Evaluation of mineral processing and metallurgical plants wastes

The mining process generates substantial waste containing various amounts of valuable metals. The conventional method for the disposal of waste is usually dumping. Mineral processing, pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and pyro-hydrometallurgical processes are applied to recover these metallic values. This study provides examples of studies conducted on evaluating wastes from some mineral processing and metallurgical plants in Turkey. Evaluation studies on mineral processing tailings such as iron, boron, and chromite, together with copper smelting and refining slags, are summarized. Related flow sheets developed as a result of experimental studies are also presented.