Evaluation of the natural fertilizing potential of basalt dust wastes from the mining district of Nova Prata (Brazil)

This work studies the physical, physical-chemical, chemical and mineralogical properties of basalt dust waste from mining activities by measuring the availability of nutrients in an aqueous medium to evaluate the potential use of this type of waste as a natural fertilizer. The samples used in this study were obtained from companies in the mining district of Nova Prata in southern Brazil. The moisture, density, particle size classification, surface area, zeta potential, cation exchange capacity and chemical and mineralogical composition of the waste, as well as the availability of macronutrients and micronutrients (Al, Ca, Mg, Mn, P, K, B, S, Cu, Fe, Na and Zn), were studied. The wastes were combined with a crystalline phase of labradorite and quartz, and the primary oxides were SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, K2O and Na2O. Several important nutrients were transferred into the aqueous medium, indicating the significant potential of these particles in developing and facilitating plant metabolism and demonstrating the feasibility of the application of these dust wastes as a natural fertilizer. This work is an initial study, and more results are expected with the practical application of the waste, thereby contributing to a series of studies in this area. This research is of great importance to both the industrial sector of basalt mining and to agriculture in the region because it can create an alternative disposal treatment for tailings and improve the viability and sustainability of local farms, thereby avoiding excessive mineral fertilizer consumption.