Environmental protection against acid mine drainage (AMD) testing of sulphide mining waste enrichment of the Chaabet-El-Hamra mine (Algeria)

The mining waste from the Chaabet-El-Hamra mine contains sulfides such as pyrite (FeS2), galena (PbS) and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) Which pose a threat to the environment. Sulphide minerals under the effect of oxygen and in the presence of water cause a phenomenon of acid mine drainage. Samples taken at the site of the sulphide mine waste at the Chaabet El Hamra mine and subsequently subjected to chemical analyzes offered an average sulfur content of 9%. X-ray diffractometer analyzes confirm the presence of a considerable inclusion of pyrite containing secondary minerals of sphalerite, and galena. To do this, the tests were directed to an environmental desulphurization process by flotation of the pyriterich fraction with depression of the low sulfur mineralogical matrix containing heavy metals of zinc and lead.