Abstract A new insight into the way in which the mineralogical composition and texture (liberation) of sulfides govern the geochemical behavior of the tailings in terms of acid mine drainage (AMD) generation is presented. Two samples were taken from Dundee Precious Metals Chelopech (DPM-Ch) tailings management facility (TMF). They were likewise subjected to flotation to recover reactive (liberated and partially liberated) pyrite whilst the unreacted (locked) pyrite was kept in the tailings fraction. Geochemical (static and kinetic) tests were performed on the collected samples and tailings after flotation. A scanning electron microscope based automated mineralogy system was used to characterize them in terms of modal mineralogy, liberation degree and particle size. The absolute acid-generating potential (AP) defined by the Sobek method most likely overestimates the effective AP when pyrite is locked into non–reactive gangue minerals. Hence, the locked pyrite may unfavorably lead to increased tailings management costs. Therefore, the automated mineralogy data was used to calculate the effective AP of the tailings taking into account pyrite grade and its liberation degree. Based on these findings, it could be assumed that the amount of lime required to neutralize the acidity produced by pyrite oxidation would be considerably reduced (in the studied case nearly 4 times) if environmental desulfurization by flotation is practiced and the liberation degree of the acid-producing minerals is taken into account.

中文翻译：

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黄铁矿解离度对硫化物浮选尾矿酸性矿山排水潜力影响的探讨

摘要 就酸性矿山排水 (AMD) 生成而言，对硫化物的矿物组成和结构（释放）控制尾矿地球化学行为的方式提出了新见解。两个样品取自 Dundee Precious Metals Chelopech (DPM-Ch) 尾矿管理设施 (TMF)。它们同样经过浮选以回收反应性（释放的和部分释放的）黄铁矿，而未反应的（锁定的）黄铁矿保留在尾矿馏分中。对浮选后收集的样品和尾矿进行地球化学（静态和动力学）测试。使用基于扫描电子显微镜的自动矿物学系统在模态矿物学、解离度和粒度方面表征它们。当黄铁矿被锁定在非反应性脉石矿物中时，由 Sobek 方法定义的绝对产酸潜力 (AP) 很可能高估了有效 AP。因此，锁定的黄铁矿可能不利地导致尾矿管理成本增加。因此，考虑到黄铁矿品位及其解离度，使用自动化矿物学数据计算尾矿的有效 AP。基于这些发现，可以假设，如果采用浮选法进行环境脱硫，并且酸的释放度降低，则中和黄铁矿氧化产生的酸度所需的石灰量将大大减少（在所研究的情况下为近 4 倍） - 考虑到生产矿物。锁定的黄铁矿可能不利地导致尾矿管理成本增加。因此，考虑到黄铁矿品位及其解离度，使用自动化矿物学数据计算尾矿的有效 AP。基于这些发现，可以假设，如果采用浮选法进行环境脱硫，并且酸的释放度降低，则中和黄铁矿氧化产生的酸度所需的石灰量将大大减少（在所研究的情况下为近 4 倍）。 - 考虑到生产矿物。锁定的黄铁矿可能不利地导致尾矿管理成本增加。因此，考虑到黄铁矿品位及其解离度，使用自动化矿物学数据计算尾矿的有效 AP。基于这些发现，可以假设，如果采用浮选法进行环境脱硫，并且酸的释放度降低，则中和黄铁矿氧化产生的酸度所需的石灰量将大大减少（在所研究的情况下为近 4 倍）。 - 考虑到生产矿物。