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In recent years, the use of iron tailings after beneficiation has become a topic of increasing concern. Iron tailings are valuable elements with low content produced during the processing and utilization of iron ore. It has long been recognized as an environmental hazard if not appropriately managed. With the mining of mines and the continuous development of the iron and steel industry, iron tailings have an increased storage capacity as a kind of beneficiation waste. However, recent research has found that these tailings can be used for various purposes, including environmental protection measures. Innovative uses of iron tailings are emerging as a resource that protects the environment.
Iron tailings are a by-product of iron ore processing, also known as waste rock or gangue. Iron ore must be processed to remove impurities and separate the valuable iron components when it is mined and extracted. This process produces a lot of waste, including sand, clay and rocks that contain no valuable minerals.
Iron tailings are usually stored in large piles or ponds near mine sites. They can pose significant environmental risks if not managed properly. Storage and disposal of these materials can affect soil and water quality and pose a physical hazard to nearby wildlife and people. Despite their negative impact on the environment, there are ways to mitigate the risks associated with iron tailings.
1. The impact of water quality. If these wastes are not adequately treated or effectively controlled, they can seep into water bodies and cause pollution. This contamination may be harmful to aquatic life and affect human health if consumed. In addition, heavy metal pollution in iron tailings can lead to soil degradation and loss of biodiversity in the affected areas.
2. When iron tailings come into contact with oxygen during mining activities, they form a rust-like substance called iron oxide, which is very acidic. Greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide are released during decomposition.
1. Iron tailings re-election and recovery of valuable minerals
The reuse of iron tailings is gaining popularity due to its versatility and economics. After beneficiation, immature technology has resulted in most valuable minerals remaining in the tailings, and this part of the resources has a good recovery value. After analyzing the mineral composition of the iron tailings, it can be re-selected by flotation, gravity separation, magnetic separation or combined beneficiation to recover valuable components.
(1) Flotation: It is mainly suitable for the recovery of fine-grained iron tailings.
(2) Gravity separation: Pre-selection is mainly done in the iron tailings re-selection operation. Among them, the spiral chute is used for pre-throwing tails, the shaking table is often used to re-elect strong magnetic concentrates, and the centrifugal concentrator is responsible for separating fine-grained minerals.
(3) Magnetic separation: Generally suitable for processing iron minerals with weak magnetic properties in iron tailings, such as hematite, limonite, etc. Usually, 2~3 strong magnetic separation methods are required to obtain iron concentrate.
2. Iron tailings are used as building materials
Iron ore resources are embedded with fine particle size and generally need to go through two-stage grinding and a few three-stage grinding and sorting. Therefore, except for some coarse-grained tailings thrown out by pre-selection, most of the tailings discharged and stored in beneficiation have a particle size. It is relatively fine. Generally, the tailings particle size is less than 0.074mm, accounting for 50% to 70%. Only the tailings in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River have coarser tailings. At the same time, the main mineral composition of iron tailings is similar to that of natural sand. It is widely used in iron tailings concrete, iron tailings bricks, iron tailings thermal insulation wall materials, and iron tailings to prepare glass ceramics and other building materials. It can reduce the accumulation of iron tailings caused by environmental pollution and land waste, replace some raw materials, and save production costs.
3. Iron tailings filling goaf
Currently, mining methods such as the caving or ore retention methods are mostly used in the underground mining process of iron ore. Most of them are exposed or shallow ore bodies on the surface. Gradually the value of the ore was raised and the price rebounded. Mining has formed many goaves, bringing serious safety hazards to the normal development of surrounding construction and mining work. Iron tailings are used as filler in the goaf, which solves the land waste and environmental problems caused by the accumulation of iron tailings.
4. Iron tailings are used for ecological restoration
Although many countries have fewer people and more land, they attach great importance to land reclamation. For example, Germany, Canada, the United States, Russia, and Australia all attach great importance to the reclamation of tailings ponds. The land reclamation rate of mines has reached 80%. Iron tailings contain iron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, phosphorus and other trace elements required for plant growth. Using iron tailings to make fertilizers can improve soils and increase soil fertility.
The innovative use of iron tailings can reduce waste disposal costs. It is also an effective way to reduce environmental hazards and produce low-cost concrete materials. Iron tailings can be used as a construction materia, recovery useful mineral, etc. Even if the process is complicated. The possibilities are endless, from improving soil fertility to being a raw material source for building materials. The right policies and incentives must be in place to ensure these initiatives are widely replicated. These tailings can be reused in multiple ways, providing economic benefits while protecting the environment. JXSC offers innovative tailings reprocessing solutions to reduce environmental pollution and promote sustainable development.
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