STUDIO DI UN PROCESSO DI VALORIZZAZIONE DEI MINERALI PRESENTI NEI RIFIUTI MINERARI

In the last decades demand for raw materials has increased considerably, and it is expected that, as a result of strong global economic growth, demand may double by 2030; however, the progressive depletion of deposits could make the supply of resources difficult. The European Commission recently identified a list of 34 raw materials classified as critical with reference to which it has developed a policy framework aimed at making their supply safe and efficient. In this context, mining wastes, given their widespread presence in the EU and still high valuable mineral contents, are framed as a source of critical raw materials. The numerous and important tailings deposits in the Sardinian territory constitute, on the one hand, a potential source of environmental risk and, on the other hand, a potential resource. Their treatment is, therefore, both an environmental risk reduction operation and a useful mineral recovery operation. The paper presents an overview of the type of mining waste present in Sardinia and an experimental research aimed at evaluating the result of the application of the flotation technique for the reprocessing of sphalerite tailings from the Montevecchio Levante tailings basin.