Mangement and developement of Mining waste from the dry Process of the Djebel Onk Phosphate Ore Benefication Plant (Somophos)-Tébessa.

MENIAI, Chourouk; BOUNOUALA, Mohamed; CHAABIA, Raouf; SIFI, CHAHRA; AMATA, Rim

doi:10.22044/jme.2026.16738.3283

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

¹ MINES, SCIENCES DE LA TERRE, BADJI MOKHTAR UNIVERSITY

² Badji Mokhtar University

10.22044/jme.2026.16738.3283

Abstract

Phosphate mining at Djebel Onk (Tébessa, Algeria) generates large volumes of solid wastes that occupy land, release dust, and contaminate surrounding environments. This study aims to characterize and valorize two types of dry tailings, namely +15 mm screening rejects and fines from pneumatic separation (TSV), in order to reduce their environmental impact and recover residual phosphate. Samples were analyzed using particle size distribution, atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Treatment tests included calcination (laboratory furnace, 700–1000 °C, 15–30 min) and direct flotation (Denver-type cell, with oleic acid and phosphoric acid as reagents).
The results show that the +15 mm rejects and TSV fines contain 21.42 % and 23 % P₂O₅, respectively, while the richest fraction (-0.5 + 0.25 mm) reaches 28.99 % P₂O₅ with 1.01 % MgO. Calcination at 1000 °C for 30 minutes produced concentrates with 33.51 % P₂O₅ and near-complete CO₂ removal, whereas direct flotation yielded concentrates of ≈ 30 % P₂O₅ with MgO < 1 %. The novelty of this work lies in the combined application of calcination and flotation, which demonstrates their complementarity for efficient recovery of phosphate from dry tailings. These results confirm the potential for phosphate valorization while reducing environmental impacts and supporting more sustainable mining practices.

Keywords: Phosphate, mining wastes, calcination, flotation, environmental management, Djebel Onk

Keywords

Main Subjects

Mineral Processing

References

[1]. Alsafasfeh, A., & Alagha, L. (2017). Recovery of phosphate minerals from plant tailings using direct froth flotation. Minerals, 7(8), 145.

[2]. Amata, R., Bounouala, M., Alsafasfeh, A., Amata, A., & Bouabdallah, S. (2025). Sustainable reuse of Algerian black phosphate mining tailings to recover P2O5. Journal of Mining and Environment, 16(3), 877–887.

[3]. Amata, R., Bounouala, M., Alsafasfeh, A., Amata, A., & Meniai, C. (2025). Utilizing calcination and electrostatic separation to enhance recovery and enrichment of phosphate tailings. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, 1–15.

[4]. Boumaza, B., Chekushina, T. V., Kechiched, R., Benabdeslam, N., Brahmi, L., Kucher, D. E., & Rebouh, N. Y. (2023). Environmental geochemistry of potentially toxic metals in phosphate rocks, products, and their wastes in the Algerian phosphate mining area (Tébessa, NE Algeria). Minerals, 13(7), 853.

[5]. Fischer, E., Hansen, B., Nair, V., Hoyt, F., Schwartz, C., & Dorward, D. (2024). Scanning electron microscopy. Current Protocols, 4, e1034.

[6]. Ge, Y., Gan, S., Zeng, X., & Yu, Y. (2008). Double reverse flotation process of colophanite and regulating froth action. Transactions of the Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 18, 449–453.

[7]. Geissler, B., Hermann, L., Mew, M. C., & Steiner, G. (2018). Striving toward a circular economy for phosphorus: The role of phosphate rock mining. Minerals, 8(9), 395.

[8]. Hollas, C. E., Bolsan, A. C., Venturin, B., Bonassa, G., Tápparo, D. C., Cândido, D., & Kunz, A. (2021). Second-generation phosphorus: Recovery from wastes towards the sustainability of production chains. Sustainability, 13(11), 5919.

[9]. Imane, Z. S. (2023). Contribution to the study of mining waste enrichment: Case of the Frankish waste rocks of the Djebel Onk–Tébessa phosphate deposit (Doctoral dissertation, Badji Mokhtar University–Annaba).

[10]. Jupp, A. R., Beijer, S., Narain, G. C., Schipper, W., & Slootweg, J. C. (2021). Phosphorus recovery and recycling: Closing the loop. Chemical Society Reviews, 50(1), 87–101.

[11]. Kroiss, H., Rechberger, H., & Egle, L. (2011). Phosphorus in water quality and waste management. In Integrated waste management (Vol. 2, pp. 181–214).

[12]. Rasulov, A., Namazov, S., Seytnazarov, A., Alimov, U., & Sultonov, B. (2024). Processing of a washed dry concentrate containing 26% P2O5 into ammophosphate, sulpho- and nitroammophosphate fertilizers. Journal of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy.

[13]. Salhi, R., Nettour, D., Chettibi, M., Gherbi, C., Benselhoub, A., & Bellucci, S. (2023). Characterization of phosphate wastes of Djebel Onk mining complex for a sustainable environmental management. Technology Audit and Production Reserves, 3(3/71), 11–19.

[14]. Suciu, N., Devivo, R., Rizzati, N., & Capri, E. (2022). Cd content in phosphate fertilizer: Which potential risk for the environment and human health? Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health.

[15]. Taha, Y., Elghali, A., Hakkou, R., & Benzaazoua, M. (2021). Towards zero solid waste in the sedimentary phosphate industry: Challenges and opportunities. Minerals, 11(11), 1250.

[16]. Yahiaoui, Y., Nettour, D., Chaib, R., & Gherbi, C. (2024). Analysis of the environmental impact of phosphate mining on the example of Djebel Onk deposit (Tébessa, Algeria). Technology Audit and Production Reserves.

Mangement and developement of Mining waste from the dry Process of the Djebel Onk Phosphate Ore Benefication Plant (Somophos)-Tébessa.

References

References

Volume 17, Issue 4July and August 2026Pages 1237-1248

Volume 17, Issue 4
July and August 2026
Pages 1237-1248