enviree d1.1 report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

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DELIVERABLE D1.1 - REPORT ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF SECONDARY RESOURCES IN EUROPE AND SOUTH AFRICA AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEIR WASTES Lead Partner: EDM Writer Reviewed by CHALMERS Approved by Coordinator Carlos Rosa/Daniela Lobarinhas/Marisa Gomes/ Edgar Carvalho Petr Koran / Jakub Heller Christian Ekberg Coordinator: Christian Ekberg Coordinating Organisation: CHALMERS Project start date: 01/01/15 Project duration: 36 months Project co-funded under ERA-MIN programme Dissemination level PU Public RE Restricted CO Confidential (only for ENVIREE partners) X

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Page 1: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

DELIVERABLE D1.1 - REPORT ON THE

IDENTIFICATION OF SECONDARY RESOURCES

IN EUROPE AND SOUTH AFRICA AND BRIEF

DESCRIPTION OF THEIR WASTES

Lead Partner: EDM

Writer Reviewed by CHALMERS Approved by Coordinator

Carlos Rosa/Daniela

Lobarinhas/Marisa Gomes/

Edgar Carvalho

Petr Koran / Jakub Heller Christian Ekberg

Coordinator: Christian Ekberg

Coordinating Organisation: CHALMERS

Project start date: 01/01/15 Project duration: 36 months

Project co-funded under ERA-MIN programme

Dissemination level

PU Public

RE Restricted

CO Confidential (only for ENVIREE

partners) X

Page 2: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Version control table

Version

number

Date of issue Author(s) Brief description of changes made

1.0 28/07/2015 EDM First release

1.1 31/08/2015 CHALMERS CZ input

1.2 EDM DIAMO-GEAM; CGS; Boliden; Chalmers;

AGH; EDM; IST-ID

1.3 29/03/2016 CHALMERS Final version, signatures

Project information

Project full title: ENVIronmentally friendly and efficient methods for extraction of

Rare Earth Elements from secondary sources

Acronym: ENVIREE

Funding scheme: Research project

Programme and call 2nd

ERA-MIN Joint call

Coordinator: Ch. Ekberg

Start date – End date: 01/01/15 – 31/12/17 i.e. 36 months

Coordinator contact: [email protected]

Administrative contact: [email protected]

Online contacts: To be specified

Copyright

The document is proprietary of the ENVIREE Partners. No copying or distributing, in any form or by

any means, is allowed without the prior written agreement of the owner of the property rights. This

document reflects only the authors’ view.

Page 3: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

CONTENT

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ 5

2 CZECH REPUBLIC ..................................................................................................................................... 6

2.1 IDENTIFICATION OF SECONDARY REE SITE ....................................................................................................... 6

2.2 SAMPLING AND SITE CHARACTERIZATION ......................................................................................................... 6

2.2.1 Rozna ............................................................................................................................................ 6

3 SOUTH AFRICA ...................................................................................................................................... 12

3.1 IDENTIFICATION OF SECONDARY REE SITES .................................................................................................... 12

3.2 SAMPLING AND SITE CHARACTERIZATION ....................................................................................................... 16

3.2.1 North West Province and Limpopo (fluorspar and gold/uranium mining sites) ......................... 16

Slipfontein .................................................................................................................................................... 16

Zeerust area ................................................................................................................................................. 17

Witkop Fluorspar Mine ................................................................................................................................ 19

Dominion Reef Gold/Uranium Mine ............................................................................................................ 19

3.2.2 Northern Cape Province – Pegmatite mining sites...................................................................... 20

Baviaanskrantz ............................................................................................................................................ 22

Murasie Pegmatite ...................................................................................................................................... 22

Kuboos area ................................................................................................................................................. 23

Sidi Barani .................................................................................................................................................... 24

3.3 SAMPLE HANDLING AND ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................ 26

4 SWEDEN ................................................................................................................................................ 27

4.1 IDENTIFICATION OF SECONDARY REE SITES .................................................................................................... 27

4.2 SAMPLING AND SITE CHARACTERIZATION ....................................................................................................... 29

4.2.1 The Aitik mine ............................................................................................................................. 29

4.2.2 The New Kankberg mine ............................................................................................................. 30

5 POLAND ................................................................................................................................................ 32

5.1 IDENTIFICATION OF SECONDARY REE SITES .................................................................................................... 32

5.2 SAMPLING AND SITE CHARACTERIZATION ....................................................................................................... 34

5.2.1 KGHM Polska Miedz - Zelazny Most............................................................................................ 34

5.2.2 Kopalnia Staszic w Rudkach - Rudki ............................................................................................ 37

Page 4: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

6 PORTUGAL ............................................................................................................................................ 41

6.1 IDENTIFICATION OF SECONDARY REE SITES .................................................................................................... 41

6.2 SAMPLING AND SITE CHARACTERIZATION ....................................................................................................... 46

6.2.1 Covas ........................................................................................................................................... 47

6.2.2 Cumieira ...................................................................................................................................... 48

6.2.3 Ervideira-Mestras ........................................................................................................................ 50

6.2.4 Cabração ..................................................................................................................................... 51

6.2.5 Verdes ......................................................................................................................................... 52

7 ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................................... 55

7.1 ANNEX I – TABLE OF CRITERIA FOR SITE SELECTION ......................................................................................... 56

7.2 ANNEX II – SITE AND SAMPLING CHARACTERIZATION REPORT TEMPLATE ............................................................ 58

7.3 ANNEX III – SITE AND SAMPLING CHARACTERIZATION REPORTS FOR THE PORTUGUESE SITES .................................. 63

Page 5: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report is Deliverable D1.1 “Report on the identification of secondary resources in Europe

and South Africa and brief description of their wastes to evaluate the potential for containing

REE; wastes availability, and sample location” of the Work Package 1 – Assessment of Available

Materials and Their Characterization, as defined in the Project Proposal and Detailed Work Plan,

which delivery was planned for the Month 12 of the ENVIREE Project.

A large number of sites having mine tailings, mostly from abandoned mine sites, but also from mines

in operation, were initially identified in the Czech Republic, South Africa, Sweden, Poland and

Portugal by the local project partners. It was then necessary to conduct a bibliographic review to

characterize the abandoned mine sites in order to define those with more potential to contain REE in

the tailings and therefore be considered for the ENVIREE project. This work focused initially on the

volume of the tailings body/bodies that was obtained from data published by the mine operators at the

time the mines were in production, or from present data produced by some project partners or national

agencies. This information was integrated with the mineral paragenesis indicated for each mined

deposit in order to define the mine sites that have more potential to contain REE in their tailings. This

information was compiled in a table (site selection criteria table in annex I) and prioritized to define

the most appropriate sites to be sampled. Also, in order to guarantee that the information produced

during the sampling campaigns was consistent among all partners, and more important, among sites

and materials sampled, EDM has defined and shared with the project partners a template of a Site and

Sampling Characterization Report that should be completed for each selected site. This template was

created exclusively for this project taking account the main characteristics of the tailings but can be

used in another sampling campaigns (annex II). It is important to note that information regarding the

REE content of the mineralization is scarce or inexistent, since the exploitation of those mines was

targeted at other commodities than REE and the mine operators were not considering the potential of

the mineralizations to contain REE elements. The samples from mines in operation were made

available by the mine operators but their REE content was not deeply characterized.

This procedure narrowed the initial identified sites to a selection of the most promising sites to provide

material to be processed in the subsequent phases of the project. These sites were then characterized in

detail with respect to the geology of the mine area; the mineralogy and modes of occurrence of the

mineralization; type of ore, grades and processing methods; and period of mining activity. This

information was compiled in a Site and sampling characterization report that was produced for each

mine site and gathers the relevant information for each site in a single document.

The sampling campaigns were aimed to obtain representative samples that characterize the tailing

bodies. Therefore, to fulfil this objective and after site inspection, it was necessary in some cases to

collect several samples from different places of the tailings; from different vertical positions of the

tailings; and from different tailing bodies. In order to have representative samples, each sample

weighted approximately 5 kg. The samples were sent to IST-ID in Portugal for processing (grinding

and homogenization) and chemical characterization. Additional chemical characterization was

conducted at AICU in Romania.

The geochemical results were used to define which samples have higher REE content, and these were

then selected to be bulk sampled. Approximately one ton of material from the selected sites is going to

be prepared in the BRGM facilities to be processed in WP2.

In the following chapters is presented by country, the identification of secondary resources in Europe

and South Africa, characterization of the sites, description of their wastes and sample locations.

Page 6: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

2 CZECH REPUBLIC

2.1 Identification of Secondary REE Site

In the Czech Republic, the potential source of REE to be investigated are tailings from Dolni Rozinka

uranium mine (Rozna deposit, figure 1) suggested by DIAMO-GEAM company operating the mine

(member of Industrial Users Group of ENVIREE project).

Basic information about the deposit is given below in Table 1:

Table 1: Details of the Dolni Rozinka mine

Location: Dolni Rozinka , 55 km north-west of Brno, Czech Republic

Deposit: The uranium hydrotermal deposit in metamorphic rocks

Economic reserves: 1,800 megatons "U" (ore in sight)

1997 "U" sales: 300 megatons (uranium concentrate)

Total "U" sales from the start: approx.17,670 megatons of yellow cake

Number of employees: 550

Total depth of the mine: 1,200 metres

Figure 1: Location of Rozna mine in Dolni Rozinka (CZ)

2.2 Sampling and site characterization

2.2.1 Rozna

The Rozna deposit was discovered in 1956 by radiometric exploration and sampling of radon in soil. It

is the largest deposit of uranium ore in the Moravia and one of the most important deposits in the

Czech Republic (location in Figure 1). Exploitation at Rozna started in 1957. The uranium deposit

Rozna (active mine) is localised in a formation of metamorphosed sedimentary - effusive rock of

Precambrian age, nowadays mostly gneisses. Uranium mineralisation occurs in graphitized zones of

large faults (the length of tens of km).

The wall rocks are biotite- and hornblende gneiss with abundant intercalations of ortho- and para-

amphibolite, quartzite and marble. The spatial localization of ore zones is to a large extent controlled

by the mineral composition of surrounding rocks and by their physico-mechanical properties. The rock

complex of the Rozna deposit mostly consists of Moldanubian rocks represented by gneiss in different

level of migmatisation, and amphibolite (see the deposit scheme in Figure 2).

Page 7: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

1. zones / veins

2. biotite gneisses / migmatitised gneisses

3. amphibolites / serpentines

4. granites

The ore occurrences are bonded to the Rozna - Olsi anticline, about 12 - 15 km long. The saddle part

of the anticline is formed by intensively metamorphosed gneisses, the wing parts by gneisses and

amphibolites. The axial plane of the fold is overcast eastwards; due to it, both wings dip 45º –

65º westwards. The maximum width of the fold wings is 1,5 - 2,5 km. The deposit Rozna is localised

in the western wing of the anticline. The anticline wings are complicated by flexures, which influence

the building of ore-bearing structures and control the location of individual ore knots of the deposit.

Dislocations of fault character form the main ore-bearing structures. Their morphology and spatial

location is strongly connected with the fold fabric. The dislocations are both strike- and diagonal.

Strike (longitudinal) faults are developed in all deposits; the dip of these dislocations mostly conforms

to the dip of rock strips or transects them at an acute angle. Their spatial distribution is therefore

influenced by the orientation of anticline wings. The uranium mineralisation is bonded to main strike

dislocations and connected higher-level structures. Based on their origin they can be described as

tectonic zones and linked veins. The thickness of zones is mostly several metres, exceptionally up to

25-30 metres. They reach up to 10 km in longitude. Zoned fillings consist mostly of broken

surrounding rocks with a small amount of vein minerals (calcite, graphite, and pyrites). In some cases,

the dislocation zones are filled with aplite or carbonate dikes. Uranium mineralisation is spatially

bonded to hydrothermally altered parts of chloritized rocks.

Due to the presence of minerals of temporally different mineral assemblages, and the variety of

textural ore types, the uranium ores are complex. The ores were formed during metasomatic processes,

what is reflected by their disseminated or veiny-disseminated character. The following six stages of

mineralisation (assemblages) were recognised:

1. graphite - pyrite (pre-Variscan)

2. quartz - sulphide (pre-Variscan)

3. carbonate (siderite) - sulphide (late Variscan)

4. calcite - chlorite - uraninite (late Variscan, 270 + 15 Ma)

5. calcite - pyrite (late Variscan)

6. albite - chlorite - coffinite (USiO4) (Kimmeridgian orogeny, 190 + 15 Ma)

The development of uranium minerals is closely connected with metasomatic chloritisation of biotite

gneisses. Biotite and to some extent also potassium feldspars are replaced by chlorite, albite,

hydromuscovite and sericite. Pitchblende and coffinite occur as massive aggregates, often with

colloform structure. Coffinite usually replaces pitchblende along aggregate margins and fissures. In

some parts, coffinite also replaces primary montroseite (uranyl vanadate). Pitchblende is often

associated with selenides, which are bonded to carbonate veins, forming in them nests up to several

tens of centimeters in size. Selenides are mostly represented by berzelianite (Cu2-xSe) and umangite

(Cu3Se2); les common are eskebornite (CuFeSe2), clausthalite (PbSe), bukovite (Tl2Cu3+xFeSe4-x -

Figure 2: Scheme cross-section of Rozna deposit

Page 8: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

named after a nearby locality Bukov), klockmannite (CuSe), eucairite (CuAgSe), ferroselite (FeSe2),

crookesite (Cu7(Tl,Ag)Se4), and tyrrelite ((Cu,Co,Ni)3Se4).

The ores of Rozna ore field developed in several stages; the changes connected with younger

mineralisation processes overprinted the older ones, giving rise to complex zone of altered rocks. The

changes of original rocks along tectonic zones with graphite - pyrite mineralisation are graphitisation,

pyritisation and silicification. The aureoles of altered rocks often range tens meters into the footwall as

well as hangingwall rocks. Their spatial extent is greater than any of the ensuing ones. Graphite and

pyrite replace mafic minerals, above all biotite.

Changes of wall rocks along carbonate (siderite) - sulphide veins of the pre-ore stage manifest

themselves by intensive bleaching. The rocks gain pale yellow or light grey colour and the laminar

texture turns to massive texture.

The hydrothermal changes consist in removal of Si, Fe, Na and influx of water, K, Ca, Mg, H2CO3.

Their effects can be observed no more than 1 - 2 metres from the vein. The resulting low-T potassium

metasomatism was not suitable for uranium precipitation, as it was responsible for unfavourably low

reduction capacity and acidification of the rocks.

Changes of the original rocks along the veins of the calcite-chlorite-uraninite stage are visible only

microscopically. They manifest themselves by intensive chloritisation and carbonatisation in the

immediate vicinity of the vein. Chlorite makes pseudomorphs after biotite; biotite and plagioclase are

replaced by carbonate. The chloritisation caused also increase in Fe and Mg and removal of K and Si.

The alteration of rocks connected with the youngest mineralisation stage (albite - chlorite - coffinite) is

easily visible as reddening of the rocks. This alteration starts to occur 1,5 - 2 metres off the vein.

There, biotite is replaced by muscovite, chlorite, and carbonate. The feldspar grains gain red tint, the

acidity of plagioclase increases, and on the rims they are replaced by pure, transparent albite.

Maximum intensity alterations revealed by total replacement of the gneisses by quartz, albite, fluorite,

and montmorillonite. Original uranium minerals are replaced by coffinite, quartz, radioactive

harmotome (rich in radium), clay minerals and uranophane. The composition of such rocks gives

evidence of influx of sodium, calcium, and carbonic acid, and removal of potassium, iron, magnesium

and silicium. They display positive correlation of sodium and uranium levels. The abundance of this

sodium-metasomatism controlled mineralisation increases with depth from the surface. From the

mining point of view this phenomenon is considered disadvantageous, as it indicates removal of

uranium from main mineralised zones and its secondary re-dispersion.

Mining and processing

Mining takes place in one deep mine, with the dressing of mined ore at a chemical-processing unit,

which is close to the mine. Uranium content in mined ore is 0,1 - 0,5 %. The final product of the

processing unit is uranium concentrate (NH4)2U2O7, "yellow cake", which is reprocessed at other unit

abroad. The processing scheme is in Figure 3.

Page 9: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 3: Processing scheme of Rozna mine.

Mine water and surface water contaminated by uranium and radium represent the greatest danger to

the environment during uranium ore mining. Protection of the natural environment against

contaminated water consists in cleaning all water from the mine surface (rain water, process water and

sewage water) and mine water before it is discharged in the environment. The average annual volume

of cleaned water is about 2 million cubic metres.

The cleaning operation in decontaminating plants is based on precipitation of uranium and radium

salts, followed by their extraction with ion exchange resins. Radium is precipitated as radium-barite,

which is disposed in the tailings ponds (Figure 4), and uranium is processed to yield uranium

concentrate ("yellow cake", ammonium or sodium diuranate). Water treatment process is in Figure 5.

Page 10: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 4: Tailing pond at Rozna mine.

Figure 5: Water treatment process at Rozna mine

The samples suggested for analyses by ENVIREE included:

Water from tailing ponds (500 000 m3 available);

Tailings (14 mil. m3 available in the tailing ponds).

According to valid Czech legislation, both selected materials are classified as nuclear materials.

Handling of such materials is limited to holders of special license. Another license is needed for

exporting such material.

Page 11: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Due to the connected time risk for ENVIREE project, the materials from Rozna mine have been

excluded from ENVIREE priority materials at this stage. Basic characterization may take place later

during the project depending on costs required for transporting the materials through a professional

company holding the necessary licenses.

Page 12: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

3 SOUTH AFRICA

3.1 Identification of Secondary REE Sites

A list of sites in South Africa with potential for REE-containing secondary materials has been

compiled (Table 2).

Page 13: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Table 2. Identified secondary REE sites in South Africa

Name

Geological/geographycal information Tailings information Old mining and milling information

Geographic

location

Ocurrence/

identification

(mine name)

Geological

background/

type of

Deposit/

characteristics

Paragenesis Content

of REE*

Characteristics

(mineralogy,

homogeneity

etc.)

Availability

(estimated

quantity)

Access to

the site

Interest (content) for

other elements**

Probability

of high

REE

content

associated

with other

known

elements

Information

on exploited

deposits

and

targeted

metals

Details of

processing

routes

Details on

industrial

production

(ongoing

operation

or

operation

stopped)

Source 1

North West

Province,

South Africa:

26°54'53.53"S

26°23'52.34"E

Dominion

Reef Mine

Wastes from

gold/uranium

mining

Quartzite,

quartz pebble

conglomerate

with gold and

pyrite

mineralisation

Tailings

cover 65 Ha Accessible Au, U

Au, U

Cyanide +

CIP, Possible

amalgamation

with Hg in

early stages

of mining, U

extraction by

acid leach.

Non-

operational

(to be

confirmed)

Source 2

Mpumalanga,

South Africa:

25°34'53.30"S

28°59'3.28"E

Database entry

1044912

Wastes from

fluorspar/tin

mining

REEs

substitute

up to 0.5%

of the Ca

in the

fluorite

lattice

(Crocker,

1974,

quoted in

Coetzee,

1976)

Small

amount Accessible Sn, F

Sn,F

Source 3

Limpopo,

South Africa:

24°51'12.46"S

27°54'48.52"E

Tooyskraal

Fluorspar

Mine

Wastes from

Fluorspar

mining

Rhyolite

Allanite

reported

(crocker,

1974)

Accessible F

F

Source 4

North West

Province,

South Africa:

25° 2'16.26"S

27°46'17.47"E

Ruigtepoort

Fluorspar

Mine

Wastes from

Fluorspar

mining

Rhyolite

Large

residue

deposits

reported

Accessible F

F

Source 5

North West

Province,

South Africa:

25° 0'41.34"S

27°41'5.40"E

Slipfontein

(Big Ben)

Wastes from

Fluorspar

mining

Rhyolite

bastnaesite

reported

(Crocker,

1974)

Tailings

cover 2 Ha Accessible F

F

Source 6

North West

Province,

South Africa:

25°42'40.86"S

26° 5'27.15"E

Witkop

Fluorspar

Mine

Wastes from

fluorspar

mining

Dolomite

Wastes

cover 96 Ha

- northern

site - as

well as a

number of

deposits

4km to the

south east.

Accessible F

F

Currently

in

production,

extracting

fluorspar

from

dolomite

hosted

deposit.

Page 14: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Name

Geological/geographycal information Tailings information Old mining and milling information

Geographic

location

Ocurrence/

identification

(mine name)

Geological

background/

type of

Deposit/

characteristics

Paragenesis Content

of REE*

Characteristics

(mineralogy,

homogeneity

etc.)

Availability

(estimated

quantity)

Access to

the site

Interest (content) for

other elements**

Probability

of high

REE

content

associated

with other

known

elements

Information

on exploited

deposits

and

targeted

metals

Details of

processing

routes

Details on

industrial

production

(ongoing

operation

or

operation

stopped)

Source 7

North West

Province,

South Africa:

25°44'27.78"S

26° 2'56.67"E

Database entry

1168218

Wastes from

Fluorspar

mining

Wastes

cover 17 Ha Accessible F

F

Source 8

Northern

Cape, South

Africa:

28°42'47.00"S

20°27'41.00"E

Pegmatites

around

Kakamas

Wastes from

pegmatite

mining

Granitic

pegmatite

Large

number of

small waste

piles

Accessible Feldspar, Beryllium, Rare

Earths Fs, Be, REE

Feldspar was

mined as the

primary

commodity.

Additional

minerals of

interest were

hand-picked.

Source 9

Northern

Cape, South

Africa:

28°45'11.44"S

20°40'37.67"E

Baviaanskrantz

Wastes from

pegmatite

mining

Granitic

pegmatite

Waste piles

along a

7.5km line

Accessible

FELDSPAR,

BERYLLIUM,

TANTALUM/NIOBIUM,

BISMUTH, RARE

EARTHS

Fs, Be,

Ta/Nb, Bi,

REE

Feldspar was

mined as the

primary

commodity.

Additional

minerals of

interest were

hand-picked.

Source 10

Northern

Cape, South

Africa

28°42'34.19"S

19°29'19.78"E

Strykraal

Wastes from

pegmatite

mining

Granitic

pegmatite

Scattered

waste piles

over about

90 Ha

Accessible

BERYLLIUM,

BISMUTH, RARE

EARTHS, MICA

Be, Bi, REE,

Mica

Mica was

mined as the

primary

commodity.

Additional

minerals of

interest were

hand-picked.

Source 11

Northern

Cape, South

Africa:

28°23'26.25"S

20° 0'47.94"E

Pegmatites in

the

Riemvasmaak

Conservancy

(Murasie and

Japie Mines)

Wastes from

pegmatite

mining

Granitic

pegmatite

Nb: 100-

520ppm,

Y: 20-

1200ppm,

Ta: 0-

60ppm,

Ce: 0-

4600ppm

(from

Herzberg,

1972 in

Coetzee,

1976)

Scattered

waste piles

Access

limited to

4WD

vehicles/foot

RARE EARTHS,

TANTALUM/NIOBIUM,

URANIUM,

BERYLLIUM, ROSE

QUARTZ

(GEMSTONE),

FLUORSPAR,

FELDSPAR

REE, Ta/Nb,

U

Hand picking

of

economically

attractrive

minerals

Page 15: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Name

Geological/geographycal information Tailings information Old mining and milling information

Geographic

location

Ocurrence/

identification

(mine name)

Geological

background/

type of

Deposit/

characteristics

Paragenesis Content

of REE*

Characteristics

(mineralogy,

homogeneity

etc.)

Availability

(estimated

quantity)

Access to

the site

Interest (content) for

other elements**

Probability

of high

REE

content

associated

with other

known

elements

Information

on exploited

deposits

and

targeted

metals

Details of

processing

routes

Details on

industrial

production

(ongoing

operation

or

operation

stopped)

Source 12

Northern

Cape, South

Africa 29°

3'11.00"S 21°

4'6.00"E

van der Kloff

Pegmatite

Wastes from

pegmatite

mining

Granitic

pegmatite

Waste piles

covering

about 1 Ha

Accessible FELDSPAR, MICA,

FLUORSPAR Fs, Mc, F

Feldspar and

mica were

mined as the

primary

commodity.

Additional

minerals of

interest were

hand-picked.

Source 13

Northern

Cape, South

Africa:

28°30'12.68"S

21° 1'44.74"E

McTaggart's

Camp

Wastes from

pegmatite

mining

Granitic

pegmatite

Numerous

waste piles Accessible Fluorspar

F

Page 16: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

3.2 Sampling and site characterization

3.2.1 North West Province and Limpopo (fluorspar and gold/uranium mining sites)

A field visit to a selection of the fluorspar and a gold/uranium site in the North West Province has

been undertaken and samples collected. These site localities are shown on Figure 6.

Figure 6: Google Earth Image showing Sampling site localities.

Slipfontein

Site features Material sampled

The site has a large shallow open pit area, surrounded by coarse residue

material. The waste rock consists of vesicular brecciated material and vein

quartz containing significant amounts of iron oxide (Figure 7).

Two samples collected

from the base of the

waste rock pile:

1. RES-SLIP1 Breccia

2. RES-SLIP2 Vein

quartz

Page 17: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 7: The abandoned Slipfontein Fluorspar mine in North West Province

Zeerust area

Site features Material sampled

The site includes a large waste rock dump containing a mix of coarse and

fine material. The coarse material comprises a mix of banded ironstone

and mineralised dolomite, with vein fill material composed of fluorspar,

rhodochrosite, calcite and a needle-like crystalline mineral (Figure 8, 9).

RES-ZEE1 contains a mix

of the fines and the

different coarse materials

present on the site.

Page 18: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 8: Fluorspar mineralisation in dolomite from the Zeerust Area, North West Province, showing preferential

replacement in stromatolite structures.

Figure 9: Typical large fluorspar mine residue deposit from the Zeerust area, North West Province.

Page 19: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Witkop Fluorspar Mine

Site features Material sampled

This is a large operational fluorspar mine, with a

processing plant (Figure 10).

Three Samples were collected:

1. RES-WIT1 Older mine tailings

2. RES-WIT2 Current mine tailings

3. RES-WIT3 Fluorspar product, for

comparison with tailings.

Figure 10: Sampling mine residue at the operational Witkop Fluorspar Mine: North West Province

Dominion Reef Gold/Uranium Mine

Site features Material sampled

This is a large – 1.3MT tailings facility on a mine which is in

the process of being reopened by Shiva Uranium. There is a

plan to reprocess these tailings for their gold and possibly

uranium content in future. Samples were collected using a hand

auger, attempting to sample deeper (>1m) less oxidised

material (Figure 11).

Two samples were collected:

1. RES-SHIVA1 Collected off

the top of the tailings pile.

2. RES-SHIVA2 Collected by

augering into a face

exposed by past tailings

reclamation on the side of

the tailings pile.

Page 20: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 11: Sampling the tailings at the Old Dominion Reef Gold/Uranium Mine, near Klerksdorp, North West

Province.

3.2.2 Northern Cape Province – Pegmatite mining sites

A field trip was undertaken to a pegmatite province in the Northern Cape Province with the objective

of sampling a representative group of abandoned mines with potentially REE-Containing wastes. The

major minerals mined in this area were feldspar, micas and rose quartz, with minor, but, in some cases

economically important, production of rare earths, tantalum, niobium, uranium and fluorspar. The

locations of the sites are shown on figure 12 and 13.

Page 21: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 12: Locations of the Northern Cape Sampling sites.

Figure 13: Northern Cape Pegmatite sampling sites.

Four sampling sites were identified and sampled:

1. Baviaanskrantz Pegmatite near Kakamas;

2. Murasie Pegmatite in the Riemvasmaak Conservancy area;

3. Pegmatites near Kuboos, close to the Gariep River between Kakamas and Pofadder; and

4. The two Sidi Barani Mines south of Kenhardt

Page 22: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

These were selected as they were relatively large mines, with some residues and could represent the

diversity of lithologies in the Kakamas area.

Baviaanskrantz

The Baviaanskrantz mine consists of a number of deep excavations into the pegmatite body, with

waste piles comprised of a quartz, feldspar, muscovite float on larger waste rock boulders. Some

epidote was observed on the feldspars. A sample of waste rock (RES-BK1) was collected close to the

old mine workings (Figure 14).

Figure 14: Old mine workings at Baviaanskrantz.

Murasie Pegmatite

The Murasie Pegmatite is located in the Riemvasmaak Conservancy. Pegmatite was mined from an

outcrop on a hilltop, with other similar mines located in the vicinity (Figure 15). A number of different

waste types were identified on the site and 4 samples collected:

RES-MUR1: Coarse material at the surface of the residue deposit.

RES-MUR2: Dark coloured fine waste material.

RES-MUR3: Light coloured fine waste material.

RES-MUR4: Brown-coloured fine waste material.

Page 23: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 15: The Murasie Pegmatite Mine.

Kuboos area

In the Kuboos area a large number of residues from small abandoned pegmatite operations were

identified (Figure 16 and 17).

Figure 16: Small mining operations covering a large area - Kuboos.

Page 24: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Samples were collected to represent the different lithologies as follows:

RES-KUB1: Coarse waste material.

RES-KUB2: Fine waste material.

RES-KUB3: Purple-coloured material from localised diggings.

RES-KUB4: Material with substantial iron staining.

RES-KUB5: Sample collected at a pegmatite in the southern part of the pegmatite field.

Figure 17: Granitic bodies in the Kuboos area. Small mining operations can be seen at the base of the hill in the

foreground.

Sidi Barani

The Sidi Barani Pegmatite was selected as it is in a different area and geological setting from the

others sampled. Two open pits were identified (Figure 18). The materials mined were characterised by

large feldspar and rose quartz crystals with some interstitial mica. A shear zone with extensive mica

development was also noted on the site (19).

Two mines, known as Sidi Barani 1 and Sidi Barani 2 were visited and sampled. The material mined

and the waste materials appear similar at both sites.

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Figure 18: Sidi Barani #1 open pit.

Figure 19: Mica-filled shear zone at Sidi Barani #1

Page 26: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

The following samples were collected:

RES-SID1: Fine material collected inside the #1 Pit, including a green-coloured precipitate.

RES-SID2: Fine material collected from the waste pile at the #1 Pit.

RES-SID3: Waste collected from the waste pile at the #2 Pit.

3.3 Sample handling and analysis

Coarse samples have been dried, crushed to approximately 8mm size, homogenised and a 5kg split

prepared for analysis. The fine tailings samples – Witkop Fluorspar and Dominion Reef Au/U – have

been dried and a 5kg split prepared.

A notable feature of all of the sites sampled has been the variable particle size and extreme

heterogeneity of the waste materials. This is typical of mines where vein-type deposits have been

mined. A similar characteristic has been noted by EDM at the Portuguese field sites.

The large number of samples renders it impractical to send large samples to Portugal for analysis,

while the heterogeneity of the samples needs to be addressed. The samples collected will therefore be

screened for REEs using a handheld XRF instrument (to assess heterogeneity) and by ICP-MS and

possibly laboratory XRF analysis early in 2016. It is also envisaged that additional potential REE sites

will be visited and sampled during 2016.

Page 27: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

4 SWEDEN

4.1 Identification of Secondary REE Sites

Two sites with REE in tailings from mining operations belonging to Boliden Mineral AB are known.

Aitik copper mine

New Kankberg gold mine

The Aitik ore is an open pit low grade porphyry copper mine operated since 1968 and currently run at

an annual capacity more than 36 Mton. The capacity is planned to be increased to 45 Mton per year

and the current life length is calculated to 2045. Boliden Aitik is situated outside the town of Gällivare

in the very north of Sweden (see Figure 20).

The New Kankberg ore is currently mined at an annual capacity of around 400 kton with underground

mining. The mining started 2012 and the gold grade is around 4 g/t with some additional value in

tellurium. Around 31 kton tellurium was produced in 2014. The current expected life length is to 2023.

Kankberg is located in the Boliden Area (see Figure 20).

Figure 20: Location of Aitik copper mine (upper point) and New Kankberg gold mine (lower point)

General information about New Kankberg is given in the table below.

Page 28: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

T a b l e 3 : I d e n t i f i e d s e c o n d a r y R E E s o u r c e f r o m S w e d e n

Geological/geographycal information Tailings information Old mining and milling information

Geographic

location

Ocurrence/

identification

(mine name)

Geological

background/

type of

Deposit/

characteristics

P a r a g e n e s i s

Content

of

REE*

Availability

(estimated

quantity)

Access to

the site

I n t e r e s t

( c o n t e n t )

f o r o t h e r

e l e m e n t s * *

Information

on exploited

deposits

and

targeted

metals

Details of

processing

routes

Details on

industrial

production

(ongoing

operation

or

operation

stopped)

N o r t h e r n

S w e d e n

N e w

K a n k b e r g

M i n e r a l i z a t i o n

l o c a t e d i n

a n d a l u s i t e

f o r m a t i o n

S m a l l

a m o u n t o f

s u l p h i d e s ,

g o l d a n d

t e l l u r i u m

m i n e r a l s

m o n a z i t e

R E O

c o n t e n t

a r o u n d

6 4 0

p p m i n

t a i l i n g s .

A r o u n d

8 0 %

L R E O

a n d 2 0

%

H R E O

A r o u n d 5 0 0

k t o n t a i l i n g s

p e r y e a r

A c c e s s i b l e

A u , T e ( B i )

i s

r e c o v e r e d .

S o m e N b i s

i n t h e

t a i l i n g ( 2 0

p p m )

A u , A g , T e

G r a v i m e t r y ,

f l o t a t i o n ,

c y a n i d e

l e a c h i n g ,

t e l

5 0 0 k t o n

p e r y e a r

m i n e d

Page 29: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

4.2 Sampling and site characterization

4.2.1 The Aitik mine

The ore is transported by trucks to in-pit crushers and from there to the mill with conveyor belts. The

grinding is done in two lines with fully autogenous grinding in two steps. The flotation is carried out

in two parallel lines with totally 13 cells of 160 m3 in each line. The four last cells are normally run

for desulphurisation but the first two of these can be run as extra scavenger. The concentrates from the

roughers are cleaned in four steps after some regrinding and the first cleaner tail is combined with the

desulphurisation concentrate to a “high sulphur product” that is planned to be deposit separately from

the bulk tailing in the future. Details of the flowsheet are given in figure 21.

Figure 21: Flow sheet of Aitik mine operation.

Originally was it believed that the REE was associated to the apatite (0,7 – 1%) in the tailing. Flotation

tests revealed that only about half of the REE content can be found in apatite and the rest in other

minerals and monazite is one of them.

A picture from Google Earth is shown below (figure 22). The open pit is about 5 km long and 1 km

wide. The tailing pond area is around 5 km wide and 10 km long.

Roughly 700 Mton has so far been stored in the tailing pond and around 1300 Mton more is currently

planned to be stored until year 2045.

Page 30: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 22: Tailing pond

4.2.2 The New Kankberg mine

The New Kankberg mine is mined underground and transported, around 10 km, by truck to the

Boliden concentrator. The ore is crushed to below around 250 mm before ground by fully autogenous

grinding in two stages. Gold is floated along with tellurium and the gold is recovered by hot cyanide

leaching from the flotation concentrate. The cyanide leaching residue is going to the tellurium plant

where tellurium is recovered. The residue from the tellurium plant is going back to cold cyanide

leaching together with the flotation tailing. The tailing is going with tailings from the other ores (four

complex sulphide ores) to the tailing pond.

Flotation tests have been carried out on the flotation tailing from New Kankberg to find out if the REE

can be recovered. The results indicate that most of the REE is in monazite. The sample investigated

contained 2916 ppm REO. The distribution was around 19 % HREE and 81 % LREE.

Sample from the flotation tailing has been delivered to the ENVIREE project.

A view of how the ore looks like with access ramp is shown in the figure 23.

Page 31: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 23: New Kankberg mine

Page 32: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

5 POLAND

5.1 Identification of Secondary REE Sites

In Poland four sites of mining tailing, which could possibly contain REE have been identified:

Source 1 - KGHM Polska Miedz - Zelazny Most

Source 2 - ZGH Boleslaw - Boleslaw

Source 3 –KiZPS Siarkopol - Tarnobrzeg

Source 4 - Kopalnia Staszic w Rudkach – Rudki

For the identified sources the following information has been gathered: geographic location,

geological background, paragenesis, content of REE, estimated quantity of tailings, access to the site,

content of other elements, exploited deposits and targeted metals, details of processing routes, details

on industrial production (ongoing operation or operation stopped)

The data on the identified sources has been shown in table 4 and sent to ENVIREE partners for

discussion.

Page 33: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

T a b l e 4 . F o u r p r o p o s e d P o l i s h s i t e s s e n t t o E N V I R E E p a r t n e r s

Name Geological/geographical information Tailings information Old mining and milling information

Geographic

location

Ocurrenc

e/

identificat

ion (mine

name)

Geological

background/ type of

Deposit/

characteristics

Paragenesis Content of

REE*

Availability

(estimated

quantity)

Access to

the site

Interest (content)

for other

elements**

Informa

tion on

exploite

d

deposits

and

targeted

metals

Details of

processin

g routes

Details on

industrial

production

(ongoing

operation or

operation

stopped)

Source 1

SW Poland

51°30' 54,86"

N

16°12'18,61"

E

KGHM

Polska

Miedź

Wastes from copper

ore enrichment

Dolomite, quartz,

calcite, kaolinite,

gypsum, biotite,

feldspars, ore

minerals, clay-

carbonaceous

substances

ΣREE: 60-210

ppm (in INAA)

Tailings:

29 mln Mg

per year

Accessible

Cu, Ag, Au, Pb, Zn,

Fe, Mn, Ti, As, Co,

Ni, V, Mo, Cd, Pt

Cu, Ag,

Au Flotation In operation

Source 2

S Poland

50°16'52,99 N

19°29'56,19"

E

ZGH

Bolesław

Wastes from

enrichment of zinc

and lead ores

Dolomite, quartz,

marcasite, calcite,

sphalerite, pyrite,

galena

no data

Tailings:

2,6 mln Mg

per year

Accessible

Zn, Pb, Fe, Cd, Cu,

As, Sb, Ni, Ge, Mn,

Ag, Ba, Cr, Mo

Zn, Pb Flotation In operation

Source 3

SC Poland

50°31'36,13"N

21°42'20,63"

E

KiZPS

Siarkopol

Wastes from sulfur

ore enrichment

Calcite,

montmorillonite,

gypsum, celestite

no data Tailings:

33 mln Mg Accessible

S, Sr, Na, Mg, K,

Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn,

Cd, Pb

S Flotation Stopped

Source 4

SC Poland

50°89'14,49"N

21°09'29,00"

E

Kopalnia

Staszic w

Rudkach

wastes from pyrite

uranium mine tailings

of low grade ore and

post flotation tailings

from ore processing

pyrite, marcasite,

hematite, siderite,

pitchblende (partly

altered uraninite

UO2), quartzites,

dolomites, clayey

shales

ΣREE: 66-108

ppm in

technogenic soils,

ΣREE: 100-1065

m g/L in acid pool

waters

tailings 1,5 -

2 mln Mg

Accessible

, post

reclamatio

n

Fe, S, U, Ba, Mn,

Pb, Ti, Zn, Th, Sc,

Y, Ni, V

Fe, S, U

Non

processed

low grade

ore -

Serwis,

Flotation -

Rudki

Closed in 1972

Page 34: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

After the analysis and discussion of the data from the possible sites, by all ENVIREE partners, 2 sites

were selected to be sampled in Poland:

Source 1 - KGHM Polska Miedz- Zelazny Most

Source 4 - Kopalnia Staszic w Rudkach - Rudki

Location of these two sites is shown in figure 24.

Figure 24: Location of KGHM Polska Miedz - Zelazny Most and Kopalnia Staszic - Rudki

5.2 Sampling and site characterization

5.2.1 KGHM Polska Miedz - Zelazny Most

The mining company, owned by KGHM Polska Miedz, exploits one of the world’s biggest copper ore

deposits in mines “Rudna,” “Lubin,” and “Polkowice–Sieroszowice”, The considered mining area is

located in the southern part of Poland in the Lower Silesia region, covering an area of about 468 km2.

Due to the scale of mining operations performed there and the location of copper smelters and

refineries, the region is often called the Legnica–Glogow copper district (LGCD).

The copper ore deposit operated by KGMH in Poland dips monoclonally at the depth form a few

hundred meters to 1500 meters in depth. Copper minerals are hosted by three main lithological

Zechstien rock types: sandstone, shale and dolomite. Four base copper sulphides are most common in

the ore: chalcocite, bornite, chalcopyrite and covellite. The KGHM deposit is considered as a

Page 35: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

stratabound deposit occurring in sedimentary rocks with varied thickness up to over a dozen meters. In

the ore sequence many faults are occurred with displacements up to several dozen meters. The

Geological profile of copper ore deposit in Fore-Sudetic Monocline was shown in figure 25.

Figure 25: Geological profile of copper ore deposit in Fore-Sudetic Monocline (PL)

Source: KGHM Polska Miedź. Mining and enrichment. http://kghm.com/en/our-business/mining-and-

enrichment

Due to an average 1.7% content of copper in the exploited Polish deposits, enrichment process is

necessary. During the process, copper minerals are separated from worthless material by inducing

them to gather in and on the surface of a froth layer. The process entails crushing and grinding the ore

to a fine size, subjected to flotation with the addition of flotation agents in flotation cells, after which

the concentrate is thickened, filtrated and dried. As a result, the concentrate contains the amount of

copper that can be processed further in a smelter.

Wastes formed during the floatation enrichment of copper ores are currently deposited in the Żelazny

Most reservoir. The Zelazny Most tailings pond is the largest mineral waste repository in Europe and

one of the largest in the world, covers an area of 13.94 km2. Zelazny Most reservoir was built in 1974

to collect flotation tailings from three local copper-ore enrichment facilities, for the storage of

groundwater from the Lubin-Glogow mines, and to be used to facilitate flotation of sulfides during ore

processing and transport of the gangue. The total volumes of wastes and water present in Zelazny

Most are estimated to be 476 mln m3 and 7.5 mln m3, respectively. The annual deposition of flotation

tailings varies from 20 to 26 million tons.

Zelazny Most tailings pond is shown in pictures 26-29.

Page 36: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 26: Embankments of tailings pond Figure 27: System of piping delivering post flotation waste

Figure 28: Post flotation waste delivered to the dump site Figure 29: Post flotation waste delivered to the

dump site

During the period 3rd June 2015 to 6th June 2015, the team of AGH took 10 subsamples from,

Zelazny Most tailings pond. The location of taking subsamples is shown in figure 30.

Page 37: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 30: Location of subsamples taken from Zelazny Most tailings pond

The subsamples were delivered to AGH laboratory, air dried at 40oC and made averaged. The prepared

sample of 5 kg was sent to IST-ID on 22/06/2015.

5.2.2 Kopalnia Staszic w Rudkach - Rudki

The Rudki area is one of the most interesting historical metal ore mining sites in Europe. Originally,

hematite (c-Fe2O3) of Rudki found useful applications in the Neolithic for body, weaponry, pottery

and product colouring as a mineral dye. During the Roman period, but especially from the 1st through

4th century, the hematite ore was mined for smelting of pig iron in numerous primitive furnaces. This

mineral deposit was re-discovered in 1922 by a geologist Jan Samsonowicz , and extraction of iron

ores, i.e. hematite and deeper occurring siderite (FeCO3), was resumed in the twenties of the 20th

century. During 1933–1969, pyrite and marcasite (FeS2) were mined from a depth of at least 450 m

for production of sulfuric acid. In 1952 uranium mineralization was found and pitchblende (partly

altered uraninite UO2) ore was mined until 1968.

Physiographically, the study area lies in the northern part of the Debno Valley that separates the

Łysogory range in the south and the western part of the Pokrzywianski range in the north. The bedrock

of the Debno Valley is built of Ordovician and Silurian clayey shales, siltstones and graywackes. In

contrast, the towering Łysogory range consists primarily of middle/upper Cambrian quartzites and

quartzitic siltstones and sandstones with clayey shale interbeds whereas the Pokrzywianski range is

Page 38: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

composed of lower and middle Devonian quartzitic sandstones and siltstones, and dolomites, with

subordinate limestone, clayey shale and tuff interbeds. This is sown in figure 31. No sedimentary

sulfate minerals (gypsum, anhydrite) occur in these rock formations.

Figure 31: Geologic map of the Rudki area with a simplified cross-section

Source: Migaszewski Z., Gałuszka A., Sabina Dołęgowska S., Hałas S., Krzciuk K., Gebus B., Assessing the

impact of Serwis mine tailings site on farmers’ wells using element and isotope signatures (Holy Cross

Mountains, south-central Poland) Environmental Earth Sciences, July 2015, Volume 74, Issue 1, pp 629-647

In general, bedrock lithology is in conformity with geomorphology, which means that hard rocks

(quartzites and dolomites) build heights whereas soft rocks (clayey shales) form depressions. In

places, these two ranges are laterally faulted. The most distinctive is the deep-rooted Łysogory fault

that extends nearly north–south through the small town of Rudki. This fault hosts a pyrite-

hematitesiderite-uranium mineral deposit. Most of the study area is blanketed by glacial tills,

fluvioglacial gravels, sands and silts, in places by loesses that form ravines reaching a few meters

deep.

During nearly 50 years of operation of the mine "Staszic" pyrite ore exploitation ranged from several

to several tens of thousands tons. In total, in the years 1925-1973 were excavated 4 million tons of

pyrite ore, 1.5 million tons of hard rock ore and 0.8 million tonnes of hematite ore.

Pyritic rocks, which exploitation was started in the sixties of XX century, was initially used for the

production of sulphuric acid and later as a flux in copper smelters "Legnica" and "Głogów". In the

years 1965-1969 the exploitation reached the level of approx. 140-170 thousand tons, and hematite

hundred tonnes. Raw rocking ore was processing in the plant, built in the sixties and the ore after

crushing and grinding was subjected to flotation. From the feed to the process containing not less than

17% S was obtained pyritic concentrate containing approx. 40% S.

Pyrite ore was sent to recipients in the rough (sometimes using a manual sorting). In the fifties in the

"Staszic” mine, uranium ore (pitchblende) was also exploited in small quantities co-occurring among

Page 39: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

the earthy varieties of pyrite and marcasite. This with no enrichment was sent to the former Soviet

Union.

Post-processing waste (post-flotation tailings) heaps in Rudki are located in the immediate vicinity of

the buildings of the former mine and processing plant. The area of the tailings heaps, in the most parts

after the reclamation, is approximately 23.5 hectares.

The tailings material was also used for the reclamation to fill the pits after the open-pit exploitation of

the upper parts of the deposit.

In 12 May 2015 the team of AGH took 6 subsamples from the reclaimed tailings ponds in Rudki. The

location of sampling in Rudki is shown in figure 32, exact sub-samples location in figure 33. During

the reclamation process in seventies of XX century, the 40-60 cm layer of soil from a nearby heal was

put over the tailings. In some other places of old tailings ponds the covering layers consist of stones.

Therefore the sampling was possible on the area covered by soils but not by stones.

The pictures of sampling process are shown in figures 34-37.

Figure 32: The location of sampling in Rudki

Page 40: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure33: The exact location of sub- sampling in Rudki

Figure 34: Location of sampling site in Rudki Figure 35: Sampling in Rudki in the post-reclaimed tailings

pond.

Figure 36: Sampling in Rudki in the post-reclaimed tailings pond. Figure 37: Sampling in Rudki in the post-

reclaimed tailings pond.

The subsamples were delivered to AGH laboratory, air dried at 40oC and made averaged. The

prepared sample of 5 kg was sent to IST-ID on 21/05/2015.

Page 41: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

6 PORTUGAL

6.1 Identification of Secondary REE Sites

The main task of EDM in this project was the selection of tailings from old mines with favourable

conditions to contain REE.

To this mission were considered all the records of Portuguese old mines and in particular the 180

abandoned old mines of which EDM is responsible for the environmental rehabilitation, and through

these data was made a pre-selection of sites whose deposits show favourable mineralogical

paragenesis to the occurrence of REE. This selection comprised several types of deposits: aplite-

pegmatites, massive sulphides, radioactive and alkaline complexes. In this first phase it were identified

86 sites that occur mainly in the norther-central Portugal and have the potential to containing REE

(figure 38).

Figure 38: Distribution of the 86 old mine sites with favourable conditions to contain REE

After this initial evaluation, the sites were ordered according to the mine size (volume of exploited

material), which will give an idea of the volume of tailings, and grades of the mineralization or

geochemical analyses of the tailings material. This screening resulted in the selection of 12 sites that

were subsequently ordered by potentiality. This ranking was shared with the ENVIREE partners for

further discussion in order to select the sites to be sampled in Portugal, and included in the list of

project sites to be initially screened for REE.

Page 42: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

T a b l e 5 : R a n k i n g o f t h e 1 2 p r o p o s e d P o r t u g u e s e s i t e s

Name

Geological/geographycal information Tailings information Old mining and milling information

Geographic location

Ocurrence/ identification (mine name)

Geological background/ type of Deposit/ characteristics

Paragenesis Content of REE

Characteristics (mineralogy, homogeneity etc.)

Availability (estimated quantity)

Access to the site

Interest (content) for other elements

Probability of high REE content associated with other known elements

Information on exploited deposits and targeted metals

Details of processing routes

Details on industrial production (ongoing operation or operation stopped)

Source 1 NE Portugal

Covas

Tungsten mineralization associated with skarn, massive sulphides and iron oxides; occurs in metassedimentary and metaquartzitic formations (Silurian)

Scheelite, ferberite, albite, apatite, quartz, pyrite, pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite

ΣREE(1)

: 28.5-194ppb (in AMD from taillings); ΣREE

(1): 65.7-

748.4ppm (philitic and quartzophilitic lithologies near and equivalent to Covas deposit)

Tailings E2 to E4 - 226 000 m3; Tailing E5 84 000 m3

Accessible W W (Skarns)

flotation, roasting, hydrogravitic, electromagnetic(?)

stopped

Source 2 NE Portugal

Verdes

Quartz veins, breccia cemented by quartz and pegmatites with cassiterite: occurs in very deformed Silurian metassediments

Cassiterite, wolframite, gold

Potential indicated by academic preliminary studies

To be defined after visiting the site

Accessible Sn, W, Au Sn (veins)

electromagnetic, hydrogravitc

stopped

Source 3 NE Portugal

Cabração

Source 4 N Portugal

Beça

Source 5 Central Portugal

Ribª Gaia

Alluvial type deposit from pegmatitic veins with cassiterite, COLTAN; hosted in granits

Cassiterite, Ilmenite, COLTAN

Potential indicated by academic preliminary studies

To be defined after visiting the site

Accessible Sn, COLTAN (Nb, Ta)

Sn, Nb, Ta (placer)

hydrogravitc, washing

stopped

Page 43: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Name

Geological/geographycal information Tailings information Old mining and milling information

Geographic location

Ocurrence/ identification (mine name)

Geological background/ type of Deposit/ characteristics

Paragenesis Content of REE

Characteristics (mineralogy, homogeneity etc.)

Availability (estimated quantity)

Access to the site

Interest (content) for other elements

Probability of high REE content associated with other known elements

Information on exploited deposits and targeted metals

Details of processing routes

Details on industrial production (ongoing operation or operation stopped)

Source 6 NE Portugal

Cumieira

Alluvial type deposit from quartz veins and pegmatitic apophysis

Cassiterite, COLTAN arsenopyrite, pyrite

Stratiform tourmalinite: ΣREE

(1): 394.2ppm;

Potential indicated by academic preliminary studies

To be defined after visiting the site

Accessible Sn, COLTAN (Nb, Ta)

Sn, Nb, Ta (placer)

hydrogravitc, washing

stopped

Source 7 N Portugal

Vieiros Pegmatitic system in schists and phyllitic formations

Cassiterite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, tantalite

Potential indicated by academic preliminary studies

Small tailings (<10.000 m3) of shale and quartz

Accessible Sn, Ta Sn, Ta (quartz veins)

stopped

Source 8 S Portugal

S. Domingos

Massive sulphides; exploited for Cu, Zn and S

Pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, arsenopyrite & sulfosalts

High-tech metals identified. ΣREE

(2):69,08 -

229,85 ppm (soils). ΣREE only La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Yb, Lu, Sc.

Tailings, mine wastes, slags and rubbles (>100.000 m3)

Accessible

Au, Re, Sb, Se, Bi, As, Mo, Ge, Zn, Cu, Pb

Cu, Zn, S (massive sulphides)

leaching, roasting, Cu cementation

stopped

Page 44: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Name

Geological/geographycal information Tailings information Old mining and milling information

Geographic location

Ocurrence/ identification (mine name)

Geological background/ type of Deposit/ characteristics

Paragenesis Content of REE

Characteristics (mineralogy, homogeneity etc.)

Availability (estimated quantity)

Access to the site

Interest (content) for other elements

Probability of high REE content associated with other known elements

Information on exploited deposits and targeted metals

Details of processing routes

Details on industrial production (ongoing operation or operation stopped)

Source 9 Central Portugal

Qta Bispo (rad)

Located in the contact of a granite with an enclave of metassediments. These enclaves show contact metamorphism and consist of clay-micaceous schists, brown in color. Can be ferruginous and alterated.

Autunite, torbernite and black minerals of uranium

ΣREE(3)

: 106,92-266,14 ppm (stream sediments); ΣREE

(3): 184,15-

370,16 ppm (soils). ΣREE only La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu.

Tailings (1 500 000 ton; max height 37m)

Accessible U, Ra U, Ra (veins) in situ leaching

stopped

Source 10

Center Portugal

Ervideira (rad)

Smoked quartz in veins, with "basic rock" hosted by altered granite

metatorbernite

ΣREE(4)

: 408,75 ppm (tailings). ΣREE only La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu.

Tailing from pit and trench (500 ton, 1.5 m height)

Accessible U, Ra U, Ra (veins)

The ore was not processed in the mine site

stopped

Source 11

Center Portugal

Mestras (rad)

Porphyritic coarse, with two mica granite, cut by fractures with smoked and amethyst quartz and chalcedony.

Mineralization consists of secondary uranium minerals, predominantly of disseminated metatorbernite in the lode and in the altered granite

ΣREE(5)

: 308,74 ppm (DH). ΣREE only La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu.

Tailing (5000 ton, 3m height)

Accessible U, Ra U, Ra (veins)

The ore was not processed in the mine site

stopped

Page 45: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Name

Geological/geographycal information Tailings information Old mining and milling information

Geographic location

Ocurrence/ identification (mine name)

Geological background/ type of Deposit/ characteristics

Paragenesis Content of REE

Characteristics (mineralogy, homogeneity etc.)

Availability (estimated quantity)

Access to the site

Interest (content) for other elements

Probability of high REE content associated with other known elements

Information on exploited deposits and targeted metals

Details of processing routes

Details on industrial production (ongoing operation or operation stopped)

Source 12

S Portugal

Monchique

Nepheline Syenite massif of Cretaceous age, hosted by shales of Paleozoic age.

Feldspar, nepheline, pyroxen (aegirina and augite). Acessory minerals: Apatite, sphene, fluorite, pyrochlore, rutile, zircon, turmaline, wholerite

Potential to contain REE

To be defined after visiting the site

Accessible Nepheline Syenite

Quarry in opperation

(1) Dias (2011) – Análise estrutural e paragenética de produtos litológicos e mineralizações de segregação metamórfica: Estudo de veios hiperaluminosos e protólitos poligénicos Silúricos da região da Serra de Arga

(Minho); PhD Thesis; Universidade do Minho, Braga

(2) Anawar et al. (2010) – Soils of São Domingos mine: REE chemical characterization; J Radioanal Nucl Chem, 286:565-568; Springer

(3) EDM (2007) – Área Mineira da Quinta do Bispo: Relatório Final; EDM internal report

(4) EDM (2007) – Mina da Ervideira: Relatório Final; EDM internal report

(5) EDM (2007) – Mina de Mestras: Relatório Final; EDM internal report

Page 46: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

After the analysis and discussion of the data from the possible sites, by all ENVIREE partners, 3 sites

were selected to be sampled in Portugal:

High priority:

o Covas;

o Cumieira;

Low priority:

o Ervideira-Mestras.

After the site selection was completed the sampling campaign started to be planned (Task 1.2).

6.2 Sampling and site characterization

During the month of May, a team formed by three members of EDM staff and two members of IST-ID

staff completed the field work for sampling and characterizing the tailings of the selected areas.

For Portugal were defined the tailings of Covas, Cumieira and Ervideira-Mestras old mines. The

sampling campaign included two additional sites given their close proximity to the sites defined in the

project, and therefore did not brought additional costs, and also because they have high potential to

contain REE. These sites are Cabração and Verdes.

All these sites are nowadays abandoned mines and located on northwest of Portugal with exception of

Ervideira-Mestras that is located on the centre of Portugal (Figure 39).

For each of these sites the Site and Sampling Characterization Report (in Annexe III) was completed.

Figure 39: Location of the two areas: A – Covas, Cumieira, Verdes and Cabração; B – Ervideira-Mestras

All the sampled areas are characterized individually below.

Page 47: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

6.2.1 Covas

The Covas tailings represents 30 years (1954-1984) of mining focused in tungsten mineralization

(mainly scheelite and minor wolframite) exploited by underground mining works.

This deposit consists of several lenticular skarn levels (each 1-3 metres thick) hosted by schists and

occur near a two mica granite of medium grain (figure 40). The skarn levels are constituted essentially

by zones of massif sulphides (pyrrhotite, pyrite, arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite) with associated

wolframite, scheelite and ferberite pseudomorphs after scheelite. The mineralization also comprises

apatite, muscovite, chlorite and quartz.

Figure 40: Geological satting of Covas area (C. Teixeira, 1962)

The ore processing was by electromagnetic, hydrogravitic, roasting and flotation methods.

These tailings and the mining area were rehabilitated by EDM. The works included slope stabilization,

modelling and limiting the tailings areas, reducing the pluvial infiltration, maintenance of natural

processes of chemical neutralization.

After an initial recognition of the Covas tailings, 3 zones were defined and 13 sub-samples were

collected (figure 41):

Zone A – fine grained material - 4 samples;

Zone B – main zone with material from de processing plant - 8 samples;

Zone C –material from drainage of tailings - 1 samples;

Page 48: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 41: Covas tailings and sampling locations

The macroscopic inspection suggests that the samples of zone C and zone B are interesting, namely

samples COV B3 and COV B4. These samples were collected on the same location but the samples

look very different. COV B4 is laminated showing millimetric layers with different colours and grain

size, whereas COV B3 was more homogeneous in terms of colour. Additionally, samples COV B5 and

COV A1 and COV A2 from zone A are also considered to be of interest.

6.2.2 Cumieira

Cumieira consisted of an alluvial deposit located on a plateau that has formed by weathering and

accumulation of the surrounding rocks. The deposit varies in thickness from few centimetres up to 3

meters and comprises clasts of schists, quartz, granite and aplite-pegmatite. This area was initially

exploited for Sn (cassiterite) and later for Nb-Ta (COLTAN) and was active between 1927-1966. The

cassiterite occurred in rounded or angular grains concentrated in layers of the elluvial deposit

supported by a clay matrix. The ore processing was essentially made by hydrogravitic processes and,

more rarely, by electrostatic separation in industrial facilities away of the mining area.

Page 49: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

The deposit overlays Silurian units formed by polygenic psamo-pelitic formations with quartzite,

black schists with phosphate nodules, lidites and exotic psamitic lithologies (figure 42).

Figure 42: Geological setting of Cumieira area (C. Teixeira, 1962)

Two areas with tailing were identified. One area consists of fine material (sand size) and is located

next to the old washing plant (tailing D). The other area is bigger than the previous one and comprises

several piles of mostly coarse material (tailings A, B and C). Five sub-samples were collected

(figure 43):

CUM A1: fine grey material, probably results from water drainage;

CUM B1: coarse material from a pile of tailings;

CUM C1: coarse material from a pile of tailings;

CUM D1: fine yellowish material collected at the base of the washing plant:

CUM D2: fine yellowish material collected at the base of the washing plant.

Page 50: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 43: Cumieira taillings and sampling location

Macroscopic inspection of the tailings material suggests that CUM D2 and CUM D1 samples are

appropriate for the project. Additionally, the homogeneity of the tailings and the volume also suggest

the tailing body “D” could be further processed in the project.

6.2.3 Ervideira-Mestras

Ervideira-Mestras were exploited for U (metatorbernite) between 1919-1962 in open pit and

underground works, and the ore processing method was physical. The mineralization occurs in poly-

phasic veins with smoked and milky quartz, and amethyst. The veins trend N-S, NNW-NE, are sub-

vertical and 1-1.5 meters in thickness. They are hosted in basic rocks and in two mica coarse granite

(figure 44).

Page 51: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 44: Geological setting of Ervideira-Mestras area (C. Teixeira, 1972)

Given the paragenesis of this mineralization a full chemical characterization is needed in order to

evaluate its potential for REE and radioactive elements.

6.2.4 Cabração

This area was not included in the sampling plan defined by ENVIREE but due to the proximity to the

sampling sites and its potential in REE it was decided to visit and sample the site.

At Cabração, pegmatite veins were sourced from proximal granitic batholits and were exploited for Sn

(cassiterite) and Nb-Ta (COLTAN), between 1943-1992. The ore processing method is unknown. The

aplite-pegmatite intrudes rocks of Silurian age that consist of polygenic psamo-pelitic formations with

quartzite, black schists with phosphate nodules, lidites and exotic psamitic lithologies (Figure 45). The

tailings were later exploited for industrial minerals and are reduced to a small volume (Figure 46) of

fine grained material with light colour. Therefore, only one sample was collected in this site (CAB

A1).

Page 52: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 45: Geological setting of Cabração area (C. Teixeira, 1970)

Figure 46: Cabração tailings and sampling location

The reduced volume of tailings indicate that this site is not the most appropriate for the project.

6.2.5 Verdes

Like Cabração this area was not initially defined in the sampling plan. Verdes were exploited between

1947-1975 for Sn (cassiterite) and W (wolframite) in underground mining works. The cassiterite

occurs disseminated in aplite-pegmatite veins and the wolframite is hosted in veins that intrude the

aplite-pegmatite. The ore processing was by electromagnetic and hydrogravitic, methods.

Page 53: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

The veins are hosted by Silurian units formed by polygenic psamo-pelitic formations with quartzite,

black schists with phosphate nodules, lidites and exotic psamitic lithologies (figure 47).

The Verdes tailings are fine grained and characterized by light colour (figure 48). One sample was

collected (VERDES A1) in the single tailing body identified.

Figure 47: Geological setting of Verdes area (C. Teixeira, 1970)

Page 54: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Figure 48: Verdes talings and sampling location

The visual inspection of the tailings material suggests the existence of monazite, which is a mineral

that typically contains REE in its crystalline structure. Additionally, the size of the tailings indicates

that this site is appropriate for ENVIREE and can eventually be considered for the next phase of the

project.

Page 55: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

7 ANNEXES

Page 56: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

7.1 Annex I – Table of Criteria for Site Selection

Page 57: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

N

ame

G e o l o g i c a l / g e o g r a p h i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n T a i l i n g s i n f o r m a t i o n O l d m i n i n g a n d m i l l i n g i n f o r m a t i o n

Geo

gra

ph

ic l

oca

tio

n

Ocu

rren

ce/

iden

tifi

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on

(m

ine

nam

e)

Geo

log

ical

bac

kg

rou

nd

/ ty

pe

of

Dep

osi

t/ c

har

acte

rist

ics

Par

agen

esis

Co

nte

nt

of

RE

E*

Ch

arac

teri

stic

s

(min

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ogy

,

ho

mo

gen

eity

etc

.)

Av

aila

bil

ity

(es

tim

ated

qu

anti

ty)

Acc

ess

to t

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site

Inte

rest

(co

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**

Pro

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RE

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ion

on

exp

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epo

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eted

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Det

ails

of

pro

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rou

tes

Det

ails

on

in

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al

pro

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on

go

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op

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sto

pp

ed)

Page 58: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

7.2 Annex II – Site and Sampling Characterization Report Template

Page 59: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Site and Sampling characterization report

Date: ___ /___ /_______

Time: ________________

Weather conditions:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Mining site:

Name: _______________________________________Location: _______________________________________

Coordinates: _____________________________________ Projection System: ___________________________

Type of ore (grade and tonnage): _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Regional geology and metallogenetic province: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mineralization type: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Host and outcropping rocks: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Exploitation period: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Type(s) of ore processing: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Evidence for neoformation/weathering: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mine drainage: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sampling team:

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

________________________________________

Page 60: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Tailings:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

H o m o g e n e i t y ( g r a i n s i z e , c o m p o s i t i o n , e t c ) :

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

T a i l i n g b o d i e s I D H e i g h t ( m ) S h a p e A r e a ( m2

) D e s c r i p t i o n

Page 61: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Tailings/waste sampling:

U s e d e q u i p m e n t : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

N o . s a m p l e s c o l l e c t e d : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

S a m p l e s I d :

T a i l i n g b o d y I D S a m p l e R e f . S u b - s a m p l e R e f . D e p t h ( m ) G r a i n s i z e G r a i n s h a p e O b s e r v a t i o n s

Page 62: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Sampling grids and photos (scheme):

Observations:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 63: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

7.3 Annex III – Site and Sampling Characterization Reports for the

Portuguese Sites

Page 64: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Site and Sampling characterization report

Date: 14 / 05 / 2015

Time: 10:23 am

Weather conditions:

Cloudy and foggy

Mining site:

Name: Covas Location: Vilares, Caminha, Viana do Castelo

Type of ore (grade and tonnage):

Skarn exploited for tungsten (wolframite and scheelite)

Regional geology and metallogenetic province:

The mining site is located in the tectono-stratigraphic Galiza and Trás-os Montes Zone in the Parautochthonous

unit, called Central Minho Unit from Silurian age. The mine occurs in an antiform of pelitic schists and impure

marble. This sequence is intruded by the Covas granite (+/- 320-310 Ma) and the Arga granite (+/- 305 Ma). Both

granites are sin-tectonic to deformation phase D3.

Mineralization type:

Skarn type. The carbonate units (impure marbles) host the mineralization. The mineralization is stratiform to

lenticular consisting of tungsten mineralization (scheelite, wolframite, ferberite), cassiterite, sulphides

(arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite), apatite, chlorite, muscovite and quartz.

Host and outcropping rocks:

The host and outcropping rocks are metassedimentary formations of Silurian age, consisting of pelitic schists,

impure marbles and quartzites. There are also abundant aplitic-pegmatitic veins and the Covas granite.

Exploitation period:

First mining exploitation was by open pit between 1950-1964. From 1964 until 1984 the exploitation was

underground.

Type(s) of ore processing:

Electromagnetic, hydrogravitic, roasting and flotation.

Evidence for neoformation/weathering:

Locally there are neoformation of sulphates and sulphur

Mine drainage:

Mainly infiltration and runoff from tailings. There is a small lake downstream one of the tailings where the water

is treated before it drains to the local streams.

Sampling team:

Carlos Rosa, Daniela Lobarinhas, Marisa Gomes, Isabel Dias,

Isabel Paiva

________________________________________

Page 65: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Tailings:

5 b o d i e s o f t a i l i n g s d i v i d e d b y 3 m a i n p a r t s : C O V A S A ( E 1 ) , C O V A S B ( E 2 3 4 - 3 b o d i e s a t d i f f e r e n t e l e v a t i o n s a n d w i t h f l a t t o p s ) a n d C O V A S C ( E 5 ) . T h e a p p r o x i m a t e v o l u m e

f o r C O V A S B i s 2 2 6 0 0 0 m3

a n d f o r C O V A S C i s 8 4 0 0 0 m3

. T h e C O V A S A i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 0 0 0 0 m3

. T h e t a i l in g s a r e w e l l i n t e g r a t e d i n t h e l a n d s c a p e b e i n g i n s o m e p l a c e s

d e n s e l y v e g e t a t e d .

H o m o g e n e i t y ( g r a i n s i z e , c o m p o s i t i o n , e t c ) :

C O V A S A : l i g h t b r o w n t o c r e a m a n d o r a n g e c o l o u r s , h e t e r o g e n e o u s , g r a i n s i z e r a n g i n g b e t w e e n s i l t t o c o b b l e s w i t h h i g h c o n t e n t o f m i c a s a n d l i t h i c f r a g m e n t s o f p e g m a t i t e

a n d s c h i s t .

C O V A S B : d a r k g r e y , r e d , o r a n g e , y e l l o w , c r e a m a n d l i g h t b r o w n c o l o u r s , i n s o m e p l a c e s l a y e r e d . H e t e r o g e n e o u s i n t e r m s o f g r a i n s i z e ( c l a y t o c l a s t s u p t o 2 0 c m l o n g ) a n d

c o m p o s i t i o n ( c l a y s , a n d c l a s t s o f s c h i s t s a n d p e g m a t i t e ) .

C O V A S C : o r a n g e v e r y f i n e g r a i n e d m a t e r i a l c a p p e d b y o x i d i z e d c r u s t s w i t h o r a n g e a n d y e l l o w c o l o u r s . O n t o p o c c u r s c a t t e r e d c o a r s e r f r a g m e n t s o f s c h i s t s .

T a i l i n g b o d i e s I D H e i g h t ( m ) S h a p e A r e a ( m2

) D e s c r i p t i o n

C O V A S A ≈ u p t o 3 m I r r e g u l a r ≈ 5 5 0 0 m2

C O V A S A : m a i n l y l i g h t b r o w n t o o r a n g e c o a r s e s a n d w i t h s i l t g r a i n s i z e f r a c t i o n

a n d l o w c o n t e n t o f f r a g m e n t s c o a r s e r t h a n 1 0 c m . I n s o m e p l a c e s i s c o m p a c t

a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d . M a j o r f r a g m e n t s a r e a p l i t e s , g r a n i t e s a n d m i c a s c h i s t s . T h e

f i n e r p o r t i o n h a s h i g h e r c o n t e n t o f m i c a s .

C O V A S B : i n t h e b o t t o m i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y y e l l o w , r e d , o r a n g e s i l t - s a n d y

m a t e r i a l w i t h t h i n n e r d a r k e r m u d d y l e v e l s , o n t h e t o p h a s c o a r s e r s a n d

m a t e r i a l w i t h m a j o r c l a s t s , l i g h t b r o w n t o c r e a m c o l o u r s , l o c a l l y c o m p a c t e d

a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d .

C O V A S C : C o r r e s p o n d s t o f i n e t a i l i n g . T h e m a t e r i a l i s f in e g r a i n e d o r a n g e

m a t e r i a l w i t h s t r o n g c o m p o n e n t o f s i l t g r a i n s i z e , w e l l c o m p a c t e d b e i n g

d i f f i c u l t t o d i g . L o c a l l y i s c a p p e d b y t h i n o x i d i z e d c r u s t s .

C O V A S B ≈ u p t o 1 0 m I r r e g u l a r ≈ 2 5 0 0 0 m2

C O V A S C ≈ u p t o 2 m I r r e g u l a r ≈ 1 0 0 0 0 m2

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Tailings/waste sampling:

U s e d e q u i p m e n t : h a m m e r , s h o v e l , h o e , g l o v e s , p l a s t i c b a g s

N o . s a m p l e s c o l l e c t e d : 1 1

S a m p l e s I d :

T a i l i n g b o d y I D S a m p l e R e f . S u b - s a m p l e R e f . D e p t h ( m ) G r a i n s i z e G r a i n s h a p e O b s e r v a t i o n s

C O V A S

F O R N O

- - 0 , 0 0 2 – 0 , 0 6 m m A n g u l a r C O V A S F O R N O : f i n e a s h e s , b l a c k t o d a r k g r e y , f r o m t h e b u i l d i n g

w h e r e w a s t h e r o a s t i n g p r o c e s s . S e e F i g u r e 2 .

C O V A S A 1 . 1 : f i n e ( s i l t ) t o c o a r s e s a n d w i t h f r a g m e n t s p o r t i o n s w i t h

g r a v e l g r a i n s i z e , l i g h t b r o w n , h o m o g e n e o u s w i t h p r e d o m i n a n t

m i c a s . S e e F i g u r e 3 .

C O V A S A 1 . 2 : s i m i l a r t o C O V A S A 1 . 1 . C h a r a c t e r i z e d m a i n l y b y s i l t t o

f i n e s a n d g r a i n s i z e w i t h l o w c o n t e n t o f c o a r s e r g r a i n s . T h i s s a m p l e

w a s c o l l e c t e d 2 , 5 m t o N o f C O V A S A 1 . 1 . S e e F i g u r e 4 .

C O V A S A 2 : c o m p o s i t e s a m p l e c o l l e c t e d i n 2 p l a c e s s e p a r a t e d 1 0 m

e a c h a n d b e t w e e n 2 g r i n d i n g r a i l s . C o a r s e g r a i n s i z e ( s a n d ) w i t h

r a r e c o a r s e r f r a g m e n t s . L i g h t b r o w n t o c r e a m c o l o r s . S e e F i g u r e 5 .

C O V A S A 3 : f i n e g r a i n s i z e ( f i n e t o m e d i u m s a n d ) , h e t e r o g e n e o u s

w i t h o r a n g e , b r o w n a n d y e l l o w c o l o r s . I n s o m e p l a c e s i s w e l l

c o n s o l i d a t e d . S e e F i g u r e 6 .

C O V A S A

C O V A S A 1

C O V A S A 1 . 1 1 m 0 , 0 5 - 2 m m A n g u l a r

C O V A S A 1 . 2 0 , 5 m 0 , 0 5 - 0 , 6 m m A n g u l a r

C O V A S A 2 - 0 , 5 m 0 , 0 6 - 2 m m A n g u l a r

C O V A S A 3 - S u r f a c e 0 , 0 5 - 2 m m A n g u l a r

C O V A S A 4 - 0 , 3 0 m 0 , 0 6 - 0 , 6 m m A n g u l a r t o

s u b a n g u l a r

C O V A S B C O V A S B 1

C O V A S B 1 a 1 , 2 m 0 , 0 6 - 0 , 6 m m A n g u l a r

C O V A S B 1 b 0 , 7 m 0 , 0 0 2 m m -

C O V A S B 1 c 0 , 5 m 0 , 0 0 2 - 0 , 0 6 m m -

C O V A S B 1 d 0 , 2 5 m 0 . 6 - 2 m m A n g u l a r

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C O V A S B 2 - 0 , 4 - 0 , 5 m 0 , 2 - 6 m m A n g u l a r t o

s u b a n g u l a r

C O V A S A 4 : c o a r s e g r a i n s i z e ( f i n e s a n d ) , l i g h t b r o w n , c r e a m a n d

w h i t e c o l o r s , h e t e r o g e n e o u s . T h e b o t t o m i s w e l l c o n s o l i d a t e d a n d

c o r r e s p o n d s t o t h e p r o t o l i t h . S e e F i g u r e 7 .

C O V A S B 1 a : f i n e ( s i l t ) t o c o a r s e g r a i n s i z e ( m e d i u m s a n d ) w i t h

o r a n g e , d a r k r e d a n d y e l l o w c o l o u r s , h e t e r o g e n e o u s . I t i s t h e

b o t t o m l e v e l o f a l a y e r e d s e q u e n c e . S e e F i g u r e 9 .

C O V A S B 1 b : f i n e g r a i n e d d a r k g r e y m u d p r o b a b l y i s r o a s t i n g a s h e s .

T h i s l a y e r s h o w s m i l i m e t r i c p l a n a r s t r u c t u r e s . S e e F i g u r e 9 .

C O V A S B 1 c : v e r y f i n e g r a i n s i z e ( s i l t ) , d a r k b r o w n ( w i t h b u r n t

a s p e c t ) , c o n s o l i d a t e d b u t e a s y t o d i s a g g r e g a t e . S e e F i g u r e 9 .

C O V A S B 1 d : t h i s l a y e r i s c o a r s e r t h a n t h e p r e v i o u s ( B 1 c , B 1 b , B 1 a )

( m e d i u m t o c o a r s e s a n d ) , l i g h t b r o w n t o w h i t e c o l o r s , d i f f i c u l t t o

d i s a g g r e g a t e , w i t h w h i t e c o a r s e r c l a s t s ( m e d i u m t o c o a r s e g r a v e l )

e a s i l y b r o k e n . S e e F i g u r e 9 .

C O V A S B 2 : s i m i l a r t o C O V A S B 1 d . C o a r s e g r a i n s i z e ( c o a r s e s a n d t o

f i n e g r a v e l ) , c r e a m t o l i g h t b r o w n a n d o r a n g e c o l o r s . S a m p l e h a s

l i t h i c e l e m e n t s , m a i n l y p e g m a t i t e - a p l i t e w i t h f r a g m e n t s r a n g i n g

f r o m 1 t o 5 c m o r l a r g e r . C e m e n t e d m a t e r i a l ( s i l i c i o u s ) f o r b e i n g

h a r d a n d d i f f i c u l t t o d i g . S o i l a t t o p . S e e F i g u r e 1 0 .

C O V A S B 3 : m a i n l y c o a r s e g r a i n s i z e ( m e d i u m s a n d ) w i t h l a r g e r

f r a g m e n t s u p t o f i n e g r a v e l , o r a n g e , y e l l o w a n d b r o w n c o l o r s ,

h e t e r o g e n e o u s . O n t o p i s r e d b r o w n f r i a b l e l a y e r , b e l o w i s c o a r s e r

t h a n t h e p r e v i o u s , y e l l o w w i t h m i n o r d a r k g r e y l a y e r s i n t e r c a l a t e d .

T h e b o t t o m i s d a r k e r t h a n t h e t o p l a y e r , s i m i l a r t o C O V A S B 1 a . S e e

F i g u r e 1 1 .

C O V A S B 3 - 0 , 5 - 1 m 0 , 2 - 6 m m A n g u l a r t o

s u b a n g u l a r

C O V A S B 4

( r o c k )

- S u r f a c e

C O V A S B 5 - 0 , 5 - 0 , 8 m 0 , 2 - 2 m m A n g u l a r t o

s u b a n g u l a r

C O V A S C C O V A S C 1 - 0 , 3 m 0 , 0 0 2 - 0 , 0 6 m m

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C O V A S C

( c o n t i n u a t i o n )

C O V A S B 4 : r o c k s a m p l e w i t h a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 0 c m x 1 0 c m x 7 c m w i t h

f i n e g r a i n e d m a t e r i a l c o n s o l i d a t e d . S h o w s l a m i n a r t e x t u r e s ,

p r o b a b l y c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e m a t e r i a l a t b o t t o m o f s e t t l i n g t a n k .

S e e F i g u r e 1 2 .

C O V A S B 5 : m a i n l y c o a r s e s a n d m a t e r i a l w i t h l a r g e r f r a g m e n t s o f

a p l i t e ( ? ) u p t o 5 c m , l i g h t b r o w n c o l o r , h e t e r o g e n e o u s , h a r d a n d

d i f f i c u l t t o d i g . S e e F i g u r e 1 3 .

C O V A S C 1 : V e r y f i n e b a n d e d m a t e r i a l ( c l a y t o s i l t g r a i n s i z e ) w i t h

m i l i m e t r i c t o c e n t i m e t r i c o r a n g e a n d y e l l o w l a y e r s , s h o w i n g

o x i d a t i o n c r u s t s . H o m o g e n e o u s s a m p l e w i t h p r e s e n c e o f m i c a s .

C o a r s e s c h i s t f r a g m e n t s o n t h e t o p . S e e F i g u r e 1 5 .

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Sampling grids and photos (scheme): A sampling grid was not defined due to the size, distribution

and number of tailing bodies. The sampling distribution at each body tailing is represented at Figure 1.

Figure 1 – Sampling location

Figure 2 – a) Old mine oven; b) COVAS FORNO sample

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Figure 3 – Sub-sample COVAS A1.1 local

Figure 4 – Collecting sub-sample COVAS A1.2.

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Figure 5 – Sample COVAS A2 local

Figure 6 – Sample COVAS A3 local

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Figure 7 – Sample COVAS A4 local

Figure 8 – COVAS B Tailing view

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Figure 9 – Profile for COVAS B1 sample (Sub-samples, bottom to top: COVAS B1a, COVAS B1b, COVAS

B1c, COVAS B1d)

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Figure 10 – Sample COVAS B2 local

Figure 11 – Sample COVAS B3 profile

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Figure 12 – Rock sample COVAS B4

Figure 13 – Sample COVAS B5 local

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Figure 14 – View to COVAS C tailing top

Figure 15 – Sample COVAS C1

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Site and Sampling characterization report

Date: 13 /05 /2015

Time: 5 pm

Weather conditions:

Sunny with no wind

Mining site:

Name: Cumieira Location: Serra de Arga, Caminha, PORTUGAL

Type of ore (grade and tonnage):

Tin and Nb-Ta minerals from quartz veins and pegmatitic veins.

Regional geology and metallogenetic province:

The mining site is in the tectono-stratigraphic Galiza and Trás-os Montes Zone in the Parautochthonous unit

called Central Minho Unit from Silurian age. In this unit is the allocthonous massif – Arga massif with +/- 305 Ma

- sin-tectonic to D3.

Mineralization type:

Placers deposits near quartz veins and pegmatitic apophysis. The placers have different thicknesses from

centimetres up to 3 m above bed-rock.

Host and outcropping rocks:

Micaschists of Silurian age

Exploitation period:

The mine was exploited between 1927 and 1966 for Sn and Nb-Ta from elluvial deposits. Since 1950, the main

target exploitation was Nb-Ta concentrates.

Type(s) of ore processing:

hydrogravitc, washing, electrostatic separation

Evidence for neoformation/weathering:

The tailings do not show any evidence of weathering.

Mine drainage:

The area is characterized by seasonal rivers between October to April. All seasonal rivers flows to the Coura

River. There is a seasonal river near the tailings with no visual evidences of contamination.

Sampling team:

Carlos Rosa, Daniela Lobarinhas, Marisa Gomes, Isabel Paiva,

Isabel Dias

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Tailings:

S e v e r a l s c a t t e r e d t a i l i n g p i l e s , a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 2 p i l e s , w i t h d i f f e r e n t g r a i n s i z e s a n d a r e a s . T h e t h i c k n e s s e s a r e v a r i a b l e b u t n o t h i g h e r t h a n 1 , 5 5 m .

H o m o g e n e i t y ( g r a i n s i z e , c o m p o s i t i o n , e t c ) :

T h e p i l e s a r e h e t e r o g e n e o u s a n d m a i n l y c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y s c h i s t a n d g r a n i t e c o a r s e f r a g m e n t s ( b e t w e e n 1 m m t o 1 5 c m ) a n d a n g u l a r s h a p e s .

T a i l i n g b o d i e s I D H e i g h t ( m ) S h a p e A r e a ( m2

) D e s c r i p t i o n

C U M A 0 , 3 0 m I r r e g u l a r < 1 C U M A : f i n e t o c o a r s e g r a i n e d ( c l a y t o s a n d ) , d a r k g r e y , w i t h b i o t i t i c m i n e r a l s ,

l o c a t e d i n t h e r u n o f f z o n e s w h i c h b r i n g s t h e f i n e m a t e r i a l f r o m c o a r s e t a i l i n g s

l o c a t e d t o S W .

C U M B : m a i n l y c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y c o a r s e g r a i n s u p t o + / - 1 0 c m , h e t e r o g e n e o u s ,

w i t h m i c a s c h i s t s , q u a r t z , s p o t t e d s c h i s t s ( a n d a l u s i t e ? ) .

C U M C : f i n e g r a i n e d m a t e r i a l , h e t e r o g e n e o u s , w i t h q u a r t z a n d s c h i s t

f r a g m e n t s . C o n s t i t u t e d b y 4 p i l e s w i t h d i f f e r e n t a r e a s w h e r e t h e p i l e 2 m x 2 m

i s e q u i v a l e n t i n g r a i n s i z e t o C U M B .

C U M D : i t i s t h e t a i l i n g f r o m t h e h y d r o g r a v i t i c p l a n t . C o a r s e s a n d o n t h e t o p i n

t h e o p p o s i t e s i d e o f t h e w a t e r s h e d , h e t e r o g e n e o u s , m a i n l y w i t h q u a r t z a n d

s c h i s t f r a g m e n t s .

C U M B U p t o 0 , 8 m I r r e g u l a r 5 m x 5 m

≈ 2 5 m2

C U M C U p t o 0 , 8 m I r r e g u l a r 6 m x 3 m ≈ 1 8 m2

6 m x 3 m ≈ 1 8 m2

1 m x 1 m ≈ 1 m2

2 m x 2 m ≈ 4 m2

C U M D 1 , 5 5 m I r r e g u l a r 1 0 m x 1 0 m ≈ 1 0 0

m2

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Tailings/waste sampling:

U s e d e q u i p m e n t : b a g s , s h o v e l , h o e , g l o v e s

N o . s a m p l e s c o l l e c t e d : 5

S a m p l e s I d :

T a i l i n g b o d y I D S a m p l e R e f . S u b - s a m p l e R e f . D e p t h ( m ) G r a i n s i z e G r a i n s h a p e O b s e r v a t i o n s

C U M A C U M A 1 - 0 , 3 0 m 0 , 0 0 2 – 0 . 2

m m

A n g u l a r C U M A 1 : f i n e d a r k g r e y g r a i n e d m a t e r i a l ( s i l t t o f i n e s a n d ) ,

h o m o g e n e o u s . S o m e d a r k i n t e r c a l a t i o n s ( p r o b a b l y o r g a n i c

m a t e r i a l ) a n d d a r k s o i l i n t h e b o t t o m . T h i s s a m p l e i s f r o m r a i n

r u n o f f n e a r t h e r o a d . S e e F i g u r e 2 a n d 3 .

C U M B 1 : m a i n l y c o a r s e g r a i n s ( c o b b l e s g r a i n s i z e ) w i t h f i n e m a t e r i a l

( s i l t t o f i n e s a n d ) , h e t e r o g e n e o u s . T h e m a t e r i a l s a r e s c h i s t s ,

m i c a s c h i s t s , s p o t t e d s c h i s t s ( a n d a l u s i t e ? ) , q u a r t z a n d m i n o r

o c c u r r e n c e s o f a p l i t e s . S e e F i g u r e 4 a n d 5 .

C U M C 1 : c o a r s e m a t e r i a l ( m a i n l y a b o v e 2 m m g r a i n s i z e ) w i t h s o m e

c l a y m a t e r i a l ; d a r k b r o w n , h e t e r o g e n e o u s .

C U M D 1 : f i n e m a t e r i a l ( s i l t ) w i t h o u t c o a r s e g r a i n s , h o m o g e n e o u s ,

w e l l s o r t e d ; l i g h t b r o w n w i t h l o t s o f m i c a s . S e e F i g u r e 7 .

C U M D 2 : S i m i l a r t o C U M D 1 , w e l l s o r t e d . T h e g r a i n s i z e i s m o r e

c o a r s e t h a n C U M D 1 . S e e F i g u r e 8 .

C U M B C U M B 1 - S u r f a c e 0 , 0 6 – 2 0 0 m m A n g u l a r t o

s u b a n g u l a r

C U M C C U M C 1 - 0 , 5 0 m 0 , 0 6 – 6 m m A n g u l a r

C U M D C U M D 1 - 0 , 2 0 m 0 . 0 6 m m A n g u l a r

C U M D 2 - 0 , 1 0 m 0 , 0 6 – 0 . 2 m m A n g u l a r

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Sampling grids and photos (scheme): A sampling grid was not defined due to the size, distribution

and number of tailing bodies. The sampling distribution at each body tailing is represented at Figure 1.

Figure 1 - Sampling location

Figure 2 – Collecting CUM A1 sample

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Figure 3 – Local sample CUM A1

Figure 4 – Partial view to CUM B tailing

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Figure 5 – Collecting CUM B1 sample

Figure 6 – View for CUM C tailing

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Figure 7 – Sub-sample CUM D1 sampling local

Figure 8 – Sub-Sample CUM D2 sampling local

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Site and Sampling characterization report

Date: 15 /05/2015

Time: 11:00

Weather conditions:

Sunny

Mining site:

Name: Ervideira-Mestras (Ervideira sector) Location: Gradiz, Aguiar da Beira

Type of ore (grade and tonnage):

Metatorbernite in weathered basic rock and vein of smoked quartz, both hosted by two mica granite.

Regional geology and metallogenetic province:

The mining site is in central Portugal in the tectono-stratigraphic Central Iberian Zone (CIZ). The CIZ contains

abundant granitic intrusions and metasedimentary units of Pre-Cambrian and Paleozoic ages. In the mine area

occur several types of granites that host mainly quartz veins with uranium mineralization.

Mineralization type:

Veins with basic rock and quartz (smoky) emplaced in a two mica granite. The vein is approximately 1 m wide,

strikes N15ºE and dis 80º W. The mineralization is mainly metatorbernite hosted by the basic rock.

Host and outcropping rocks:

The host rock to the mineralization is a basic rock and quartz that infills a fault zone. The fault and the infill rocks

are hosted by a two mica granite.

Exploitation period:

The advanced exploration started in 1919 with development of 6 mine shafts and a trench 250 m long. In 1955

the main shaft was deepened.

Type(s) of ore processing:

The ore was not processed at the mine site.

Evidence for neoformation/weathering:

No evidences

Mine drainage:

No evidences of mine drainage

Sampling team:

Carlos Rosa, Daniela Lobarinhas, Marisa Gomes, Isabel

Paiva, Rui Pinto

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Tailings:

T h e t a i l i n g b o d y i s t o t a l l y i n t e g r a t e d i n t h e l a n d s c a p e . M o s t o f t h e t a i l i n g w a s m o v e d t o f i l l t h e t r e n c h a n d s h a f t s . A v e r y s m a l l t a i l i n g o c c u r s n e x t t o a s m a l l p i t .

H o m o g e n e i t y ( g r a i n s i z e , c o m p o s i t i o n , e t c ) :

V e r y c o a r s e c l a s t s o f q u a r t z a n d q u a r t z b r e c c i a c o n t a i n i n g b a s i c r o c k a n d m e t a t r o b e r n i t e .

T a i l i n g b o d i e s I D H e i g h t ( m ) S h a p e A r e a ( m2

) D e s c r i p t i o n

E R V I D E I R A 1 S m a l l m o u n d 1 m2

( v i s i b l e ) E R V I D E I R A : T h e t a i l i n g s c o n s i s t o n l y o f a s m a l l m o u n d o f l a r g e c l a s t s o f q u a r t z

a n d q u a r t z b r e c c i a w i t h e l e m e n t s o f b a s i c r o c k a n d d i f f e r e n t g e n e r a t i o n s o f

q u a r t z v e i n s . T h e t a i l i n g s w e r e m o v e d t o f i l l t h e t r e n c h e s a n d s h a f t s e x c a v a t e d

d u r i n g t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n . H o w e v e r , t h e t a i l i n g s m a t e r i a l i s a c c e s s i b l e t o b e

s a m p l e s a n d c a n b e e x c a v a t e d t o p r o v i d e a l a r g e a m o u n t o f m a t e r i a l , u p t o

5 0 0 t o n .

Page 86: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Tailings/waste sampling:

U s e d e q u i p m e n t : g l o v e s , s h o v e l , h o e a n d p l a s t i c b a g s

N o . s a m p l e s c o l l e c t e d : 2

S a m p l e s I d :

T a i l i n g b o d y I D S a m p l e R e f . S u b - s a m p l e R e f . D e p t h ( m ) G r a i n s i z e G r a i n s h a p e O b s e r v a t i o n s

E R V I D E I R A

E r v i d e i r a 1 - S u r f a c e 1 - 3 0 c m A n g u l a r E r v i d e i r a 1 : T h e t a i l i n g s a r e c o m p l e t e l y c o v e r e d b y m o s s .

E r v i d e i r a 2 : M i x t u r e o f f i n e g r a i n e d a n d c o a r s e m a t e r i a l . T h e c o a r s e r

c l a s t s ( u p t o 5 c m l o n g ) a r e t y p i c a l l y c o a t e d w i t h m e t a t o r b e r n i t e a n d

c o n s i s t m a i n l y o f q u a r t z a n d b a s i c r o c k , b u t s o m e g r a n i t e c l a s t s a r e

a l s o p r e s e n t .

E r v i d e i r a 2 - 0 , 8 m F i n e f r a c t i o n

1 - 5 m m ;

C o a r s e

f r a c t i o n 2 - 5

c m

A n g u l a r

Page 87: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Sampling grids and photos (scheme): No grid was defined since each tailing body was sampled only at

one site.

Figure 1 – Ervideira tailings

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Site and Sampling characterization report

Date: 27 /05/2015

Time: 11:00

Weather conditions:

Sunny

Mining site:

Name: Ervideira-Mestras (Mestras sector) Location: Gradiz, Aguiar da Beira

Type of ore (grade and tonnage):

Metatorbernite and autonite hosted in veins of smoked quartz, ametiste and chalcedony that infills a fault zone

emplaced in a two mica granite.

Regional geology and metallogenetic province:

The mining site is in central Portugal in the tectono-stratigraphic Central Iberian Zone (CIZ). The CIZ contains

abundant granitic intrusions and metasedimentary units of Pre-Cambrian and Paleozoic ages. In the mine area

occur several types of granites that host mainly quartz veins with uranium mineralization. Approximately 500 m

to the North of Mestras, and along the same fault zone, occurs the Luz mine, also for U - Ra.

Mineralization type:

Polyphasic veins with quartz (smoky, ametist, chalcedony) emplaced in a two mica granite. The vein is

approximately 1,5 m wide, strikes N-S and is sub-vertical. The mineralization is mainly metatorbernite and

autonite hosted by the quartz and at the contact of the quartz veins with the granite. Quartz crystals of variable

sizes (up to 5 cm) are abundant.

Host and outcropping rocks:

The mineralization is hosted by a quartz vein emplaced in a fault zone, hosted by a two mica granite.

Exploitation period:

There was an initial exploitation period from 1919-1924 for Ra, and a subsequent phase 1955-1958 for U.

During the initial phase 2 shafts of 20 m deep each and approximately 30 m apart were excavated. The shafts

were connected by two levels of adits. A 30 m long trench was also excavated.

During the second phase the site was intensely explored, several drill-holes were made and more shafts and

adits were excavated along the veins. The mining depth has reached level -65 m.

Type(s) of ore processing:

The ore was not processed at the mine site.

Evidence for neoformation/weathering:

No evidences

Mine drainage:

No evidences of mine drainage

Sampling team:

Carlos Rosa, Rui Pinto

Page 89: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Tailings:

T h e t a i l i n g b o d y i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 0 0 0 t o n , i s i n t e g r a t e d i n t h e l a n d s c a p e a n d t h e r e a r e n o e v i d e n t r i s k s o f c o l l a p s e o r e r o s i o n . H o w e v e r , p a r t w a s t a k e n p r e s u m a b l y b y l o c a l

p e o p l e . T h e t a i l i n g s b o d y i s m a r k e d w i t h s i g n a l i z a t i o n a l e r t i n g n o t t o r e m o v e t h e t a i l i n g s m a t e r i a l f r o m i t s p l a c e .

H o m o g e n e i t y ( g r a i n s i z e , c o m p o s i t i o n , e t c ) :

T h e t a i l i n g c o n s i s t s m a i n l y o f i n t e r m e d i a t e a n d f i n e g r a i n e d m a t e r i a l ( c o a r s e s a n d ) o f q u a r t z a n d g r a n i t i c c o m p o s i t i o n , m i x e d w i t h c o a r s e m a t e r i a l . R e l a t i v e l y a b u n d a n t v e r y

c o a r s e c l a s t s o f q u a r t z , q u a r t z b r e c c i a a n d g r a n i t e c o n t a i n i n g m e t a t r o b e r n i t e a n d a u t o n i t e .

T a i l i n g b o d i e s I D H e i g h t ( m ) S h a p e A r e a ( m2

) D e s c r i p t i o n

M e s t r a s U p t o 3 I r r e g u l a r ~ 1 3 0 0 m2

M E S T R A S : T h e t a i l i n g s c o n s i s t o f a n i r r e g u l a r m o u n d c o v e r e d w i t h s m a l l

v e g e t a t i o n t h a t r e a c h e s a m a x i m u m h e i g h t o f 3 m . T h e t a i l i n g f r o n t w a s

e x c a v a t e d a n d t h e m a t e r i a l w a s p r o b a b l y t a k e n b y l o c a l p e o p l e . T h e t a i l i n g s

a r e h e t e r o g e n e o u s i n t e r m s o f g r a i n s i z e , t h e r e i s a c o a r s e f r a c t i o n ( c l a s t s c a n

b e u p t o 3 0 c m l o n g ) a n i n t e r m e d i a t e f r a c t i o n ( c l a s t s i z e s r a n g e f r o m 1 c m t o

1 0 c m ) a n d a f i n e f r a c t i o n o f c o a r s e s a n d . T h e c l a s t s i n a l l f r a c t i o n s a r e o f

g r a n i t e a n d q u a r t z ( s m o k y , a m e t i s t , c h a l c e d o n y ) s h o w i n g a b u n d a n t c r y s t a l s .

M e t a t o r b e r n i t e a n d r a r e a u t o n i t e a r e a b u n d a n t c o a t i n g t h e c l a s t s s u r f a c e s .

Page 90: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Tailings/waste sampling:

U s e d e q u i p m e n t : g l o v e s , s h o v e l , h o e a n d p l a s t i c b a g s

N o . s a m p l e s c o l l e c t e d : 2

S a m p l e s I d :

T a i l i n g b o d y I D S a m p l e R e f . S u b - s a m p l e R e f . D e p t h ( m ) G r a i n s i z e G r a i n s h a p e O b s e r v a t i o n s

M E S T R A S

M e s t r a s 1 - S u r f a c e 5 - 3 0 c m A n g u l a r M e s t r a s 1 : C o a r s e m a t e r i a l t h a t c o v e r s t h e t a i l i n g s .

M e s t r a s 2 : M i x t u r e o f f i n e g r a i n e d a n d m a t e r i a l o f i n t e r m e d i a t e s i z e

t h a t o c c u r s u n d e r t h e c o a r s e m a t e r i a l o f s a m p l e M e s t r a s 1 .

M e s t r a s 2 - 0 , 8 m F i n e f r a c t i o n

1 m m – 5

c m ;

A n g u l a r

Page 91: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Sampling grids and photos (scheme): No grid was defined since each tailing body was sampled only at

one site.

Figure 1 – Mestras tailings

Figure 2 – Mestras tailings

Page 92: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Site and Sampling characterization report

Date: 13 /05/2015

Time: 4 pm

Weather conditions:

Sunny without wind

Mining site:

Name: Cabração Location: Breia, Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo

Type of ore (grade and tonnage):

Tin and Nb-Ta minerals from aplite-pegmatite veins.

Regional geology and metallogenetic province:

The mining site is in the tectono-stratigraphic Galiza and Trás-os Montes Zone in the Parautochthonous unit

called Central Minho Unit from Silurian age. In this unit is the allocthonous massif – Arga massif with +/- 305 Ma

- sin-tectonic to D3.

Mineralization type:

Aplite-pegmatite veins with N-S to N40W azimuth, subvertical. There are minor quartz veins crossing the main

veins containing gold. The mineralization is Tin and Nb-Ta minerals. The accessory minerals are petalite,

spodumene, amblygonite, lepidolite and zinnwaldite.

Host and outcropping rocks:

The host rocks are mainly micaschists from Silurian age.

Exploitation period:

The mine site is inside of the Cabração Mine Field but there is no old mine area/concession on the visited local.

The exploitation period is difficult to precise but during 1930 to 1950 there was large volume of permits request

for the mine field.

Type(s) of ore processing:

Unknown.

Evidence for neoformation/weathering:

No evidence of neoformation/weathering processes.

Mine drainage:

No visual evidence of mine drainage.

Sampling team:

Carlos Rosa, Daniela Lobarinhas, Marisa Gomes, Isabel Paiva,

Isabel Dias

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Tailings:

T h e m i n e s i t e h a s s m a l l t a i l i n g b o d y w e l l i n t e g r a t e d i n t h e l a n d s c a p e , c o v e r e d b y l o w v e g e t a t i o n . T h i s t a i l i n g i s r e p r e s e n t e d b y a c e n t i m e t r i c l a y e r o f t a i l i n g s r e s i d u e s a b o v e

t h e o u t c r o p .

H o m o g e n e i t y ( g r a i n s i z e , c o m p o s i t i o n , e t c ) :

C A B R A C A O A : f i n e t o c o a r s e r g r a i n s i z e , c r e a m t o l i g h t b r o w n c o l o r s , h e t e r o g e n e o u s w i t h l a r g e c o n t e n t o f m i c a s a n d f r a g m e n t s o f m i c a s c h i s t s ( h o s t i n g r o c k s ) .

T a i l i n g b o d i e s I D H e i g h t ( m ) S h a p e A r e a ( m2

) D e s c r i p t i o n

C A B R A C A O A ≈ 0 , 5 m I r r e g u l a r ≈ 2 0 m x 1 7 m

≈ 3 4 0 m2

C A B R A C A O A : t h e t a i l i n g i s a c e n t i m e t r i c l a y e r w i t h f i n e t o c o a r s e g r a i n s i z e

( f r o m s a n d t o m e d i u m g r a v e l ) , c r e a m t o l i g h t b r o w n c o l o r s . T h e f r a g m e n t s a r e

m a i n l y m i c a s c h i s t .

Page 94: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Tailings/waste sampling:

U s e d e q u i p m e n t : g l o v e s , s h o v e l , a u g e r , p l a s t i c b a g s

N o . s a m p l e s c o l l e c t e d : 1

S a m p l e s I d :

T a i l i n g b o d y I D S a m p l e R e f . S u b - s a m p l e R e f . D e p t h ( m ) G r a i n s i z e G r a i n s h a p e O b s e r v a t i o n s

C A B R A C A O A C A B R A C A O A 1 a - S u r f a c e 0 , 0 6 – 0 , 6

m m

a n g u l a r C A B R A C A O A 1 : f i n e t o c o a r s e g r a i n s i z e b e t w e e n s i l t a n d m e d i u m

s a n d , l i g h t b r o w n c o l o r w i t h m i c a s . S e e F i g u r e 2 .

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Sampling grids and photos (scheme): No grid was defined since each tailing body was sampled only at

one site.

Figure 1 – Sampling location

Figure 2 – Left) Collecting sample CABRACAO A1a with auger; Right) sample CABRACAO A1a local

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Site and Sampling characterization report

Date: 14 /05/2015

Time: 17:40

Weather conditions:

Sunny

Mining site:

Name: Os Verdes Location: Amonde, Viana do Castelo

Type of ore (grade and tonnage):

Tin and tungsten from aplite-pegmatite veins.

Regional geology and metallogenetic province:

The mining site is in the northwest sector of Portugal in the tectono-stratigraphic Galiza and Trás-os-Montes

Zone in the Parautochthonous unit called Central and Ocidental Minho Unit from Silurian age (Wenlock-

Llandovery age). In the middle of the Minho Unit is the Arga massif (+/- 305 Ma) sin-tectonic to D3.

Mineralization type:

Quartz veins from aplite-pegmatite for cassiterite and wolfram mineralization. Has also breccia cemented by

quartz and pegmatites with cassiterite. The mineral assemblage is cassiterite, wolframite and gold.

Host and outcropping rocks:

The host rocks are metassediments with possible intercalations of volcanic to volcaniclastic rocks with abundant

sulphides from Central and Ocidental Minho Unit (Arga Unit - Silurian age).

Exploitation period:

The mine was exploited in 1947 to 1975 for cassiterite and wolframite with underground mining works.

Type(s) of ore processing:

Electromagnetic, hydrogravitc

Evidence for neoformation/weathering:

No evidences

Mine drainage:

No evidences of mine drainage

Sampling team:

Carlos Rosa, Daniela Lobarinhas, Marisa Gomes, Isabel

Paiva, Isabel Dias

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Tailings:

I n t h i s m i n e s i t e i s d i f f i c u l t t o i d e n t i f y t h e t a i l i n g b o d y b e c a u s e i s t o t a l l y i n t e g r a t e d i n t h e l a n d s c a p e . T h e t a i l in g i s a o n e l a r g e e l i p s o i d b o d y f o l l o w i n g t h e s l o p e / h i l l s i d e .

H o m o g e n e i t y ( g r a i n s i z e , c o m p o s i t i o n , e t c ) :

V E R D E S A : f i n e t o c o a r s e l i g h t b r o w n g r a i n e d s i z e m a t e r i a l , h o m o g e n e o u s a n d m a i n l y c o m p o s e d b y m i c a s .

T a i l i n g b o d i e s I D H e i g h t ( m ) S h a p e A r e a ( m2

) D e s c r i p t i o n

V E R D E S A ≈ 5 0 E l i p s o i d a l s h a p e w i t h

m a j o r a x i s t r e n d i n g N - S

≈ 1 7 0 0 0 m2

( E s t i m a t e d

i n A r c G i s )

V E R D E S A : f i n e t o c o a r s e s a n d , c r e a m t o w h i t e , w i t h l a r g e r f r a g m e n t s o f

a p l i t e s a n d s c h i s t s . O n t h e t o p o f t h e t a i l i n g , t h e g r a i n s i z e i s m a i n l y c o a r s e r

s a n d . T h i s t a i l i n g i s s i m i l a r t o t h e C u m i e i r a b y t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e

g r a n u l o m e t r y .

Page 98: ENVIREE D1.1 Report on identification of secondary sources.pdf

Tailings/waste sampling:

U s e d e q u i p m e n t : g l o v e s , s h o v e l , h o e a n d p l a s t i g b a g s

N o . s a m p l e s c o l l e c t e d : 2

S a m p l e s I d :

T a i l i n g b o d y I D S a m p l e R e f . S u b - s a m p l e R e f . D e p t h ( m ) G r a i n s i z e G r a i n s h a p e O b s e r v a t i o n s

V E R D E S A

V E R D E S A 1 - 0 , 5 - 0 , 8 m 0 , 0 6 - 0 , 2 m m a n g u l a r V E R D E S A 1 : F i n e g r a i n s i z e ( f i n e s a n d , s i m i l a r t o b e a c h s a n d ) , c r e a m

t o w h i t e , c o m p a c t e d . A l l t h e m a t e r i a l a s l a r g e p o r t i o n o f m i c a s . S e e

F i g u r e 2 .

V E R D E S G A L E R I A 2 : R o c k s a m p l e o f f i n e g r a i n e d w h i t e a p l i t e w i t h

o x i d e s . T h e m i n e r a l a s s e m b l a g e i s m a i n l y m i c a s a n d q u a r t z . H a r d t o

b r e a k .

V E R D E S

G A L E R I A 2

- S u r f a c e - -

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Sampling grids and photos (scheme): No grid was defined since each tailing body was sampled only at one

site.

Figure 1 – Sampling location

Figure 2 – VERDES A1 sample location