Primary Phases and Natural Weathering of Smelting Slag at an Abandoned Mine Site in Southwest Japan
Artisanal metallurgical slag produced more than 50 years ago at a mine site in southwest Japan is rich in toxic metals and metalloids. Some of the slag remains on a waste dump and could contaminate the surrounding area through the dissolution of heavy metals and metalloids during weathering. To asse...
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doaj-655a9f2846c14ddd91e8059aa1958a5f2020-11-24T21:06:14ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2013-12-013441242610.3390/min3040412min3040412Primary Phases and Natural Weathering of Smelting Slag at an Abandoned Mine Site in Southwest JapanYuri Sueoka0Masayuki Sakakibara1Graduated School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, JapanGraduated School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, JapanArtisanal metallurgical slag produced more than 50 years ago at a mine site in southwest Japan is rich in toxic metals and metalloids. Some of the slag remains on a waste dump and could contaminate the surrounding area through the dissolution of heavy metals and metalloids during weathering. To assess this risk, this study has investigated the behavior of the toxic elements in the smelting slag during weathering. Most of the potentially toxic elements are contained in willemite and/or matte drops. Maximum metal and metalloid concentrations in the slag are 28.1 wt % Fe, 22.7 wt % Zn, 1.63 wt % Cu, 3450 mg/kg Sn, 826 mg/kg Pb, 780 mg/kg As, and 116 mg/kg Cd. Zn is mainly contained in willemite, whereas other metals and metalloids are mainly concentrated in matte drops. The willemite and matte drops are converted to Fe-hydroxides during weathering, indicating that potentially toxic metals and metalloids contained in these phases are released by weathering processes. Therefore, weathering of the artisanal metallurgical slag, containing large amounts of willemite and matte drops, may pollute the surrounding environment.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/3/4/412slagweatheringZnCupollutionwillemitematte drop |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Yuri Sueoka Masayuki Sakakibara |
spellingShingle |
Yuri Sueoka Masayuki Sakakibara Primary Phases and Natural Weathering of Smelting Slag at an Abandoned Mine Site in Southwest Japan Minerals slag weathering Zn Cu pollution willemite matte drop |
author_facet |
Yuri Sueoka Masayuki Sakakibara |
author_sort |
Yuri Sueoka |
title |
Primary Phases and Natural Weathering of Smelting Slag at an Abandoned Mine Site in Southwest Japan |
title_short |
Primary Phases and Natural Weathering of Smelting Slag at an Abandoned Mine Site in Southwest Japan |
title_full |
Primary Phases and Natural Weathering of Smelting Slag at an Abandoned Mine Site in Southwest Japan |
title_fullStr |
Primary Phases and Natural Weathering of Smelting Slag at an Abandoned Mine Site in Southwest Japan |
title_full_unstemmed |
Primary Phases and Natural Weathering of Smelting Slag at an Abandoned Mine Site in Southwest Japan |
title_sort |
primary phases and natural weathering of smelting slag at an abandoned mine site in southwest japan |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Minerals |
issn |
2075-163X |
publishDate |
2013-12-01 |
description |
Artisanal metallurgical slag produced more than 50 years ago at a mine site in southwest Japan is rich in toxic metals and metalloids. Some of the slag remains on a waste dump and could contaminate the surrounding area through the dissolution of heavy metals and metalloids during weathering. To assess this risk, this study has investigated the behavior of the toxic elements in the smelting slag during weathering. Most of the potentially toxic elements are contained in willemite and/or matte drops. Maximum metal and metalloid concentrations in the slag are 28.1 wt % Fe, 22.7 wt % Zn, 1.63 wt % Cu, 3450 mg/kg Sn, 826 mg/kg Pb, 780 mg/kg As, and 116 mg/kg Cd. Zn is mainly contained in willemite, whereas other metals and metalloids are mainly concentrated in matte drops. The willemite and matte drops are converted to Fe-hydroxides during weathering, indicating that potentially toxic metals and metalloids contained in these phases are released by weathering processes. Therefore, weathering of the artisanal metallurgical slag, containing large amounts of willemite and matte drops, may pollute the surrounding environment. |
topic |
slag weathering Zn Cu pollution willemite matte drop |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/3/4/412 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT yurisueoka primaryphasesandnaturalweatheringofsmeltingslagatanabandonedminesiteinsouthwestjapan AT masayukisakakibara primaryphasesandnaturalweatheringofsmeltingslagatanabandonedminesiteinsouthwestjapan |
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1716766206210342912 |