Electrical Resistivity Tomography as a Support Tool to Estimate Physicochemical Properties of Mining Tailings Pond

Abstract

Legacy mining industry has left a large number of tailings ponds exposed to water and wind erosion that causes serious environmental and health problems. Prior to rehabilitation actions a deep sampling of the materials infilling the pond used to be necessary. Thus, the primary objective of this study is to demonstrate the usefulness of the Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) method as a non-invasive tool to determine the physicochemical composition of mine tailings ponds, enabling more efficient and low-cost surveys. To achieve this objective, three ERT profiles and three boreholes in each profile were carried out, from each borehole three waste samples from differents depths were collected and a geochemical characterization of the samples was carried. In order to estimate the composition of the infilling wastes in tailing ponds from electrical resistivity measures, several regression models were calculated for different physicochemical properties and metal concentrations. As a result, a high resistivity area was depicted in profiles G2 and G3 while a non-resistive area (profile G1) was also found. Relationships among low resistivity values and high salinity, clay content and high metal concentrations and mobility were established. Specifically, calibrated models were obtained for electrical conductivity, particles sizes of 0.02-50 µm and 50-2000 µm, total Zn and Cd concentration, and bioavailable Ni, Cd and Fe. Therefore, the ERT technique could be considered as a useful tool for mine tailings ponds characterization, and it can be used to estmate some physicochemical properties and metal concentrations of this mine waste.

Characterization of Tailings Dams by Electrical Geophysical Methods (ERT, IP): Federico Mine (La Carolina, Southeastern Spain)

“…In Spain, the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) technique has been used in a variety of mining districts. For example, in Cartagena (SE Spain), multiple studies have recently evaluated the mobility of metals in tailings dams [16,17], using a combination of ERT, mechanical drilling, and geochemical techniques [18]. In the mining districts of Linares and La Carolina (southern Spain), different tailings ponds and slag heaps have been characterized by applying all of these techniques [3][4][5][6][7].…”

Enhancing Electrical Contact with a Commercial Polymer for Electrical Resistivity Tomography on Archaeological Sites A Case Study

“…It was needed to adopt a singular procedure as the crypt of Saint Joseph is a fragile and sensitive archaeological building posing a real challenge for conventional ERT measurements. In this way, www.videleaf.com through the scientific literature, the employ of Wenner-Schlumberger array [1][2][3]18] or dipole-dipole array [4,7,19] is commonplace since they provide an excellent signal to noise ratio without compromising the investigation depth. Moreover, in recent indoor investigations, the employ of flat electrodes is being of common use [20] mainly because they do not compromise the floor conditions.…”

“…As a result, geophysics has been extensively used in geology, mining, environmental studies, hydrogeology, agriculture, forensics, civil engineering, e.g. [1][2][3][4][5][6], and where their use in archaeology has not been different due to their proved capabilities. In fact, applied geophysics in archaeology is carried out in the early stages of a subsurface investigation, before any other invasive actions that could damage potential hidden structures, as a useful tool to guide and support all the whole process [7,8].…”

Enhancing Electrical Contact with a Commercial Polymer for Electrical Resistivity Tomography on Archaeological Sites: A Case Study

“…It was needed to adopt a singular procedure as the crypt of Saint Joseph is a fragile and sensitive archaeological building posing a real challenge for conventional ERT measurements. In this way, through the scientific literature, the employ of Wenner-Schlumberger array [1][2][3]13] or dipole-dipole array [4,6,14] is commonplace since they provide an excellent signal to noise ratio without compromising the investigation depth. Moreover, in recent indoor investigations, the employ of flat electrodes is being of common use [15] mainly because they do not compromise the floor conditions.…”

“…As a result, geophysics has been extensively used in geology, mining, environmental studies, hydrogeology, agriculture, forensics, civil engineering, e.g. [1][2][3][4][5], and where their use in archaeology has not been different due to their proved capabilities. In fact, applied geophysics in archaeology is carried out in the early stages of a subsurface investigation, before any other invasive actions that could damage potential hidden structures, as a useful tool to guide and support all the whole process [6,7].…”