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Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization ofWaste from Abandoned Copper and Manganese Mines in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal: A First Step Towards the Waste-to-Value Recycling Process
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Abstract(s)
ABSTRACT: This study examines the chemical and mineralogical composition of waste materials from abandoned copper and manganese mines in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal, as a first step toward their potential recycling for critical and strategic raw materials (CRM and SRM). Using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and other analytical techniques, this research highlights the presence of valuable elements, including copper, manganese, and rare earth elements, in concentrations significantly above their crustal abundance. The findings underscore the dual potential of these wastes: as sources of secondary raw materials and for mitigating environmental hazards such as acid mine drainage (AMD).
Recovered materials include chalcopyrite, pyrolusite, and rhodochrosite, with critical elements like cobalt, lithium, and tungsten identified. pXRF proved to be a reliable, cost effective tool for rapid field and laboratory analyses, demonstrating high precision and good correlation with standard laboratory methods. The study emphasizes the importance of characterizing historical mining waste to support a circular economy, reduce reliance on foreign material imports, and address environmental challenges. This approach aligns with the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act, promoting sustainable resource use and the recovery of strategic resources from historical mining sites.
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Keywords
Mineral resources
Critical raw materials
Citation
Oliveira, D., Silva, T., Morais, I. & Fernandes, J. (2025) Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Waste from Abandoned Copper and Manganese Mines in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal: A First Step Towards the Waste-to-Value Recycling Process. In: Minerals, 2025, vol. 15 (1), article nº 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15010058
