Estudio preliminar del Depósito de Fosfoyesos de Huelva como fuente potencial de elementos de interés económico
- Carlos Ruiz Cánovas 1
- Rafael Pérez López 1
- Ricardo Millán 1
- José Miguel Nieto 1
- 1 Universidad de Huelva, España
ISSN: 0213-683X
Year of publication: 2017
Issue Title: Comunicaciones presentadas en la LXII Sesión Científica / Guadalupe, 25 de Mayo de 2017
Issue: 62
Pages: 103-106
Type: Article
More publications in: Geogaceta
Abstract
This paper addresses the potential of the phosphogypsum generated by a fertilizer plant in SW Spain as a source of elements of economic interest, estimating the available metal reserves and discussing the technological and economic pros and cons of this potential source of raw materials. In general, elements of economic interest are found in these wastes below he grades commonly reported in conventional deposits. However, the huge tonnage of wastes stockpiled constitutes a significant secondary source of elements. Around 30,400 t of B, 28,000 t of rare earth elements (REE), 1800 t of U, 1400 t of Cr, 1300 t of V and lesser a mounts of other elements of economic interest (e.g. Cu, Ni, Sc and Ga) are enclosed in the phosphogypsum. The high market values for some of these elements could justify their exploitation. The recovery of these elements is technically feasible, although intense research in refining processes is needed in order to increase the purity of the final product.