Heavy metal(loid)s contamination in water and sediments in a mining area in Ecuador: a comprehensive assessment for drinking water quality and human health risk

Jiménez-Oyola, Samantha; Valverde-Armas, Priscila E.; Romero-Crespo, Paola; Capa, Diego; Valdivieso, Abner; Coronel-León, Jonathan; Guzmán-Martínez, Fredy; Chávez, Eduardo Somarriba

doi:10.1007/s10653-023-01546-3

Cited by 12 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 62 publications

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“…Arsenic poses severe health and environmental hazards, and frequently co-occurs with gold in ore deposits [2,3]. In Ecuador, several studies have reported the presence of high concentrations of arsenic in soils, sediments, surface waters, and tap waters in gold mining areas, mainly in the province of Azuay and El Oro [4][5][6][7][8]. Therefore, the presence of this element constitutes a concern for mining companies and the community.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alkaline Leaching for Arsenic Removal in Gold-Bearing Ore from Miraflores Mine, El Oro, Ecuador

Epinoza-Ramón,

Reyes-Rodríguez,

Peña Carpio

et al. 2023

Preprint

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In Ecuador, particularly in the El Oro province, gold mining has been historically hampered by arsenic contamination in the ores. This research addresses the persistent issue of arsenic in gold-bearing ores from Miraflores Mine in Cerro Azul, Atahualpa Canton, and the challenges it presents to mining operations. The study's purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of an alkaline leaching process for arsenic removal. The ore underwent thorough characterisation, employing advanced techniques like fire assay and atomic absorption. Once the ore's nature was discerned, an arsenic extraction experiment using a leaching solution was conducted. The implemented process achieved an arsenic removal efficiency of 90.54%. This enhanced ore quality facilitates efficient metallurgical applications and, more notably, reduces the environmental footprint by diminishing the need for harmful reagents like sodium cyanide. However, a significant implication of this method is the added cost due to the need for heat during the leaching test, amounting to an approximate $30 per ton increase. The alkaline leaching process emerges as a promising solution for arsenic challenges in El Oro’s mining sector. While the findings are encouraging, further expansive tests are recommended to validate the results and underscore the urgency for sustainable and hazard-conscious mining practices.

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