Impacts of gold mine waste disposal on deepwater fish in a pristine tropical marine system

Little is known about the impacts of mine waste disposal, including deep-sea tailings, on tropical marine environments and this study presents the first account of this impact on deepwater fish communities. The Lihir gold mine in Papua New Guinea has deposited both excavated overburden and processed tailings slurry into the coastal environment since 1997. The abundances of fish species and trace metal concentrations in their tissues were compared between sites adjacent to and away from the mine. In this study (1999-2002), 975 fish of 98 species were caught. Significantly fewer fish were caught close to the mine than in neighbouring regions; the highest numbers were in regions distant from the mine. The catch rates of nine of the 17 most abundant species were lowest, and in three species were highest, close to the mine. There appears to be limited contamination in fish tissues caused by trace metals disposed as mine waste. Although arsenic (several species) and mercury (one species) were found in concentrations above Australian food standards. However, as in the baseline (pre-mine) sampling, it appears they are accumulating these metals mostly from naturally-occurring sources rather than the mine waste.     

Organization of amphiphiles, Part VIII: Role of polyoxyethylated alkylphenols in optimizing the beneficiation of hydrophilic mineral

The floatability of silica has been determined by adsorbing various concentrations of a series of polyoxyethylated nonyl and octyl alkyl phenols of varying oxyethylene units (10–40 units) to investigate the role of adsorbed layer. It is seen that the floatability of silica increases with increase in concentration till a maximum of  90% in premicellar region and then decrease to minimum of 40–45% in all cases in spite of the significant differences in adsorption densities. Zeta potential measurement reveals that a thin oxyethylene layer is formed at silica–water interface masking silica surface (Pramila K. Misra, P. Somasundaran, J. Surf. Deterg., Vol. 7, 2004, 373). This layer with oxyethylene units lying on silica surface and alkyl chain dangling to the bulk solution provides the same extent of hydrophobicity. The decrease in flotation recovery has been attributed to increase in the solvent hydrophobicity due to formation of premicellar aggregates and micelles.     

铀尾矿库退役后的污染源项调查方法

从源项调查的目的、意义、基本内容和主要方法等方面进行了研究,分析了国内该方面研究工作的主要动态,指出了目前源项调查工作存在的主要问题,并对退役治理工作提出了合理的建议。     

人工矿床定量评价研究——以云锡公司古山采选厂葫芦塘尾矿库为例

对人矿床进行地质－工艺评价，开发利用这一巨大的潜在资源，是现阶段矿业生产发展的一项迫切的新任务。以葫芦塘尾矿库为例，通过三维模拟技术对尾矿库型人工矿床的形态、产状、储量、品位及其变化进行了定量模拟和评价；同时开展了人工矿床的技术评价和经济评价。通过对尾矿开发成本构成以及精锡成本影响因素的定量分析，得出了提高经济效益的最佳对策。     

Transport and dispersal of organic debris (peat blocks) in upland fluvial systems

This paper assesses the mechanisms and pathways by which peat blocks are eroded and transported in upland fluvial systems. Observations and experiments from the north Pennines (UK) have been carried out on two contrasting river systems. Mapping of peat block distributions and appraisal of reach‐based sediment budgets clearly demonstrates that macro‐size peat is an important stream load component. In small streams block sizes can approximate the channel width and much of the peat is transported overbank. Local ‘peat jams’ and associated mineral deposition may provide an important component of channel storage. In larger systems peat blocks rapidly move down‐channel and undergo frequent exchanges between bed and bank storage. Results of peat block tracing using painted blocks indicate that once submerged, blocks of all sizes are easily transported and blocks break down rapidly by abrasion. Vegetation and bars play an important role in trapping mobile peat. In smaller streams large block transport is limited by channel jams. Smaller blocks are transported overbank but exhibit little evidence of downstream fining. In larger rivers peat blocks are more actively sorted and show downstream reduction in size from source. A simple model relating peat block diameter (D_p) to average flow depth (d) suggests three limiting transport conditions: flotation (D_p < d), rolling (d < D_p > d/2) and deposition (D_p > d/2). Experiments demonstrate that peat block transport occurs largely by rolling and floating and the transport mechanism is probably controlled by relative flow depth (d/D_p ratio). Transport velocity varies with transport mechanism (rolling is the slowest mode) and transport lengths increase as flow depth increases. Abrasion rates vary with the transport mechanism. Rolling produces greater abrasion rates and more rounded blocks. Abrasion rates vary from 0 to 10 g m^?1 for blocks ranging in mass from 10 to 6000 g. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of oxidation potential and zinc sulphate on the separation of chalcopyrite from pyrite

The effects of oxidation potential (Eh) and zinc sulphate on the separation of chalcopyrite from pyrite were investigated at pH 9.0. The flotation recovery of these minerals is Eh dependent with maximum separation obtained at 275 mV SHE. Zinc sulphate addition improved this mineral separation at an Eh value of 275 mV by selectively depressing pyrite flotation. A different result was obtained at lower Eh values where zinc sulphate addition improved chalcopyrite flotation but had no or little effect on pyrite flotation. These opposite effects of zinc sulphate on mineral flotation were reconciled by examining the surface species of these minerals. The selective depression of pyrite flotation by zinc sulphate was also confirmed in the flotation of two copper ores.     

Evaluation of multiphase flotation models in grid turbulence via Particle Image Velocimetry

Industrial processes involving multi-phase flows such as flotation require understanding of the relationships between bubbles, solid particles and the flow. Modern experimental tools are employed in this effort to measure with great accuracy the basic features of the motion of all three phases in turbulent flow. We employed a unique Digital Particle Image Velocimeter (DPIV) that can record with great accuracy and kHz temporal resolution, velocity vectors of all three phases, namely the fluid, the solid particles and the air bubbles. The interaction of these three phases was studied in homogeneous isotropic turbulence generated by cylindrical grids. Particles and bubbles were released into the turbulence and the motions of the three phases were monitored. The experimental results obtained in the present work were compared with the predictions of the models published in the literature.     

Arsenic fixation on iron-hydroxide-rich and plant litter-containing sediments in natural environments

Iron-hydroxide-rich and plant litter-containing sediments from natural sites contaminated with uranium mine tailing leachates were examined for their ability to adsorb arsenic. The samples with high contents of iron hydroxides (Fe_total concentration, >300 g kg⁻¹) exhibited remarkable fixation of arsenic (up to 40 g As kg⁻¹). This value corresponded approximately to the supersaturation point for natural iron hydroxides under the present conditions, and it was significantly lower than the value found for synthetic iron hydroxides. There was a strong correlation (R=0.8999) between the concentration of iron and that of arsenic at low arsenic contents, indicating adsorption on strong binding sites. Although all the samples had noticeable contents of organic carbon (plant litter), calcium, and manganese, no obvious effect of these elements on arsenic fixation could be detected. The amount of iron hydroxides was found the only fixation-controlling parameter immediately below a leaching water source.     

找矿哲学在紫金矿业中的应用

随着地表找矿难度的日益加大,目前的找矿目标应从以地表找矿为主转到地下找矿为主,这就需要有更高层次的找矿哲学作指导来提高找矿的成功率。紫金矿业合理利用废弃的毛石充分体现了找矿哲学思想,这样做提高了企业效益,再通过联合经营使资源枯竭型矿山企业走上可持续发展之路。     

氯化钠存在下氯化亚锡-十六烷基三甲基氯化铵体系浮选分离复杂金属基体中锇

研究了氯化钠存在下氯化亚锡-十六烷基三甲基氯化铵体系对Os（Ⅳ）-三氯锡酸络阴离子的浮选行为。实验表明，在盐酸介质中，体系可以浮选分离Os（Ⅳ），其浮选率为95．2％。98.0％。方法加标回收率为94．0％-98．5％，精密度为2．1％-7．7％（RSD，n=5）。方法可用于从大量基体金属中分离Os（Ⅳ），对实际样品分离的分析结果与其他方法推荐值相符。