Evaluation of Acid Leachable Trace Metals in Soils Around a Five Centuries Old Mining District in Hidalgo, Central Mexico

Abstract

We present the concentrations and distribution patterns of nine acid leachable trace metals (ALTMs) Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, and Cd in the soil samples from the five century old PachucaMineral de Monte mining district of the Central Mexico. The ALTMs do not show any significant correlation with pH, EC, CaCO 3 , and organic carbon. The metal concentration indicates three distinct distribution patterns. Fe, Mn, Cr, Pb, and Zn show enrichment in the high altitude region of the northern and central part of the study area. Likewise, Cu and Cd are enriched in the northern mountainous terrains. Both these groups show strong positive correlation with Mn indicating that they are associated with Mnbearing minerals. However, we relate the first group of metals to excessive vehicular transportation and second group to mining waste dumps. The third group of ALTMs Co and Ni indicates its direct relationship to ore processing activities. Comparison of ALTMs concentrations from this study and various other studies throughout the world suggests the need to take precautionary measures of surface soil in high altitude areas to avoid metal enrichments and its subsequent environmental problems.

Accumulation of total trace metals due to rapid urbanization in microtidal zone of Pallikaranai marsh, South of Chennai, India

“…In recent years, Fakayode and Olu-Owolabi (2003), Govil (2005, 2008), and Kelm et al (2009) have recorded the toxicity of trace metals in sediments around industrial areas and nearby highly populated areas and emphasized that the evaluation of trace metals in sediments is important as it serves as a transitional link between the lithosphere and the biosphere. Metal mobility and availability are controlled by geochemical processes such as dissolution and adsorption onto the mineral and organic particles, bio-mineralization, complexation by biogenic or nonbiogenic ligands, and subsequent uptake by biota (Jonathan et al 2009). The chemical composition of surface sediments provides precious information about the natural and anthropogenic activities in the surrounding region (Sutherland 2003).…”

Retention of Contaminants Elements from Tailings from Lead Mine Washing Plants in Ceramics for Bricks

“…However, it is not common for vegetation to develop in the deposits of tailing from washing plants, as the presence of heavy metals has a significant influence on the flora [8][9][10]. They are therefore large deposits of mining waste that change over time by various processes of erosion with associated pollution, destroying the landscape of the area [11][12][13].…”

Phytobarriers: Plants capture particles containing potentially toxic elements originating from mine tailings in semiarid regions

“…It has been documented that mine tailings generally represent an environmental and public health threat mainly because of the high concentrations and dispersion of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) by wind, water and percolation (Vangronsveld et al, 1995a, b;Jonathan et al, 2010). In arid and semi-arid regions the environmental conditions limit the development of a plant cover, promoting dispersion of particles containing PTEs (Mendez and Maier, 2008).…”