Perkoa polymetallic zinc deposit, formed in a context of massive volcanogenic sulphides, generated large volumes of potentially reactive wastes during its exploitation due to the predominance of sulphide minerals. The aim of this study is to assess the acid-generating potential, i.e. the potential to generate acid mine drainage (AMD), of these wastes. To this end, four representative samples of these wastes were collected in a targeted manner at the Perkoa mine site, including waste rock, mine tailings and crusher waste. The analyses focused on determining the mineralogy by X-ray diffraction, the physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity), the sulphur and carbon contents, and the acidity and neutralization potentials. The results reveal, with the exception of waste rock, acidic pH values (< 5), high electrical conductivity (> 500 µS/cm) and high sulphide content, mainly pyrite, sphalerite and pyrrhotite. The acid potential (AP) shows high values between 5 and 1000 kg CaCO3/t. On the other hand, the neutralization potential (NP) is low, with NPR (NP/AP) ratios below 1 and negative NNP (NP-AP) values in the range of -1300 to -5 kg CaCO3/t. These results show that these wastes would not be able to neutralise any acid that might be generated as a result of their oxidation. The most reactive acidogenic minerals are pyrite and pyrrhotite. Acid-producing mineral species are represented by silicates such as actinolite, microcline and chlorite. In summary, these results confirm a high risk of AMD development from mine wastes.
| Published in | International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 13, Issue 6) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ijema.20251306.11 |
| Page(s) | 290-302 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Mine Wastes, Acid Mine Drainage, Perkoa, Burkina Faso
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APA Style
Bado, I. F., Yameogo, A., Tarpaga, A. A., Kagambega, N. (2025). Acid-generating Potential of Mine Wastes from the Perkoa Polymetallic Zinc Deposit in Central-western Burkina Faso. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 13(6), 290-302. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20251306.11
ACS Style
Bado, I. F.; Yameogo, A.; Tarpaga, A. A.; Kagambega, N. Acid-generating Potential of Mine Wastes from the Perkoa Polymetallic Zinc Deposit in Central-western Burkina Faso. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2025, 13(6), 290-302. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20251306.11
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Download@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20251306.11,
author = {Isso Felix Bado and Adama Yameogo and Abdoul Aziz Tarpaga and Nicolas Kagambega},
title = {Acid-generating Potential of Mine Wastes from the Perkoa Polymetallic Zinc Deposit in Central-western Burkina Faso
},
journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {290-302},
doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20251306.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20251306.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20251306.11},
abstract = {Perkoa polymetallic zinc deposit, formed in a context of massive volcanogenic sulphides, generated large volumes of potentially reactive wastes during its exploitation due to the predominance of sulphide minerals. The aim of this study is to assess the acid-generating potential, i.e. the potential to generate acid mine drainage (AMD), of these wastes. To this end, four representative samples of these wastes were collected in a targeted manner at the Perkoa mine site, including waste rock, mine tailings and crusher waste. The analyses focused on determining the mineralogy by X-ray diffraction, the physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity), the sulphur and carbon contents, and the acidity and neutralization potentials. The results reveal, with the exception of waste rock, acidic pH values ( 500 µS/cm) and high sulphide content, mainly pyrite, sphalerite and pyrrhotite. The acid potential (AP) shows high values between 5 and 1000 kg CaCO3/t. On the other hand, the neutralization potential (NP) is low, with NPR (NP/AP) ratios below 1 and negative NNP (NP-AP) values in the range of -1300 to -5 kg CaCO3/t. These results show that these wastes would not be able to neutralise any acid that might be generated as a result of their oxidation. The most reactive acidogenic minerals are pyrite and pyrrhotite. Acid-producing mineral species are represented by silicates such as actinolite, microcline and chlorite. In summary, these results confirm a high risk of AMD development from mine wastes.
},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Acid-generating Potential of Mine Wastes from the Perkoa Polymetallic Zinc Deposit in Central-western Burkina Faso AU - Isso Felix Bado AU - Adama Yameogo AU - Abdoul Aziz Tarpaga AU - Nicolas Kagambega Y1 - 2025/11/12 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20251306.11 DO - 10.11648/j.ijema.20251306.11 T2 - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis JF - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis JO - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis SP - 290 EP - 302 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2328-7667 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20251306.11 AB - Perkoa polymetallic zinc deposit, formed in a context of massive volcanogenic sulphides, generated large volumes of potentially reactive wastes during its exploitation due to the predominance of sulphide minerals. The aim of this study is to assess the acid-generating potential, i.e. the potential to generate acid mine drainage (AMD), of these wastes. To this end, four representative samples of these wastes were collected in a targeted manner at the Perkoa mine site, including waste rock, mine tailings and crusher waste. The analyses focused on determining the mineralogy by X-ray diffraction, the physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity), the sulphur and carbon contents, and the acidity and neutralization potentials. The results reveal, with the exception of waste rock, acidic pH values ( 500 µS/cm) and high sulphide content, mainly pyrite, sphalerite and pyrrhotite. The acid potential (AP) shows high values between 5 and 1000 kg CaCO3/t. On the other hand, the neutralization potential (NP) is low, with NPR (NP/AP) ratios below 1 and negative NNP (NP-AP) values in the range of -1300 to -5 kg CaCO3/t. These results show that these wastes would not be able to neutralise any acid that might be generated as a result of their oxidation. The most reactive acidogenic minerals are pyrite and pyrrhotite. Acid-producing mineral species are represented by silicates such as actinolite, microcline and chlorite. In summary, these results confirm a high risk of AMD development from mine wastes. VL - 13 IS - 6 ER -
Geosciences and Environment Laboratory, Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Mining Engineering Department, Yembila Abdoulaye Toguyeni University, Fada N’Gourma, Burkina Faso
Geosciences and Environment Laboratory, Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Geosciences and Environment Laboratory, Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso;Mining Engineering Department, Yembila Abdoulaye Toguyeni University, Fada N’Gourma, Burkina Faso
