Mineralogical studies of mine waste

矿山废弃物的矿物学研究

• 批准号: 8009-2008
• 负责人: Peterson, Ronald
• 金额: $ 1.68万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2010-01-01 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=450210
• 关键词: Mineralogical; studies; mine; waste

Metal-bearing sulfate minerals often have a significant impact on water quality near mining centers. They form through the oxidation and hydration of sulfur-containing ores. This process is accelerated dramatically when mining activity creates fine-grained sulfide-containing waste that can interact with oxygen and water. Mine waste from processing these sulfide ores creates very complex geochemical problems as the minerals interact with the atmosphere on the surface at a mine site and pollute the ground water. These problems can only be understood if there is detailed mineralogical information for the many sulfate minerals which come and go as the waste alters through the freeze/thaw cycle of the Canadian climate and over time as the waste matures. It is not enough to study well crystallized minerals from museum collections as these do not often have the same properties as materials that have formed under conditions found at active mine waste sites. To understand the mineralogical relationships a combination of field and laboratory studies are required. The field studies identify the particular mineralogical interactions which are important in mine waste settings. Laboratory experiments model these existing interactions in controlled settings so individual effects and processes can be isolated. These are not rare minerals from a restricted locality but are widespread in a variety of natural and disturbed environments. They are difficult to study because of their fine grain size and the intimate mixing of several species in one sample. The ability to design successful mine waste containment systems requires a thorough understanding of the minerals that are present. There is a tremendous opportunity for students to be trained in the various field and laboratory techniques during these studies.

含金属硫酸盐矿物通常对采矿中心附近的水质产生重大影响。它们是通过含硫矿石的氧化和水合形成的。当采矿活动产生可与氧气和水相互作用的细粒含硫化物废物时，这一过程会急剧加速。加工这些硫化矿石所产生的矿山废料会产生非常复杂的地球化学问题，因为这些矿物质与矿区表面的大气相互作用并污染地下水。只有掌握许多硫酸盐矿物的详细矿物学信息才能理解这些问题，这些硫酸盐矿物随着废物在加拿大气候的冻融循环中的变化以及随着废物成熟的时间的推移而变化。仅研究博物馆藏品中结晶良好的矿物是不够的，因为这些矿物通常不具有与在活跃矿山废弃场发现的条件下形成的材料相同的特性。为了了解矿物学关系，需要结合现场研究和实验室研究。实地研究确定了在矿山废物环境中非常重要的特定矿物学相互作用。实验室实验在受控环境中对这些现有的相互作用进行建模，以便可以隔离个体效应和过程。这些矿物并不是来自某个特定地区的稀有矿物，而是广泛存在于各种自然和受干扰的环境中。由于它们的颗粒尺寸细小，并且一个样品中多种物种紧密混合，因此很难对其进行研究。设计成功的矿山废物遏制系统的能力需要对存在的矿物质有透彻的了解。在这些学习期间，学生有巨大的机会接受各种领域和实验室技术的培训。