Modeling changes to the hydrodynamic characteristics of agglomerated copper tailings

This paper describes the effect of acid leaching on the hydrodynamic properties of agglomerated copper tailings. Both the suction and the hydraulic conductivity curves were obtained before and after acid application in laboratory columns under unsaturated flow conditions. Using a classical approach originally developed for water and soil, we determined whether the post-acid application characteristic curves could be obtained from the pre-acid application ones. Results showed that acid modified the hydrodynamic properties of agglomerated tailings. Both the macropore volume and the saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased. For the same water content, the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity decreased and the suction head increased. The pre-acid application characteristic curves can be used to estimate the corresponding post-acid application curves.

► Acid leaching modifies the hydrodynamic properties of agglomerated copper tailings. ► The macropores volume and saturated hydraulic conductivity decrease. ► The hydraulic conductivity and suction curves change. ► The post-leaching hydrodynamics curves are a rescaled version of pre-leaching curves. ►These changes can be determined from pre-leaching date using the scaling method.