Potential of tungsten tailings as glass raw materials

Glasses from different types of tungsten mine tailings were obtained and studied to determine their ability to be used as raw materials of commercial glass. Tailings of granitic composition from Barruecopardo, of calc-silicate wastes from Morille, and of schists and quartz from Panasqueira, were used as raw materials. The addition of CaCO3 and NaCO3 was necessary for the manufacture of the glass. Samples were characterised by XRF, XRD, HSM and DTA-TG. Furthermore, the expansion coefficient, Vickers microhardness and leaching properties were measured. The results show that all the tungsten mine tailings used were suitable for the manufacture of commercial glass, with the addition of calcium and soda. The calc-silicate tailing needs less additive content to produce a glass. Also, they present lower workability temperatures and higher durability. Glasses obtained from all the tested tailings retain the potentially toxic elements in their structure and prevents the environmental pollution.