Mineralogy and geochemistry of sulfide-bearing tailings from silver mines in the Taxco, Mexico area to evaluate their potential environmental impact.

Abstract

Six sulfide-bearing, flotation tailings dams and one waste-rock dump from epithermal Pb-Zn-Ag-Cu deposits in Taxco, Guerrero have been mineralogically and geochemically characterized to evaluate their potential environmental impact. Primary phases are dominated by quartz and rock fragments with scarce feldspar, barite and ferromagnesian. Calcite is found in the less oxidized tailings. Primary sulfides are pyrite and sphalerite with some pyrrothite, galena, chalcopyrite, Ag-sulfosalts and arsenopyrite. In oxidized zones, sulfides are low or absent. Secondary phases are widespread and include gypsum, chalcocite, keoheite, nimite, hetaerolite, jarosite, smithsonite, bernalite, epsonite, rozenite, pickeringite, hexahydrite, bassanite, boyleite, hematite, scorodite, cryptocrystalline and amorphous precipit.