Thermodynamic Modeling of Hypergene Processes in Loparite Ore Concentration Tailings

Abstract

Thermodynamic modeling was undertaken of hypergene processes in loparite ore concentration tailings at a temperature of 3 °C and 20 °C. We investigated water evaporation in the top layers of tailings in the summer months at low filtration coefficients. It was found that the main anions of pore solutions are CO32−, HCO3−, SO42−, HSiO3−, and cations—Na+ and K+. The main forms of REE migration have been revealed: lanthanum and cerium. Dominant newly formed phases in the system were shown to be gibbsite and goethite, minerals of the smectite group, muscovite, feldspars, silica, mica, apatite, secondary nepheline minerals, and strontianite.