An in-process technology approach is proposed to identify the source of acid mine drainage (AMD) generation and prevent its formation in a porphyry copper waste rock (WR). Adopting actions before stockpiling the WR enables the establishment of potential contaminants and predicts the more convenient method for AMD prevention. A WR sample was separated into size fractions, and the WR’s net acid-generating potential was quantified using chemical and mineralogical characterization. The diameter of physical locking of sulfides (DPLS) was determined, and the fractions below the DPLS were desulfurized using flotation. Finally, the WR fractions and tailing from the flotation test were submitted to acid-base accounting and weathering tests to evaluate their acid-generating potential. Results show that the WR’s main sulfide mineral is pyrite, and the DPLS was defined as 850 µm. A sulfide recovery of 91% was achieved using a combination of HydroFloat® and Denver cells for a size fraction lower than DPLS. No grinding was conducted. The results show that size fractions greater than DPLS and the desulfurized WR are unlikely to produce AMD. The outcomes show that in-processing technology can be a more proactive approach and an effective tool for avoiding AMD in a porphyry copper WR.

中文翻译：

---

一种防止废石酸性矿山排水的清洁生产策略——一种斑岩铜案例


提出了一种过程中技术方法，用于确定酸性矿山排水 （AMD） 产生的来源并防止其在斑岩铜废石 （WR） 中形成。在储存 WR 之前采取措施可以建立潜在的污染物，并预测更方便的 AMD 预防方法。将 WR 样品分离成尺寸分数，并使用化学和矿物学表征对 WR 的净产酸潜力进行量化。测定硫化物物理锁定直径 （DPLS），并使用浮选对低于 DPLS 的馏分进行脱硫。最后，将浮选试验的 WR 馏分和尾矿提交给酸碱核算和风化测试，以评估其产酸潜力。结果表明，WR 的主要硫化物矿物是黄铁矿，DPLS 定义为 850 μm。使用 HydroFloat® 和 Denver 单元的组合实现了 91% 的硫化物回收率，其粒径分数低于 DPLS。没有进行研磨。结果表明，大于 DPLS 和脱硫 WR 的粒径分数不太可能产生 AMD。结果表明，加工中技术可以成为一种更主动的方法，也是避免斑岩铜 WR 中出现 AMD 的有效工具。