Scholarly record

DESIGN OPTIMIZATION OF A TAILINGS REPROCESSING: TUNGSTEN AND ZINC RECOVERY

Janine Figueiredo

Abstract

The reprocessing of tailings is gaining importance both for economic and environmental reasons. In the case of abandoned mining waste disposals, the reprocessing of tailings constitutes an option that can be considered to fit the paradigms of the actual mineral industry challenges: circular economy and sustainability. The present study focuses on the tailings of an old embankment (Cabe?o do Pi?o) of the tungsten Panasqueira mine, in central Portugal. Although Panasqueira mine is still in operation today, it had its production peak during the period of World War II, when tungsten was in great demand. This fact contributed to the disposal of residues with high levels of tungsten for today standards, but also of base metals such as copper and zinc; rare metals, that at the time had no economic value, are also occurring. A project for reprocessing the tailings poses several different objectives and criteria that general are conflicting. This work aims to develop an integrated decision tool to assess and manage the technological, economic, environmental and social criteria that drive the design of Cabe?o do Pi?o tailings reprocessing. Stochastic optimization methods, namely genetic algorithms are used as they allow simultaneous parametric and structural multi-objective optimization. The technical aspect of tailings reprocessing will be covered by multi-objective parametric optimization (W and Zn grades and recoveries) based on mathematical models and processing laboratory results for flotation and leaching. Then, economic, environmental and social constraints will be added to the different technical configurations included in the multi-objective (net smelter return or net operating profit) structural optimization process.

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