Environmental and geochemical characterization of alkaline mine wastes from Phalaborwa (Palabora) Complex, South Africa

A detailed characterization of alkaline tailing ponds and waste rock dumps from Phalaborwa Igneous Complex (PIC) South Africa, has been accomplished. The study goes beyond the environmental characterization of mining wastes, offering the first insight towards the recycling of the wastes as alkaline reagent to neutralize acid industrial wastewater. To achieve these aims, tailings and waste rocks were characterized using a combination of conventional, novel and modified Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) prediction methodologies, as well as South African leachate tests, sequential extractions and pseudo-total digestions. The scarcity of Fe-sulphide minerals and the abundance of alkaline minerals indicated that PIC wastes are not ARD producers. The highest neutralization potential was found in the carbonatite rocks and East tailing samples (range between 289 and 801 kg CaCO3 eq/t). According to the National Environmental Management Waste Act (59/2008) of South Africa, tailing ponds and waste rock dumps from PIC classify as non-hazardous (Type 3 waste). The sequential extractions showed that the different fractions from most of the samples would mostly release sulphate and non-toxic elements, such as Ca, Mg, Na and K, which might be a concern if leached in high concentration. In addition, relatively high concentrations of radionuclides, such as U and Th (average of 6.7 and 36.3 mg/kg, respectively) are present in the non-labile fraction of PIC wastes, while the leachable concentrations were always below 0.006 mg/L. Among PIC wastes, East tailing would be the best option as alkaline reagent to neutralize acid wastewater because of its high neutralization potential and non-harmful leachate composition. In general, this study exposes the shortcomings in mine waste characterization, particularly for alkaline mine wastes, and introduces the assessment of potential revalorization as a novel practice in mine waste characterization that, if extended as a regular practice, would facilitate a circular economy approach to the mining industry with its consequent economic and environmental benefits.

Automated summary

The study characterized alkaline tailing ponds and waste rock dumps from PIC, finding samples with high neutralization potential suitable for neutralizing acid wastewater as alkaline reagents, and classified PIC wastes as non-hazardous according to South African regulations. The research also revealed that the wastes mainly release sulphates and non-toxic elements, with low concentrations of radionuclides below acceptable standards.