Characterisation and prediction of acid rock drainage potential in waste rock: Value of integrating quantitative mineralogical and textural measurements

摘要: Abstract The value of quantitative mineralogy and texture is often not fully appreciated within minerals applications, particularly so in the analysis acid rock drainage (ARD). This partly due to absence a clear understanding as why textural tools such QEMSCAN are valuable for ARD assessment. Additionally, most prediction work performed on coarse particle scale, which statistical representativeness mineralogical data becomes difficult achieve. current study provides an application (Fe-sulfide liberation, association, grain size distribution) geochemical characterisation humidity cell tests applies these estimation fundamental sampling error (FSE) through binomial distribution confidence intervals liberation data. For tests, was key interpreting classification samples potentially forming, non-acid forming or uncertain. large degree Fe-sulfide encapsulation intermediate weathering, slow weathering inert aided circumneutral behaviour uncertain after 60 weeks testing. distribution, conjunction with assessment, showed that ±50% Fe-sulfides were unliberated, leading expectation reactivity cells would occur predominantly result mineral reaction finer fractions. evaluation uncertainties suggested “one fits all” Gy’s safety line binominal approximation may be adequate all cases, material, parent tests. In situations, material-specific approaches consideration should taken, this calculation FSE each sample, plotting size-by-size