H. Holmstrom et al., Geochemical investigations of sulfide-bearing tailings at Kristineberg, northern Sweden, a few years after remediation, SCI TOTAL E, 273(1-3), 2001, pp. 111-133
In the Kristineberg mining area in northern Sweden, massive, pyrite-rich Zn
-Cu ores are intercalated in ca, 1.9 Ga volcano-sedimentary rocks. Investig
ations of a tailings impoundment remediated by means of both till coverage
and raising the groundwater table have been undertaken. The aim of the stud
!: was to characterise the tailings with respect to mineralogy, the chemica
l composition of both the tailings and the pore water, and to try To identi
fy the significant reactions that may have occurred before and after remedi
ation. It was found that the oxidation front had reached down to depths of
between approximately 0.1 and 1.15 m before remediation. The oxidation of s
ulfides has produced high concentrations of some metals in the pore water;
up to 26, 16, 4.1, 2.7 and 82 mg/l have been measured for Al, Mn. Fe and Zn
, respectively. Concentrations of metals such as: Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and Ph are
lower, with average concentrations of 18.4. 83.8 45. 79.6 and 451 mug/l, r
espectively. Higher concentrations of major elements such as Ca, Fe, Mn, Mg
and S have been measured at depth in pore water than at shallower levels.
This is probably caused by hush out of elements after remediation and verti
cal transport from the upper parts before remediation, The pH is relatively
high, approximately 5.5 at most depths in the tailings, except in and arou
nd the former oxidation zone where it is lower, and where the highest disso
lved concentrations of elements such as As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb and Zn occur. Th
is is probably due to the release of metals secondarily retained below the
oxidation front prior to the remediation, Since the groundwater table is ra
ised, the groundwater reaches the retained metals, which leads to desorptio
n of metals and dissolution of secondary minerals. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc
e B.V. All rights reserved.