Unlocking the potential of sulphide tailings: A comprehensive characterization study for critical mineral recovery

Sulphide tailings are a major environmental concern due to acid mine drainage and heavy metal leaching, with costly treatments that lack economic benefits. Reprocessing these wastes for resource recovery can address pollution while creating economic opportunities. This study aimed to evaluate the potential for critical mineral recovery by characterizing sulphide tailings from a Zn-Cu-Pb mining site. Advanced analytical tools, such as electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-based energy dispersive spec-troscopy (EDS), were utilized to determine the physical, geochemical, and mineralogical properties of the tail-ings. The results showed that the tailings were fine-grained (similar to 50 wt% below 63 mu m) and composed of Si (similar to 17 wt %), Ba (similar to 13 wt%), and Al, Fe, and Mn (similar to 6 wt%). Of these, Mn, a critical mineral, was analyzed for recovery potential, and it was found to be largely contained in rhodochrosite (MnCO3) mineral. The metallurgical balance revealed that similar to 93 wt% of Mn was distributed in-150 + 10 mu m size fractions containing 75% of the total mass. Additionally, the mineral liberation analysis indicated that Mn-grains were primarily liberated below 106 mu m size, suggesting the need for light grinding of above 106 mu m size to liberate the locked Mn minerals. This study demonstrates the potential of sulphide tailings as a source for critical minerals, rather than being a burden, and highlights the benefits of reprocessing them for a resource recovery to address both environmental and economic concerns.