Cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in secondary sulfate minerals in soils of mined areas in Southeast Spain

Impact of unconfined sulphur-mine waste on a semi-arid environment (Almería, SE Spain)

“…4) and with higher concentrations of Zn and Cd than the mining wastes, confirm this recrystallisation. Sulphate mineral with similar composition has been described by Carmona et al (2009) in south-eastern Spain.…”

“…Thus, mine waste water, known as acid mine drainage (AMD), affects the composition of surface water and has a severe impact on surrounding soils and terrestrial ecosystems (Monterroso and Macias, 1998;Nordstrom and Alpers, 1999). In contrast to mine pollution in temperate regions, there are few studies available on environmental impact of mining activities in arid and semi-arid regions, although in recent years research has significantly increased, as in the notable examples from SE Spain in the mining districts of Rodalquilar (Wray, 1998;Moreno et al, 2007;Oyarzum et al, 2009;Navarro and Doménech, 2010), Sierra Almagrera (Navarro et al, 2004), La Unión (Conesa et al, 2006;Navarro et al, 2008), and Mazarron (Carmona et al, 2009), among others. Sulphur was mined in SE Spain in the early 20th century, from 1902 to 1932, when thousands of tonnes of mine wastes were deposited on the landscape.…”

Geochemistry and environmental threats of soils surrounding an abandoned mercury mine

“…The studied soil samples presented physical-chemical characteristics typical from tailings usually found surrounding mining sites: neutral to acidic pH, high EC, low fertility and high total concentrations of heavy metals (Conesa et al 2006;Navarro et al 2008;Carmona et al 2009). The low pH of soils A2 and A4 was explained b y pyrite oxidation and could explain their high Zn contents, which showed a negative significant correlation with soil pH (r = -0.96, p < 0.01).…”

Elemental and mineral composition of salts from selected natural and mine-affected areas in the Poopó and Uru-Uru lakes (Bolivia)

“…Hammarstrom et al (2005) reported that sulphate minerals can incorporate minor and trace amounts of some metals into crystal structures composed mainly of Fe, Al, Mg, Cu, Mn, Zn, and sulphate. These highly-soluble sulphate minerals store metals such as As, Cd, Cu, and Zn during dry seasons and release them into the environment during wet seasons (Carmona et al, 2009;Jamieson et al, 1999). Hammarstrom and Smith (2002) reported that colourations amongst salts provide a clue of metal (e.g., Cu and Fe) sequestration in salt efflorescence.…”

“…Hammarstrom and Smith (2002) reported that colourations amongst salts provide a clue of metal (e.g., Cu and Fe) sequestration in salt efflorescence. Carmona et al (2009) reported that red brown salts containing N400 mg Cd kg −1 are present in efflorescence collected at mine areas in southeast Spain. Dissolution of sulphate salts during snowmelt runoff or rainstorms can have short-term, catastrophic effects on metal loading on aquatic ecosystems (Bayless and Olyphant, 1993;Keith et al, 2001).…”