Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of gold mine tailings for the potential of acid mine drainage in the Sabie - Pilgrims's Rest Goldfields

Abstract

This study entails geochemical and mineralogical characterization of gold tailings of Nestor Mine and Glynn’s Lydenberg Mine of the Sabie-Pilgrim’s Rest goldfields. A total of 35 samples were collected and were analysed for chemical composition (XRF and ICP-MS), mineralogical composition (XRD). In addition, acid-base accounting (ABA) techniques had been conducted to predict the potential for acid mine drainage. Seepage from Nestor tailings dump and water samples from the adjacent Sabie River were also collected and analysed by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and immediate constituent (IC) -analytical techniques. The study revealed that Sabie-pilgrim’s rest goldfield is characterized by both acid generating and non-acid producing tailings, and this is attributed to variations in the mineralogy of source rocks. Gold occurred within the Black Reef Quartzite Formation in the Nestor Mine and within the Malmani Dolomite in the case of Glynn’s Lydenburg Mine. Mineralogy and bulk geochemical analyses performed in this study showed a clear variation in the chemistry of Nestor Mine and Glynn’s Lydenburg Mine tailings. Predominant oxides in Nestor mine tailings samples are SiO2 (ranging from 66.7-91.25 wt. %; followed by Fe2O3 and Al2O3 (in range of 0.82-15.63 wt. %; 3.21-12.50 wt. % respectively); TiO2 (0.18-10.18 wt. %) and CaO (0.005-3.2 wt. %). Also occurring in small amounts is CaO (0.005-3.2 wt. %), K2O (0.51-2.27 wt. %), MgO (0.005-1.46 wt. %), P2O5 (0.029-0.248), Cr2O3 (0.013-0.042 wt. %) and Na2O (0.005-0.05 wt. %). The samples also contain significant concentrations of As (137-1599 ppm), Cu (34-571 ppm), Cr (43-273 ppm), Pb (12-276 ppm), Ni (16-157 ppm), V (29-255 ppm), and Zn 7-485 ppm). In the Glynn’s Lydenburg Mine tailings SiO2 is also the most dominant oxide ranging between 47.95 and 65.89 w%; followed by Al2O3 (4.31 to 16.19 wt. %), Fe2O3 (8.48 to 11.70 wt %), CaO (2.18 to 7.10 wt. %), MgO (2.74 to 4.7 wt. %). Occurring in small amounts is K2O (1.12-1.70 wt. %), MnO (0.089-0.175 wt. %), P2O5 (0.058-0.144 wt. %) and Cr2O3 (0.015-0.027 wt. %). Arsenic (As), is also occurring in significant amounts (807-2502 ppm), followed by Cr (117-238 ppm), Cu (10-104 ppm), V (56-235 ppm), Ni (45-132 ppm), Pb (13-63 ppm) and Zn (90-240 ppm). Nestor Mine tailings associated with Black Reef Formation mineralization have net neutralizing potential (NPR) <2, hence more likely to generate acid; and their acid potential (AP) ranges 1.56 to 140.31 CaCO3/ton and neutralizing potential (NP) range from -57.75 to -0.3 CaCO3/ton. Glynn’s Lydenburg Mine tailings dump which is vi associated with dolomite mineralization, however, was not leaching acid. Based on acid-base accounting results, these tailings have more neutralizing potential (ranging between 57.6 and 207.88 CaCO3/ton) than acid potential (ranging between 7.5 and 72.1 CaCO3/ton); and their NPR>2, hence unlikely to produce acid. This is confirmed by paste pH which was in the ranges between 7.35 and 8.17. Tailings eroded from Nestor Mine tailings dump were also found to be characterized by high content of metals and oxides, namely, As, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn with SiO2, Fe2O3 and TiO2. The tailings were observed eroded into the Sabie River where AMD related precipitate (yellow boy) was also observed, indicating further oxidation downstream. Field observations, onsite analyses of water samples and laboratory results revealed that Nestor Mine tailings storage facility discharges acid mine drainage with considerable amounts of Al, As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and SO4 and very low pH exceeding the limit as per South African water quality standards. High concentrations of these metals have toxicity potential on plants, animals and humans. Upon exposure to oxygen and water, tailings from Nestor Mine are more likely to generate acid mine drainage that can cause detrimental effect to the environment and the surrounding communities. Potential pollutants are Fe, Mn, Al, As, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb. Tailings from Glynn’s Lydenberg showed no potential for acid mine drainage formation.