Mineralogical alterations of Zn–Pb flotation wastes of the Mississippi Valley Type ores (Southern Poland) and their impact on contamination of rain water runoff

 A. Bauerek¹, J. Cabala², B. Smieja-Król²

¹Central Mining Institute, Department of Environmental Monitoring,
Plac Gwarkow 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland, E-mail address: a.bauerek@gig.katowice.pl

²University of Silesia, Faculty of Earth Sciences,
Bedzinska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland

Abstract

Research was carried out on the slopes of tailings pond built from carbonate wastes, rich in metals flotation wastes of Zn-Pb ores of the Mississipi Valley Type in the Silesia-Cracow ore district (Southern Poland). These wastes resulting from Zn-Pb ore processing may have a detrimental impact on the environment. This study presents results of chemical (ICP, IC, AAS), mineralogical (XRD, SEM-EDS) characterization of material from the superficial waste layer, water runoff and relocated suspension. They indicate the occurrence of several secondary mineral phases (Fe oxide, Zn and Pb carbonate, and sulfate containing metals), resulting from the weathering processes of primary Fe, Zn, and Pb sulfides. Results of XRD and SEM examinations point to the increase of sulfate minerals content in the top layer of wastes compared to the wastes in depth. Rain water runoff (RWR) on the slopes of tailings is characterised by the prevalence of calcium and sulfate, as well as the presence of metals such as Zn, Fe, Mn, Sr and Cd. Metals and sulfates migration in RWR is one of the ways of contaminants’ spreading around Zn-Pb processing mine tailings.

Keywords: rain water runoff, flotation waste, heavy metals, secondary mineral phases.