanca
OAI Identifier:oai:gredos.usal.es:10366/154597
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10366/154597
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Mine wastes
Arsenopyrite
Secondary products
Hardpan
Arsenic mobility
2506 Geología
Descripción
Sumario:[EN]The secondary products of an arsenopyrite-bearing mine waste dump were characterized in order to ascertain their mineralogical, chemical and environmental features and to appraise their role in the abatement of As in the environment. To this purpose, representative surface samples of weathered sulfides (including cemented phases) and hardpan samples were collected and studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), polarized light microscopy, electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), micro-Raman spectroscopy and digestion, extraction and leaching methods. Scorodite, amorphous ferric arsenates (AFA), elemental sulfur, hydronium jarosite, goethite, hematite and hydrous ferric oxides were the secondary products identified in the mine wastes. The hardpan was mainly constituted by gangue minerals, including sulfides (arsenopyrite and pyrite/marcasite) with different weathering degrees, cemented by cracked yellow phases corresponding to AFA with Fe/As molar ratios of 1.14–1.85 and elemental sulfur. These cracked compounds were also the binding agent in the other cemented phases. Hydronium jarosite and Fe (oxyhydr)oxides were enriched in As, showing values of 0.19–3.98 and 0.81–7.49 wt.% As2O5, respectively. The As leachability and lability from hardpan and cemented phases were not decreased as compared to those from the other weathered phases not showing cementation in the mine waste dump.