How significant is atmospheric metal contamination from mining activity adjacent to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area? A spatial analysis of metal concentrations using air trajectories models

Schneider, Larissa; Mariani, Michela; Saunders, Krystyna M.; Maher, William A.; Harrison, Jennifer; Fletcher, Michael Shawn; Zawadzki, Atun; Heijnis, Henk; Haberle, Simon

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.241

Cited by 20 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Within the sea breeze group, significant correlation was also found between soluble Fe and BC and Cd, V, and Zn. It has been reported that substantial proportion of anthropogenic elements, such as emissions from open mining, may be accumulated on the vegetation [87,88] and, consequently, then could be re-entrained to the atmosphere during the fire event.…”

Section: Combustion Products Vs Iron Solubilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric Trace Metal Deposition near the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

et al. 2020

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Aerosols deposited into the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) contain iron (Fe) and other trace metals, which may act as micronutrients or as toxins to this sensitive marine ecosystem. In this paper, we quantified the atmospheric deposition of Fe and investigated aerosol sources in Mission Beach (Queensland) next to the GBR. Leaching experiments were applied to distinguish pools of Fe with regard to its solubility. The labile Fe concentration in aerosols was 2.3-10.6 ng m −3 , which is equivalent to 4.9-11.4% of total Fe and was linked to combustion and biomass burning processes, while total Fe was dominated by crustal sources. A one-day precipitation event provided more soluble iron than the average dry deposition flux, 0.165 and 0.143 µmol m −2 day −1 , respectively. Scanning Electron Microscopy indicated that alumina-silicates were the main carriers of total Fe and samples affected by combustion emissions were accompanied by regular round-shaped carbonaceous particulates. Collected aerosols contained significant amounts of Cd, Co, Cu, Mo, Mn, Pb, V, and Zn, which were mostly (47.5-96.7%) in the labile form. In this study, we provide the first field data on the atmospheric delivery of Fe and other trace metals to the GBR and propose that this is an important delivery mechanism to this region.

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Section: Combustion Products Vs Iron Solubilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric Trace Metal Deposition near the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

et al. 2020

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“…Dust and aerosol produced by mining operations often contain elevated levels of metal and metalloid contaminants (Csavina et al, 2014;Stinton et al, 2020). This increase in metal emissions has previously been recorded in the sediments of freshwater lakes in western Tasmania, including Basin Lake and Owen Tarn (Schneider et al, 2019).…”

Section: Mechanisation and The Opening Of Large Open-cut Mines In Mount Lyellmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…It was argued that the cost of doing so would be so high that the mines would be forced to close (De Blas, 1994). Thus, a century of continuous copper mining and processing at the Mount Lyell has resulted in significant environmental impacts both in the mine area and off-site (Augustinus et al, 2010;De Blas, 1994;Harle et al, 2002;Schneider et al, 2019). Although the history of mining at Mount Lyell has been described (Blainey, 1993;Mainwarring, 2020;Rae, 1994), no detailed quantitative description of the temporal metal contamination has been published…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sediment records from two isolated high-altitude lakes with small catchments were used to evaluate the contribution of different mining techniques applied by the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company on the emission of metal and metalloids (hereafter collectively referred as metals) to the region. Specifically, we assess changes in smelting and mining methods during the late 19 th and 20 th centuries on the temporal atmospheric deposition of lead, arsenic, and selenium, which are known to have been lost in great quantities (Schneider et al, 2019), along with copper, which is known to be enriched in the local mining ores (Blainey, 1993). The major element iron was analysed as a reference element to evaluate the enrichment factor of the metals, while zinc was used as a chronological marker.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Colonialism and the environment: The pollution legacy of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest copper mine in the 20th century

Schneider

Shulmeister

Mariani

et al. 2020

The Anthropocene Review

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Mining has been a major contributor to economic development in Australia since British arrival in the late 1700s, with little to no thought regarding the long-term environmental consequences. This study assesses the metal pollution legacy caused by different smelting methods and mining activities during the British colonialism in western Tasmania. This region was the largest copper producer in the Southern Hemisphere during the 20th century. Lake sediments from Basin Lake and Owen Tarn, 12 and 5 km from Queenstown’s mines, respectively, were used to reconstruct historical metal contamination. Temporal changes in metal concentrations (iron, copper, arsenic, selenium and lead) were assessed in relation to the scale of mining activities and the technologies used. Sedimentation rates and metal influxes increased from 1900, reflecting the beginning of copper mining in Mount Lyell. Observed metal concentrations peaked after 1930, coinciding with the introduction of large-scale open-cut operations and an expansion of the mining machinery used. All elements underwent at least minor enrichment (EF 1-3) during the lifespan of the mine, with lead and copper undergoing extremely severe enrichment (EF > 50). Although smelters contributed to metal increases in the lakes, large open-cut large operations in the 1930s contributed most to metal contamination. Local metal deposition from mining-related activities decreased significantly once operations decreased, with selenium and arsenic decreasing nearly to background levels within 50 years. Lead and copper, the elements which underwent major enrichment, have not yet reached background values. The ecological consequences include the current degraded local landscape, poor water quality and disrupted local biota. Knowledge about the environmental impacts of mining in western Tasmania is less known compared to other sites around the world with a similar history. Our results demonstrate the urgent need to develop better policies and remediation programs that can mitigate the consequences of metal pollution from abandoned mines in Australia.

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“…Ultimately, the site's geochemistry is complicated by the presence of sulfidic tailings at the foot of the South pile (Figures 2 and 3), with the environmental risk posed by the slag piles considered to be lower, based on their characteristics reported in Taylor [23]. Several recent studies have investigated the impact of dust dispersed from mine waste on the environment (e.g., References [51][52][53]). Prevailing wind controls the dominant direction of dispersal, with airborne pathways noted to facilitate greater distances to be travelled by potential contaminants when compared to waterborne pathways.…”

Section: Geo-environmental Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geometallurgical Characterization of Non-Ferrous Historical Slag in Western Tasmania: Identifying Reprocessing Options

Parbhakar-Fox

Gilmour²,

Fox

et al. 2019

Minerals

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Pyrometallurgical processing of ore from the Zeehan mineral field was performed intermittently between 1896 and 1948, primarily recovering Pb, Ag and Cu. While Zn recovery was attempted at the time, it was unsuccessful using the available technology. Consequently, Zn reported to the slag during the smelting process. Today, the former smelter site consists of two large slag piles (North and South). Using a range of techniques (including X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and static testing) the geometallurgical and geo-environmental properties of these slag materials (n = 280) were determined. The South and North piles contain on average 15% and 11% Zn, respectively. A range of complex mineral phases were identified, and are dominated by glass, silicates (i.e., monticellite–kirschsteinite and hardystonite), oxides (gahnite and hercynite) and minor sulfides (sphalerite and wurtzite). Microtextural examinations defined nine mineral phases (Glass A, Silicates A to D, Oxides A and B, Sulfides A and B). Zn was concentrated in Sulfide A (26%), Glass A (24%) and the Silicates (43%), while Pb was concentrated in Oxide B (76%), with Sulfide B host to the highest Ag (45%) and Cu (65%). Considering this, recovery of Zn using conventional hydrometallurgical processes (i.e., sulfuric acid leaching) is suitable, however the application of unconventional biohydrometallurgical techniques could be explored, as well re-smelting. These slag materials are classified geo-environmentally as potentially acid forming, with leachate concentrations of Zn, Pb consistently above ANZECC (2000) aquatic ecosystem 80% protection guideline values, and, for the majority of samples, exceedances of Cu, Ni and Cd were also measured. Considering these findings, reprocessing of these historic slags for Zn extraction may provide an economically feasible management option for rehabilitating this historical site.

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How significant is atmospheric metal contamination from mining activity adjacent to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area? A spatial analysis of metal concentrations using air trajectories models

Cited by 20 publications

References 33 publications

Atmospheric Trace Metal Deposition near the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Atmospheric Trace Metal Deposition near the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Colonialism and the environment: The pollution legacy of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest copper mine in the 20th century

Geometallurgical Characterization of Non-Ferrous Historical Slag in Western Tasmania: Identifying Reprocessing Options

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