Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of stream sediments impacted by mine wastes containing arsenic, cadmium and lead in North-Central Mexico

Rodríguez-Hernández, Alejandro; Lázaro, Isabel; Razo-Soto, Israel; Briones-Gallardo, Roberto

doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2020.106707

Cited by 17 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…PTEs in mining areas can be of natural origin because they are components of rocks and ore minerals, whether the area has been exploited or not [12]. Mining activity can promote the distribution of these PTEs (Cu, Zn, As, Sb, Ba, Hg) on the surface and increase their concentrations as a result of mineral weathering, which would increase their potential toxicity [13]. It is necessary to recognize that some PTEs released through mining activity (e.g., Cu, Zn) are also essential elements for life, but are toxic in excess, while even low concentrations of other non-essential (e.g., Hg, Pb) elements are toxic for the environment [14,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological and Health Risk Assessments of an Abandoned Gold Mine (Remance, Panama): Complex Scenarios Need a Combination of Indices

González-Valoys

Esbrí

Campos

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The derelict Remance gold mine is a possible source of pollution with potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In the study area, diverse mine waste has been left behind and exposed to weather conditions, and poses risks for soil, plants and water bodies, and also for the health of local inhabitants. This study sought to perform an ecological and health risk assessment of derelict gold mining areas with incomplete remediation, including: (i) characterizing the geochemical distribution of PTEs; (ii) assessing ecological risk by estimating the pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (RI); (iii) assessing soil health by dehydrogenase activity; and iv) establishing non-carcinogenic (HI) and carcinogenic risks (CR) for local inhabitants. Soil health seems to depend on not only PTE concentrations, but also on organic matter (OM). Both indexes (PLI and RI) ranged from high to extreme near mining and waste accumulation sites. As indicated by both the HI and CR results, the mining area poses a health risk for local inhabitants and particularly for children. For this reason, it will be necessary to set up environmental management programs in the areas that are most affected (tailings and surrounding areas) and accordingly establish the best remediation strategies to minimize risks for the local population.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological and Health Risk Assessments of an Abandoned Gold Mine (Remance, Panama): Complex Scenarios Need a Combination of Indices

González-Valoys

Esbrí

Campos

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…The reduction in the content of Ca (from 2.3 to 0.2%) may be caused by the dissolution of susceptible minerals (mainly mafic minerals) by groundwater and their participation in the subsequent stage of clay mineral transformation or in the formation of secondary carbonate minerals. In turn, the presence of Na, P and Ba in the weathered material stems from the fact that these elements are readily mobilized by weathering processes and easily released from the weathering crust 41 , 42 . contains a more numerous group of trace elements: S, Cl, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Pb and Zr (< 0.1 wt.%), which constitute admixtures in primary minerals in both acidic magmatic rocks and clay minerals (e.g.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incongruent dissolution of silicates and its impact on the environment: an example of a talc mine

Kicińska,

Pomykała

2023

Sci Rep

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The paper analyzes the process of incongruent dissolution of silicates taking place in close proximity to a talc mine. The chemical and phase composition as well as the concentrations and mobility of potentially toxic elements (PTE) in research material with varying levels of weathering were determined using instrumental (XRF, XRD) and chemical methods (extractions: BCR, aqua regia, water leaching, 0.05 M EDTA). It was demonstrated that the predominant minerals in the weathering crust include weathering-resistant minerals (i.e. quartz and muscovite) and secondary minerals (kaolinite, illite and interstratified minerals, vermiculite/chlorite) and that the predominant processes are hydrolysis and oxidation. The weathering process has an impact on the complexity of the chemical and mineral composition and the diverse structure of the weathering crust. A layer of Fe and Al oxides and hydroxides forms in the upper part of the weathering crust, while the amount of silica decreases. Low-mobility elements (i.e. Si, Al and Fe) react on the phase separation surface, causing the formation of clay minerals (i.e. vermiculite, montmorillonite) or Al and Fe hydroxides (e.g. goethite). The duration of weathering causes an increase in the content of PTEs in solid materials: multifold in the case of Cr (15), Ba (9), Pb (7), Zn (6) and considerably lower in the case of V (1.3), Sr (0.8) and Co (0.4). It was demonstrated that PTEs co-occur in several chemical fractions in the weathering crust and that the highest share of their total concentration are cations incorporated in the crystal lattice of minerals and bound by strong crystalline bonds (F4 46%). The lowest share was observed for the reducible fraction (9%) and the share of the oxidizable fraction was 29% The most mobile cations connected by the weakest bonds comprised only 16% of the total concentration. Based on the content of the readily soluble fraction of PTEs, it was concluded that the degree of weathering does not increase the environmental risk, but actually reduces it for Cr, Cr and Pb. The obtained Ecological Risk Index (ERI) values indicate that the ecological risk associated with the elements tested is low for the entire area, which means that natural weathering processes do not have any impact on environmental pollution.

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“…10). Magnetite and delafossite, which are characteristic of weathering mining wastes, indicates the possible presence of various mineral phases of environmental interest (Alejandro, et al, 2021). Muscovite and pyrite were detected in each sample, which shows the coal mine drainage brought these minerals from strata into stream.…”

Section: Correlations With the Coal Mine Drainagementioning

confidence: 91%

Chemical and Statistical Studies on Water and Stream Sediments Around the Coal Mine Area in Dazhu, China

Deng¹,

Wu²,

Ren³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Coal mine pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems in China and elsewhere. Water, in the form of groundwater and streams, as well as stream sediment samples, were collected from the coal mine area in Dazhu, Southwestern China. Different analyses, including the hydro-geochemical, multivariate analyses and X-ray analyses, were conducted to examine the coal mine pollution effect. The study results show that the groundwater and stream samples are slightly acidic to alkaline with pH values of 6.36 to 7.17 and 6.51 to 7.39, respectively. With the dissolution of carbonate and sulfate, a large amount of Ca2+, Mg2+, and SO42- is found in the groundwater and stream samples, which is higher than the environmental background value. Typically, the water samples are dominated by Ca2++Mg2+-HCO3- and Ca2++Mg2+-Cl-. According to Chinese standard and the World Health Organization’s guidelines, the water in the coal mine area is of good quality in terms of its physical and chemical properties, except for the concentrations of Fe and Mn (1925.14 and 12872.882 μg/L, respectively). Principal component analysis reveal two groups that explained the variance in the data consisting of SO42−, Ca2+, Mg2+, and low pH as well as HCO3−, Na+, and Cl−, which can reflect the acid mine drainage effects as well as different human activities or the evaporation found in low mountains and hills, respectively. Hence, the concentrations of metals and metalloids in the stream sediments are affected by the coal mine drainage, which are generally enriched in Cr, Mn, Zn, Sr, Co, Ni, Cu, Al, Ca, Fe, and Mg. Mn and Fe average concentrations are higher in the downstream Kongjiagou drain stream sediment samples were 2035.03 ppm and 6%, respectively, relative to the Mn and Fe average concentrations in Xiaojiagou of 453.04 ppm and 2.96%, respectively. Both Mn and Fe concentrations are higher than the background values. Ultimately, mine closures can help with the process of ecological and environmental recovery.

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Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of stream sediments impacted by mine wastes containing arsenic, cadmium and lead in North-Central Mexico

Cited by 17 publications

References 32 publications

Ecological and Health Risk Assessments of an Abandoned Gold Mine (Remance, Panama): Complex Scenarios Need a Combination of Indices

Ecological and Health Risk Assessments of an Abandoned Gold Mine (Remance, Panama): Complex Scenarios Need a Combination of Indices

Incongruent dissolution of silicates and its impact on the environment: an example of a talc mine

Chemical and Statistical Studies on Water and Stream Sediments Around the Coal Mine Area in Dazhu, China

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