Abstract
This article summarizes some of the pertinent information in literature on the release and the removal of heavy-metal ions together with cursory experiments performed over the past few years at the Mineral Resources Research Center, and attempts to delineate an experimental program that might be helpful in the development of the copper-nickel resources in northern Minnesota. The potential mining and milling of Duluth gabbro requires that the release of heavy-metal ions via oxidation, though perhaps in minute quantities, must be evaluated. To effectively control the release of these metals the whole system, including mine water drainage, mill effluent and surface drainage, rainfall and evaporation, must be carefully assessed. The individual elements in the system must be studied in detail to determine their relationships to one another. An indication is given that a blending of limestone or marl in small quantities with tailings and waste rock may control the oxidation of sulfide minerals and minimize the acid formation and the release of heavy-metal ions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| State | Published - Jan 1 1976 |