Tailings reprocessing from Cabeço do Pião dam in Central Portugal: A kinetic approach of experimental data

Authors

Janine Figueiredo, Centre for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA), Portugal ; Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, Portugal
Maria Cristina Vila, Centre for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA), Portugal ; Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, Portugal
Kristina Matos, Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, Portugal
Diogo Martins, Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, Portugal
Aurora Futuro, Centre for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA), Portugal ; Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, Portugal
Maria de Lurdes Dinis, Centre for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA), Portugal ; Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, Portugal
Joaquim Góis, Centre for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA), Portugal ; Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, Portugal
Alexandre Leite, Centre for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA), Portugal ; Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, Portugal
António Fiúza, Centre for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA), Portugal ; Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, Portugal

Author ORCID Identifier

Janine Figueiredo 0000-0003-1396-7889

Maria Cristina Vila 0000-0002-5063-5632

Diogo Martins 0000-0002-6900-5702

Aurora Futuro 0000-0003-2484-4788

Maria de Lurdes Dinis 0000-0002-4774-2533

Joaquim Góis 0000-0002-1916-0966

Alexandre Leite 0000-0002-4137-6632

António Fiúza 0000-0001-8435-8314

Abstract

The mining waste and tailing dam are object of discussion due to the accidents that occur due to a lack of control or due to interest in the remaining minerals present in these materials. Most of the old tailings dams have high contents of heavy metals which could represent potential risks to the environment or be an alternative source of some critical raw materials. The case study of the Cabeço do Pião dam in Central Portugal involved tailings from a processing plant that belonged to the Panasqueira Mine Complex, which has been in operation for over 120 years. Waste rock and mining tailings were deposited in the area until 1995, and they represent an environmental liability for the local population due to their high content of toxic metals. Tailings reprocessing can be considered as a solution that minimizes social and environmental impacts, recovers some essential minerals, such as Zn, W, and Cu which can help to offset investments made. The project design involves several stages of metal concentration, determined by experiments, as well as a model of the process. The overall model will take into account technological constraints, social-economic conditions and environmental impacts. A preliminary result of an optimization study of the kinetic approach is presented in this piece of work.

Recommended Citation

Figueiredo, Janine; Vila, Maria Cristina; Matos, Kristina; Martins, Diogo; Futuro, Aurora; Dinis, Maria de Lurdes; Góis, Joaquim; Leite, Alexandre; and Fiúza, António (2018) "Tailings reprocessing from Cabeço do Pião dam in Central Portugal: A kinetic approach of experimental data," Journal of Sustainable Mining: Vol. 17 : Iss. 3 , Article 6.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.46873/2300-3960.1132

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