Oxidation of pyrite and arsenopyrite in sulphidic spoils in Lavrion

Komnitsas, K; Xenidis, A; Adam, K

dc.contributor.author	Komnitsas, K	en
dc.contributor.author	Xenidis, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Adam, K	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:11:24Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:11:24Z
dc.date.issued	1995	en
dc.identifier.issn	0892-6875	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/11617
dc.subject	arsenopyrite	en
dc.subject	environmental impact	en
dc.subject	Lavrion	en
dc.subject	Pyrite	en
dc.subject	sulphidic spoils	en
dc.subject.classification	Engineering, Chemical	en
dc.subject.classification	Mineralogy	en
dc.subject.classification	Mining & Mineral Processing	en
dc.subject.other	Bacteria	en
dc.subject.other	Leaching	en
dc.subject.other	Oxygen	en
dc.subject.other	Pyrites	en
dc.subject.other	Soil pollution	en
dc.subject.other	Sulfide minerals	en
dc.subject.other	Water	en
dc.subject.other	Arsenopyrite	en
dc.subject.other	Sulfidic spoils	en
dc.subject.other	Oxidation	en
dc.title	Oxidation of pyrite and arsenopyrite in sulphidic spoils in Lavrion	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1016/0892-6875(95)00109-3	en
heal.identifier.secondary	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0892-6875(95)00109-3	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	1995	en
heal.abstract	This paper aims to present the aspects of oxidation of pyrite and arsenopyrite in the sulphidic spoils in Lavrion and to assess the environmental impact of this process. Sulphidic spoils, under the combined action of atmospheric oxygen, water and bacteria are oxidised and toxic elements are released and migrate to surrounding areas contributing to widespread soil contamination and severe deterioration in the quality of surface and underground waters. The critical factors which control the generation of acidic waters are availability of oxygen and water, temperature, bacterial activity and rate of oxygen diffusion through the pores in the upper zones of spoils. Special emphasis will be given in the oxidation of sulphidic spoils at Lavrion, Greece, where the generation of acidic waters causes widespread contamination. This study is focused in the first part on the preferential oxidation of arsenopyrite. Flotation products containing pyrite and arsenopyrite were subjected to bacterial leaching tests at 3% w/v pulp density and the degrees of oxidation were calculated and compared to with previous experimental studies. These results provided the basis to assess the behaviour of the above minerals in waste stockpiles. Moreover, and in order to assess the oxidation and precipitation mechanisms, several samples were collected up to a depth of 20 cm from the surface from the same spoils profile, where successive layers of oxidation products were present and characterised chemically and mineralogically. The above information is critically evaluated for the determination of the environmental impact of the oxidation of sulphide phases in spoils. © 1995.	en
heal.publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD	en
heal.journalName	Minerals Engineering	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1016/0892-6875(95)00109-3	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:A1995TN37000001	en
dc.identifier.volume	8	en
dc.identifier.issue	12	en
dc.identifier.spage	1443	en
dc.identifier.epage	1454	en