The characterization of historical mine tailings provides important information for land-management decisions, in particular when considering potential reprocessing activities or the development of an environmental protection program. In addition, outcomes from such characterization may define the scope for a more detailed investigation. The present work describes the characterization of the waste material from the Cabeço do Pião tailings impoundment performed within the project ReMinE: Improve Resource Efficiency and Minimize Environmental Footprint. The purpose of the work was to investigate alternative mine waste management options such as the extraction of valuable resources from an environmental liability. The study involved the collection of 41 samples at different locations at two different depths, physical and chemical characterization of the wastes, natural leaching tests, and potential for acid generation. The results showed that, apart from the potential instability of the dyke (with an average slope of 35°), the drained solutions flowing by percolation contain very small particles with high arsenic contents that are being incorporated into the river sediments. In addition, these very fine-grained materials are available for the transport by the wind creating secondary sources of environmental contamination. This data is fundamental for economic and environmental assessment of the two main alternatives, reprocessing or removal.

中文翻译：

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矿山遗留场的特征：环境管理和金属回收的方法。

历史性矿山尾矿的特征为土地管理决策提供了重要信息，尤其是在考虑潜在的后处理活动或制定环境保护计划时。此外，这种表征的结果可能会定义更详细调查的范围。本工作描述了在ReMinE：提高资源效率和最小化环境足迹项目中进行的CabeçodoPião尾矿库中废料的表征。这项工作的目的是研究替代性的矿山废物管理方案，例如从环境责任中提取有价值的资源。该研究涉及在两个不同深度的不同位置收集41个样本，废物的物理和化学特性，自然浸出试验以及产生酸的潜力。结果表明，除了堤坝的潜在不稳定性（平均坡度为35°）之外，通过渗流作用排出的溶液含有非常小的高砷含量的颗粒，这些颗粒被掺入河流沉积物中。另外，这些细颗粒的材料可通过风进行运输，从而产生了环境污染的次级来源。该数据对于后处理或清除这两个主要替代方案的经济和环境评估至关重要。渗滤后排出的溶液中含有非常少量的高砷含量的颗粒，这些颗粒被掺入河流沉积物中。另外，这些细颗粒的材料可通过风进行运输，从而产生了环境污染的次级来源。该数据对于后处理或清除这两个主要替代方案的经济和环境评估至关重要。渗滤后排出的溶液中含有非常少量的高砷含量的颗粒，这些颗粒被掺入河流沉积物中。另外，这些细颗粒的材料可通过风进行运输，从而产生了环境污染的次级来源。该数据对于后处理或清除这两个主要替代方案的经济和环境评估至关重要。