TITLE:
Geochemical CompGeochemical Comparison of Fresh and Weathered Tailings from the Sabodala Gold Mine Kedougou Region, Senegal Following 6 Years of Operationarison of Fresh and Weathered Tailings from the Sabodala Gold Mine Kedougou Region, Senegal Following 6 Years of Operation
AUTHORS:
Ibrahima Dia, Mababa Diagne, Mamadou Gueye, Andrew Barnes, Christian Mace
KEYWORDS:
Acid Base Accounting, Neutralization Potential, Elemental Analysis, Mineralogy
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.8 No.7,
July
29,
2020
ABSTRACT: The Sabodala gold mine is located in the Kedegou region in eastern Senegal near the border with Mali in a tropical Savannah climate zone with distinct wet and dry seasons. The mine has been operating since 2009 with active tailings deposition giving an ideal opportunity to study the weathering characteristics of carbonate rich tailings materials under real world conditions. The mine is operated in accordance with international best practice with regular monitoring of water quality and tailings chemistry in accordance with the international cyanide management code (ICMC) and also in order to monitor and control any potential impacts from Acid Rock Drainage and Metal Leaching (ARDML) that may be generated from the tailings materials and waste rock. In 2015 as part of a project looking at the potential for re-use of generated tailings as construction materials, a number of additional geochemical tests including whole rock assays, mineralogy, Acid Base Accounting in accordance with modified Sobek method with siderite correction, together with paste pH and electrical conductivity (Ec) measurements were undertaken. The purpose of the study was to update the predictions of the potential for ARDML generation and drainage pH in leachates forming from the Sabodala tailings. The tests were run on one composite weathered and 3 selective fresh samples collected by auger drilling on three holes over the tailing. Results have enabled a better understanding of the chemical weathering characteristics of finely ground tailings materials under tropical weathering conditions and the nature of secondary minerals precipitated.