Romania
The study sites in Romania provide two different types of tailings, one from a copper ore and another from a polymetallic ore containing Zn, Cu, Pb, Au and Ag.
- The Sasca Montana tailings management facility belongs to the former mine Sasca Montana. It has a stored volume of up to 2.22 million m3 and occupies an area of about 7.83 hectares. The estimated content of copper is 0.14-0.15%. These tailings have resulted from the processing of a copper ore (with chalcopyrite, bornite, and chalcocite) that also contained Au and Ag. These tailings are further characterized by having a high content of fine clay fraction.
- The Sasar tailings management facility belongs to the former mine of Valea Rosie (located in the Baia Mare county), and has a stored volume of up to 8.5 million cubic meters and covers an area of about 3.25 hectares. It resulted from the processing of a polymetallic ore. From the existing data with respect to the processed ores in both study areas, trace elements such as Cd, Ga, Bi, Sn, Se, Ge, Te and Ta may exist.
