Pitfalls in the geological characterization of alluvial deposits: site investigation for reactive barrier installation at Aznalcóllar, Spain

Salvany, Josep Maria; Carrera, Jesús; Bolzicco, J.; Ávila-Mediavilla, Carlos Marcelo

doi:10.1144/1470-9236/04-039

Cited by 11 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The estimated groundwater flow is high (0.5-1 m/d), representing a notable distinct characteristic compared to other AMD-contaminated groundwaters treated by PRB. The average hydraulic gradient was found fairly flat (0.1%), which is expected of highly permeable media [16,19,20]. The values of such hydrodynamical parameters are fairly variable due to seasonal fluctuations and the complexity and heterogeneity of the geologic setting.…”

Section: Site Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…The site investigation carried out for the location and orientation of the PRB, as well as its installation, has been reported in detail previously [20]. Surface mapping and geophysical exploration, boreholes drilling, trenching, vertical electrical sounding, hydraulic testing and water sampling provided data converging on a simple geological model based on three terraces that gave rise to the final design and installation of the PRB.…”

Section: Construction Of the Prbmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The geology and hydrology beneath the Agrio river have been described previously [16,19,20]. Briefly, the geologic setting consists of Paleozoic materials overlain by conglomerates and calcarenites dating from the Upper Miocene ages, blue marls from the Upper Miocene and Lower Pliocene, sandy silts from the Middle Pliocene, Plio-Quaternary sands and Holocene marsh clays and, overlying all of these, are the alluvial deposits of the Agrio and Guadiamar fluvial systems, which are made up of silt, sand and gravel deposits.…”

Section: Site Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

In-situ remediation of acid mine drainage using a permeable reactive barrier in Aznalcóllar (Sw Spain)

Gibert

Rötting

Cortina

et al. 2011

Journal of Hazardous Materials

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Section: Site Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Construction Of the Prbmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Site Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

In-situ remediation of acid mine drainage using a permeable reactive barrier in Aznalcóllar (Sw Spain)

Gibert

Rötting

Cortina

et al. 2011

Journal of Hazardous Materials

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“…The system was divided into several parts with different proportions of filling material (calcite, organic compost, and iron cuttings). Further detail relating its operation can be obtained from Bolzicco et al (2004) and Salvany et al (2004).…”

Section: Remediation Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, overlaying all of them, the Guadiamar River alluvial deposits, formed by four terrace levels constituted mainly of pebbles, gravels, and sands (Salvany et al 2004).…”

Section: Hydrogeological Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater contamination evolution in the Guadiamar and Agrio aquifers after the Aznalcóllar spill: assessment and environmental implications

Álvarez

Moral

Galván

et al. 2011

Environ Monit Assess

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In 1998, the Agrio and Guadiamar rivers underwent an enormous environmental disaster caused by the rupture of the Aznalcóllar tailings dam and the release of 6 hm(3) of pyrite sludge and acidic water. Both rivers run over recent alluvial materials which form a small-sized aquifer which is however important because underground water feeds the flow of the rivers. This work analyzes the state of groundwater 10 years after the spill. Before the dam failure, this aquifer was already contaminated in the zone nearest to the mine, to which the impact of the spill was added. Contamination levels in the alluvial aquifer of the Agrio River have decreased remarkably. However, they are still important, with acidic pH values and high concentrations of toxic elements (maximum values of 16 mg/L of Zn and 15 mg/L of Al). There are also important levels of contamination in the Guadiamar alluvial area closest to the mine, as well as in specific zones located further south. The concentration of toxic elements is mainly controlled by pH. The evolution of contaminant levels show a sharp decrease after the first years following the spill, followed by a subsequent stabilization. It is necessary to take measures for the recovery of the aquifer because, otherwise, groundwater will continue contributing contaminants into the Agrio and Guadiamar rivers.

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Mixed method approaches to the investigation and mapping of buried Quaternary deposits: examples from southern England

Bates

Whittaker

2007

Archaeological Prospection

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The lower reaches of major river valleys usually present archaeologists with considerable problems where thick sequences of stratified alluvium buryarchaeology.These situationsare typicalofthelower reaches of major river systems that are currently under intense pressure from urban development where the archaeological resource is consequently at risk. Here we demonstrate how mixed method approaches, utilizing a range of borehole methods, cone penetration testing and surface and subsurface geophysics coupled with microfossil assessment (Foraminifera/Ostracoda), can be used to model these deposits and predict locations and depths at which important archaeological remains may belocated.The noveltyofthis approachisnot in the application ofindividual techniquesto the problem but in the combined methodology, which enables a structured and cost effective programme of works to be formulated and provides the best chance to understand the subsurface. Although this approach has been developed to facilitate the location of archaeological sites buried at depth within the route corridor of development projects it is also suitable for locating fossil-bearing sequences and mapping stratigraphical units in Quaternary science. We demonstrate the approach using two examples from southern England.

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Pitfalls in the geological characterization of alluvial deposits: site investigation for reactive barrier installation at Aznalcóllar, Spain

Cited by 11 publications

References 18 publications

In-situ remediation of acid mine drainage using a permeable reactive barrier in Aznalcóllar (Sw Spain)

In-situ remediation of acid mine drainage using a permeable reactive barrier in Aznalcóllar (Sw Spain)

Groundwater contamination evolution in the Guadiamar and Agrio aquifers after the Aznalcóllar spill: assessment and environmental implications

Mixed method approaches to the investigation and mapping of buried Quaternary deposits: examples from southern England

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