Monitoring study of the mine pond reclamation of Mina Concepción, Iberian Pyrite Belt (Spain)

Crespo, Tomás Martı́n; Ignacio, Cristina de; Gómez-Ortíz, David; Martín-Velázquez, Silvia; Lillo, Javier

doi:10.1007/s12665-009-0115-4

Cited by 20 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The consistencies of the results of this work with other recent studies (e.g., Martínez-Pagán et al 2009;Martín-Crespo et al 2010) show geoelectrical methods to be a promising tool for characterizing AMD generation and flow direction in the tailings impoundment. Further geophysical research on AMD problems is needed, however, to define research procedures more sharply and allow reliable monitoring of continuous sulfide oxidation processes, and generation and behavior of AMD.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Geophysical methods have increasingly demonstrated their potential to: delineate areas contaminated with potentially harmful elements and compounds and acidic seepage at industrial landfills and mine waste sites; define petrophysical properties and the internal structure of tailings impoundments and waste rock piles (Ebraheem et al 1990;Yuval and Oldenburg 1996;Campbell et al 1998;Campbell and Fitterman 2000;Painter et al 2000;Campbell and Horton 2001;Smith et al 2001;Buselli and Lu 2001;Vanhala and Lahti 2001;Shemang et al 2003;Guérin et al 2004;Chouteau et al 2005;Sjödahl et al 2005;Vanhala et al 2005;Martínez-Pagán et al 2009;Martín-Crespo et al 2010;Rucker et al 2009;Poisson et al 2009). Because the electrical properties of soils change as a function of mineral and porewater composition, grain-size variation and moisture content, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a highly promising tool for investigating the internal structure of mine wastes that are controlled by water and oxygen fluxes responsible for sulfide oxidation and possible generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) (Chouteau et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Integrated geophysical and geochemical study on AMD generation at the Haveri Au–Cu mine tailings, SW Finland

Placencia-Gómez¹,

Parviainen

Hokkanen³

et al. 2010

Environ Earth Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Haveri tailings area contains 1.5 Mt of sulfide-bearing waste from the Au-Cu mine that operated during [1942][1943][1944][1945][1946][1947][1948][1949][1950][1951][1952][1953][1954][1955][1956][1957][1958][1959][1960][1961]. Geophysical and geochemical methods were used to evaluate and characterize the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD). Correlations were examined among the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data, the total sulfide content and concentrations of sulfide-bound metals (Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) of tailings samples, and the resistivity and geochemistry of surface water. The resulting geophysical-geochemical model defines an area in the vadose tailings, where a low resistivity anomaly (\10 Ohm m) is correlated with the highest sulfide content, extensive sulfide oxidation and low pH (average 3.1). The physical and geochemical conditions, resulting from the oxidation of the sulfide minerals, suggest that the low resistivity anomaly is associated with acidic and metal-rich porewater (i.e., AMD). The lower resistivity values in the saturated zone of the central impoundment suggest the formation of a plume of AMD. The natural subsoil layer (silt and clay) and the bedrock surface below the tailings area were well mapped from the ERT data. The detected fracture zones of the bedrock that could work as leakage pathways for AMD were consistent with previous geological studies. The integrated methodology of the study offers a promising approach to fast and reliable monitoring of areas of potential AMD generation and its subsurface movement over large areas (ca. 9 ha). This methodology could be helpful in planning drill core sampling locations for geochemical and mineralogical analysis, groundwater sampling, and choosing and monitoring remedial programs.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated geophysical and geochemical study on AMD generation at the Haveri Au–Cu mine tailings, SW Finland

Placencia-Gómez¹,

Parviainen

Hokkanen³

et al. 2010

Environ Earth Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…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%

“…The waters of the Tinto and Odiel fluvial systems are also affected [9]. Remediation has only been conducted in a few of the mine areas, although they still display significant environmental issues [4]. In 1998, an environmental disaster occurred in the SW of Spain, when the tailing dam of one of the bigger mines from the district was ruptured.…”

Section: Iberian Pyrite Beltmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another mine Geoenvironmental Characterization of Sulfide Mine Tailings DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84795 site studied was Mina Concepción, a restored mine pond located on the SE of the Almonaster la Real village (Figure 1). Tailings from the metallurgical treatment and benefit of pyrite were piled up over metavolcanic lithologies [4]. The contention dyke retaining them is 8 m high, and three collector pipes going through the dyke controlled the drainage.…”

Section: Iberian Pyrite Beltmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

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

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Electrical and Seismic Tomography Used to Image the Structure of a Tailings Pond at the Abandoned Kettara Mine, Morocco

Lghoul

Teixidó²,

Peña³

et al. 2012

Mine Water Environ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

International audienceThe Kettara site (Morocco) is an abandoned pyrrhotite ore mine in a semi-arid environment. The site contains more than 3 million tons of mine waste that were deposited on the surface without concern for environmental consequences. Tailings were stockpiled in a pond, in a dyke, and in piles over an area of approximately 16 ha and have generated acid mine drainage (AMD) for more than 29 years. Geophysical methods have been used at the Kettara mine site to determine the nature of the geological substrate of the tailings pond, the internal structure of the mine wastes, and to investigate the pollution zones associated with sulphide waste dumps. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and seismic refraction data were acquired, processed, and interpreted; the results from ERT and seismic refraction were complementary. A topographical survey of the tailings disposal area was also undertaken to estimate the volume of wastes and quantify the AMD process. Two-dimensional inverse models were used to investigate the geophysical data and indicated alteration zones at depth. It was determined that the material could be classified into three categories: tailings, with low resistivity (5-15 Omega m) and low velocity (500-1,800 m/s); altered, black shales, with intermediate resistivity (20-60 Omega m) and velocity (2,000-3,500 m/s), and; materials with high resistivity and velocity (> 60 Omega m and > 4,000 m/s, respectively), including unaltered shales associated with quartzite seams. The low-resistivity zone generates AMD, which migrates downward through fractures and micro-fractures. The substrate is composed of broken and altered shale, which facilitates AMD infiltration

show abstract

Monitoring study of the mine pond reclamation of Mina Concepción, Iberian Pyrite Belt (Spain)

Cited by 20 publications

References 12 publications

Integrated geophysical and geochemical study on AMD generation at the Haveri Au–Cu mine tailings, SW Finland

Integrated geophysical and geochemical study on AMD generation at the Haveri Au–Cu mine tailings, SW Finland

Geoenvironmental Characterization of Sulfide Mine Tailings

Electrical and Seismic Tomography Used to Image the Structure of a Tailings Pond at the Abandoned Kettara Mine, Morocco

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About