Heavy metal pollution caused by small-scale metal ore mining activities: A case study from a polymetallic mine in South China

Sun, Zehang; Xie, Xiande; Ping, Wang; Hu, Yuanan; Cheng, Hefa

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.176

Cited by 243 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The average manganese content in the soil of the Slovak Republic ranges from 0.85 to 112.90 mg kg −1 Mn, which indicates a significant spatial heterogeneity of elements, but the mean stock of this element in the soil predominates. In general, Mn is a common element in the earth's crust with a relatively high incidence and its content is not easily influenced by anthropogenic sources [39]. Kabata-Pendias [40] reports a value of 1500 mg kg −1 , which shows symptoms of manganese toxicity.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Quality and Heavy Metal Pollution Assessment of Iron Ore Mines in Nizna Slana (Slovakia)

Fazekašová

Fazekaš

2020

Sustainability

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Mining activities have resulted in the existence of dumps, which generally present a perpetual danger of moving and transforming toxic elements. The experimental study was carried out in Nizna Slana (Slovakia) where the main source of emission was the iron-ore mining–processing factory focused on siderite mining. Siderit from Nizna Slana is highly ferrous with an increased level of the Mn content. Among the undesirable impurities on the deposit are mainly As, S, Pb, and Zn. According to the environmental regionalization of the Slovak Republic, the surveyed area represents a region with a slightly disturbed environment. The BIOLOG® Eco plates method was used for ecotoxicological evaluation of contaminated soils, where soil enzymes (acidic and alkaline phosphatase and urease) were also monitored in soils and soil contamination was evaluated according to Hakanson (1980). Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the content of Hg, Cd, Cr, Cu, As, Fe, Mn, and Mg is above the toxicity level. As, Fe, Mn, and Mg are the most serious pollutants in the area under investigation, and their pronounced excess indicates contamination, where harmfulness and toxicity can be expected. Based on the evaluation of the contamination factor and the degree of contamination, the soils in the emission field of old mining works are very highly to slightly contaminated with heavy metals. The experimental results in the real environment showed that the activity of soil enzymes showed considerable differences, and, regarding the functional diversity of soil microorganisms, we have not seen significant spatial variability.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Quality and Heavy Metal Pollution Assessment of Iron Ore Mines in Nizna Slana (Slovakia)

Fazekašová

Fazekaš

2020

Sustainability

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“…The reason may be that the mineral components of the ore were mainly stibnite, accompanied by toxic sand, pyrite, and sphalerite, in which Sb, As, and Zn were most abundant, with significant contribution from Hg, Pb, and Cd. The PTEs associated with the tailings can migrate to the surrounding soil through dissolution, leakage, and weathering, resulting in pollution over much wider areas [4,24,41,42]. To understand and more fully evaluate the pollution characteristics of tailings in this area more thoroughly, the PTEs' content in the surface soil around the tailings reservoir was also analyzed in this study.…”

Section: Pollution Characteristics Of Ptes In Tailingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Antimony ores are of various types, with many associated minerals and element associations [1,2]. Because of this, Sb ore processing is complex, during which PTEs associated with ore minerals can enter the environment, dispersing in air, soil, and groundwater and leading to migration in the food chain, accumulating in animals, plants, or the human body, and increasing risk to human health [3][4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements Pollution from Mineral Processing Steps at Xikuangshan Antimony Plant, Hunan, China

2019

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We evaluated the direct release to the environment of a number of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from various processing nodes at Xikuangshan Antimony Mine in Hunan Province, China. Sampling wastewater, processing dust, and solid waste and characterizing PTE content (major elements Sb, As, Zn, and associated Hg, Pb, and Cd) from processing activities, we extrapolated findings to assess wider environmental significance using the pollution index and the potential ecological risk index. The Sb, As, and Zn in wastewater from the antimony benefication industry and a wider group of PTEs in the fine ore bin were significantly higher than their reference values. The content of Sb, As, and Zn in tailings were relatively high, with the average value being 2674, 1040, and 590 mg·kg−1, respectively. The content of PTEs in the surface soils surrounding the tailings was similar to that in tailings, and much higher than the background values. The results of the pollution index evaluation of the degree of pollution by PTEs showed that while dominated by Sb, some variation in order of significance was seen namely for: (1) The ore processing wastewater Sb > Pb > As > Zn > Hg > Cd, (2) in dust Sb > As > Cd > Pb > Hg > Zn, and (3) surface soil (near tailings) Sb > Hg > Cd > As > Zn > Pb. From the assessment of the potential ecological risk index, the levels were most significant at the three dust generation nodes and in the soil surrounding the tailings reservoir.

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“…It was found that endangered wild northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) living in manganese mining sites nearby, on the Groote Eylandt in Australia, had high-levels of Mn in their hair, testes, and two brain regions, which could affect the long-term viability of the population [37]. Owing to poor environmental awareness, lack of oversight of mine tailings, and poor Mn removal during treatment, mine wastewater could cause serious heavy metal pollution problems [38,39]. Therefore, the treatment of acidic manganese mine wastewater with high Mn(II) concentrations in the environment is important for living organisms and the future sustainability of several technologies.…”

Section: Influence Of Manganese Mine Drainage On the Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Removal of Manganese(II) from Acid Mine Wastewater: A Review of the Challenges and Opportunities with Special Emphasis on Mn-Oxidizing Bacteria and Microalgae

et al. 2019

Water

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Many global mining activities release large amounts of acidic mine drainage with high levels of manganese (Mn) having potentially detrimental effects on the environment. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of the main implications and challenges of Mn(II) removal from mine drainage. We first present the sources of contamination from mineral processing, as well as the adverse effects of Mn on mining ecosystems. Then the comparison of several techniques to remove Mn(II) from wastewater, as well as an assessment of the challenges associated with precipitation, adsorption, and oxidation/filtration are provided. We also critically analyze remediation options with special emphasis on Mn-oxidizing bacteria (MnOB) and microalgae. Recent literature demonstrates that MnOB can efficiently oxidize dissolved Mn(II) to Mn(III, IV) through enzymatic catalysis. Microalgae can also accelerate Mn(II) oxidation through indirect oxidation by increasing solution pH and dissolved oxygen production during its growth. Microbial oxidation and the removal of Mn(II) have been effective in treating artificial wastewater and groundwater under neutral conditions with adequate oxygen. Compared to physicochemical techniques, the bioremediation of manganese mine drainage without the addition of chemical reagents is relatively inexpensive. However, wastewater from manganese mines is acidic and has low-levels of dissolved oxygen, which inhibit the oxidizing ability of MnOB. We propose an alternative treatment for manganese mine drainage that focuses on the synergistic interactions of Mn in wastewater with co-immobilized MnOB/microalgae.

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Heavy metal pollution caused by small-scale metal ore mining activities: A case study from a polymetallic mine in South China

Cited by 243 publications

References 43 publications

Soil Quality and Heavy Metal Pollution Assessment of Iron Ore Mines in Nizna Slana (Slovakia)

Soil Quality and Heavy Metal Pollution Assessment of Iron Ore Mines in Nizna Slana (Slovakia)

Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements Pollution from Mineral Processing Steps at Xikuangshan Antimony Plant, Hunan, China

Removal of Manganese(II) from Acid Mine Wastewater: A Review of the Challenges and Opportunities with Special Emphasis on Mn-Oxidizing Bacteria and Microalgae

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