Geoenvironmental characterization of riverbeds affected by mine tailings in the Mazarrón district (Spain)

Crespo, Tomás Martı́n; Gómez-Ortíz, David; Martínez‐Pagán, Pedro; Ignacio, Cristina de; Martín-Velázquez, Silvia; Lillo, Javier; Faz, Ángel

doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2012.06.004

Cited by 28 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Seven mine areas from the most important metallic mining district in Spain have been selected (Figure 1): La Naya, Monte Romero and Mina Concepción from Iberian Pyrite Belt [3,4], Brunita from Cartagena-La Unión [5], San Quintín from Alcudia Valley [6], and San Cristóbal and Las Moreras from Mazarrón [7].…”

Section: Study Zonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geoenvironmental Characterization of Sulfide Mine Tailings

Crespo¹,

Gómez-Ortíz²,

Martín-Velázquez³

2020

Applied Geochemistry With Case Studies on Geological Formations, Exploration Techniques and Environmental Issues

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Spain has a long mining tradition dating from pre-historic times up to the present day. The cessation of mining activity has generated a large amount of mine wastes, most of which represent geochemical hazards. Mine tailings are watery sludge composed of medium-to-fine-grained material, resulting from grinding and mineral processing (e.g., galena, pyrite, sphalerite, and arsenopyrite). They entail both an accumulation and a potential subsequent emission source of trace elements (i.e. As, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn) with formation of acid mine drainage (AMD). Mineralogical and geochemical techniques (in combination with geophysical surveys and aerial photographs studies) have been jointly applied to selected mine areas. Seven mine deposits from the most important mine districts in Spain have been selected: Iberian Pyrite Belt, Cartagena-La Unión, Alcudia Valley, and Mazarrón. The main goal is focused on getting a geoenvironmental characterization as complete as possible by determining the geometry, evolution in time and composition of mine ponds, and the possible occurrence of AMD, for identifying related environmental hazards.

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Section: Study Zonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geoenvironmental Characterization of Sulfide Mine Tailings

Crespo¹,

Gómez-Ortíz²,

Martín-Velázquez³

2020

Applied Geochemistry With Case Studies on Geological Formations, Exploration Techniques and Environmental Issues

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“…Because of this, the characterization and evaluation of derelict mine wastes has become a growing concern among the scientific community, especially in regions where large quantities of wastes have been stored or abandoned [12,[17][18][19][20][21]. Commonly, the characterization of soil and sediment PTE contamination is based on the determination of the PTE total contents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical Characterization and Trace-Element Mobility Assessment for Metallic Mine Reclamation in Soils Affected by Mine Activities in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

et al. 2021

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The geochemical characterization of the mine deposits and soils in metal mining areas is essential in order to develop an effective mine reclamation strategy. The determination of total potentially toxic element (PTE) content, together with the application of chemical extraction procedures, can give insight into the behavior of contaminants after the application of different mine reclamation solutions, as well as identify the areas where urgent action is needed. This work presents a practical application to the evaluation of the pollution potential of trace elements in soils affected by mining activities, to be used in metallic mine reclamation. The PTE behavior was assessed by single extractions in order to simulate four environmental conditions: PTE mobility under rainfall conditions, acid mine drainage, reducing conditions, and plant uptake. The spatial distribution of contaminants in the study area was evaluated by determination of PTE total content in soil samples. Trace elements with high natural mobility, such as Zn, appeared concentrated at water and sediment discharge areas, while As, Pb, and Cu contents were higher near the mine wastes. The results obtained after the extractions suggested that the highest PTE content was extracted in the complexing–reducing medium, due to the dissolution of secondary sulfates and Fe3+ oxyhydroxides and the subsequent release of PTEs associated with those mineral phases. Reclamation strategies applied in the study area should promote efficient water drainage, infiltration, and subsuperficial water circulation in order to maintain oxidant conditions in the soil. The methodology applied in this study may constitute a valuable tool to define the geochemical constraints in metal mining areas, as well as help to develop appropriate mine reclamation solutions.

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“…The electrical resistivity method is one of the oldest and most commonly used geophysical exploration methods [14]. Indeed, electrical resistivity tomography method is a non-invasive technique that enables to obtain a large number of resistivity data in a short period of time which has been widely used in environmental and engineering [15][16][17][18][19], hydrological [20,21], archaeological [22,23] and mineral exploration [24][25][26] surveys. In addition, it has been used to image structures from the millimetre scale to kilometres [27,28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Gabarrón¹,

Martínez‐Pagán²,

Martínez-Segura³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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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.

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Geoenvironmental characterization of riverbeds affected by mine tailings in the Mazarrón district (Spain)

Cited by 28 publications

References 14 publications

Geoenvironmental Characterization of Sulfide Mine Tailings

Geoenvironmental Characterization of Sulfide Mine Tailings

Geochemical Characterization and Trace-Element Mobility Assessment for Metallic Mine Reclamation in Soils Affected by Mine Activities in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

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

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