Natural alteration products of sulphide mattes from primary lead smelting

The natural alteration products developed on mattes from lead metallurgy were determined: oxides and hydroxides (HFO, Cu(OH)2), sulphates (thenardite, gypsum), hydroxysulphates (jarosite, beaverite, brochantite) and carbonates (cerussite, malachite, NaOH·2 PbCO3). The large range of stability of newly formed phases confirms a significant variety of Eh–pH conditions of natural weathering of matte. Jarosite is stable at pH<3, but some hydroxides and carbonates typically form in neutral and alkaline environments. Consequently, the best dumping conditions for metallurgical mattes are difficult to determine. Such materials can have severe environmental effects and should be dumped in controlled waste-disposal sites. To cite this article: V. Ettler et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).