The acid-forming potential of lead/zinc (Pb/Zn) mine tailings at Lechang Ci
ty of Guangdong Province was studied using both net acid generation (NAG) a
nd acid-base accounting (ABA) methods. The pyritic and total sulfur content
s of the tailings were 12.6% and 18.7%, respectively. The mean acid neutral
ization capacity (ANC) was 63.5 kg H2SO4/t while three oxidized tailings sa
mples had an ANC less than zero. The NAG and net acid production potential
(NAPP) values were 220 and 326 kg H2SO4/t, and both the NAG and NAPP result
s indicated that the tailings had a high acid-forming potential. NAG was mo
re accurate than NAPP in predicting acid-forming potential of the tailings
due to uncompleted oxidization of pyritic sulfur. Analysis of samples from
two profile tests indicated that acidification mainly occurred at the surfa
ce (0-20 cm) and had little effects at deep layer of the tailings. Total co
ncentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd were increased greatly with depth at the
acidified tailings profile, while heavy metal concentrations at different
depths of nonacidified tailings profile were similar. The results indicated
that depletion of heavy metals at the acidified surface was due to acidifi
cation. The diethylenetetramine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Pb, Zn,
Cu, and Cd concentrations of acidified tailings surface (0-20 cm) were sig
nificantly higher than those of nonacidified tailings, which further reveal
ed that acidification enhanced the mobility of heavy metals in the tailings
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