Potential risk assessment in stream sediments, soils and waters after remediation in an abandoned W&gt;Sn mine (NE Portugal)

Antunes, I.M.H.R.; Gomes, M. E. P.; Neiva, A.M.R.; Carvalho, P. C. S.; Santos, Antonio Colmenar

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.06.045

Cited by 28 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…The acidic water formed by the oxidation of sulphides is corrosive and causes the leaching of PTEs (e.g. Ca, Mg, Al and Li) and Ffrom the host rocks (Antunes et al 2016). The Eh values vary from 197 to 476 mV.…”

Section: Geochemistry Of Surface Water and Groundwatermentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential toxic elements in stream sediments, soils and waters in an abandoned radium mine (central Portugal)

Antunes

Neiva

Albuquerque

et al. 2017

Environ Geochem Health

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The Alto da Várzea radium mine (AV) exploited ore and U-bearing minerals, such as autunite and torbernite. The mine was exploited underground from 1911 to 1922, closed in 1946 without restoration, and actually a commercial area is deployed. Stream sediments, soils and water samples were collected between 2008 and 2009. Stream sediments are mainly contaminated in As, Th, U and W, which is related to the AV radium mine. The PTEs, As, Co, Cr, Sr, Th, U, W, Zn, and electrical conductivity reached the highest values in soils collected inside the mine influence. Soils are contaminated with As and U and must not be used for any purpose. Most waters have pH values ranging from 4.3 to 6.8 and are poorly mineralized (EC = 41-186 lS/cm; TDS = 33-172 mg/L). Groundwater contains the highest Cu, Cr and Pb contents. Arsenic occurs predominantly as H 2 (AsO 4)and H(AsO 4) 2-. Waters are saturated in goethite, haematite and some of them also in lepidocrocite and ferrihydrite, which adsorbs As (V). Lead is divalent in waters collected during the warm season, being mobile in these waters. Thorium occurs mainly as Th(OH) 3 (-CO 3)-, Th(OH) 2 (CO 3) and Th(OH) 2 (CO 3) 2 2-, which increase water Th contents. Uranium occurs predominantly as UO 2 CO 3 , but CaUO 2 (CO 3) 3 2and CaUO 2 (-CO 3) 3 also occur, decreasing its mobility in water. The waters are contaminated in NO 2-, Mn, Cu, As, Pb and U and must not be used for human consumption and in agricultural activities. The water contamination is mainly associated with the old radium mine and human activities. A restoration of the mining area with PTE monitoring is necessary to avoid a public hazard.

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Section: Geochemistry Of Surface Water and Groundwatermentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential toxic elements in stream sediments, soils and waters in an abandoned radium mine (central Portugal)

Antunes

Neiva

Albuquerque

et al. 2017

Environ Geochem Health

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“…These elements entering surface waters from natural or anthropogenic sources become part of the water suspension and the sediment system by absorption, precipitation and ion exchange processes (e.g. Jain and Sharma 2001;Abreu et al 2008;Antunes et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The geochemistry of stream sediments will be a good tool to evaluate the degree of trace elements contamination, due to their long residence time and the contents being naturally above detection limits (e.g. Bertin and Bourg 1995;Antunes et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…PTE associated with gold exploitation-including Cu, Zn, Sn, W, Cr, Cd, As and Pb-can be dispersed downstream due to weathering processes. The extended and degree of PTE contamination associated to mineralization is variable, depending upon chemical characteristics and associated metals, and could influence nearby residential/agricultural land, stream sediments and streams (Ferreira da Silva et al 2004;Antunes et al 2016;Carvalho et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial environmental risk evaluation of potential toxic elements in stream sediments

Antunes

Albuquerque

Roque

2018

Environ Geochem Health

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Potential toxic elements (PTE), in stream sediments, were used as contamination indicators for the definition of high-/low-grade spatial clusters in the Monfortinho area (Central Portugal). A set of 271 stream sediment samples was used for spatial modelling and further definition of rings of enrichment-high and low rings. A three-step multivariate statistical and geostatistical approach was used: (1) principal components analysis for PTE's association evaluation and dimensionality reduction; (2) ordinary kriging as an unbiased interpolator for content inference and construction of a continuous representation of the considered attributes, at any arbitrary spatial location; (3) G clustering algorithm for the definition of high and low significance clusters. A moderate contamination in stream sediments is observed for almost all the considered PTE and a very high contamination for Ba, Cr and B. High contamination clusters are observed for Fe, Ni, Ba, Cu, B, Zn, V-northwest and southeast clusters-and for Cr-north and southwest clusters. The contamination degree index varies from moderate to high, which is mainly associated with the old mineralizations. The high computed rings often overlap the areas of abandoned Ba-Zn mineralization, as well as the sedimentary gold concentrations, along the Erges River banks. Tin and Cd spatial distribution may be related to former cassiterite exploitations in the survey area. Chromium is possibly connected with the schists. The definition of clusters with a PTE spatial enrichment will allow for the identification of contamination activities and therefore, the definition of adequate monitoring and mitigation actions.

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“…Also, near abandoned metal mines, high levels of heavy metals can be found as a result of the discharge and dispersion of waste tailings both the aquatic environment and the soils surrounding the mining areas [8][9][10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Sediments Pollution with Mobile Heavy Metals in an Abandoned Mining Area from Romania

Kim¹,

Vasile²,

Pascu³

et al. 2018

Sedimentation Engineering

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The present chapter focuses on spatio-temporal evolution of sediments pollution with mobile heavy metals in five sampling campaigns, in an abandoned gold-bearing mining area from Certeju de Jos, Hunedoara County. The investigated zone is situated in a region where for a long period intense activities of mining exploitation was conducted. For determination of total metals content, sediment samples were dissolved with ultrapure nitric acid to microwave digestion. For the determination of mobile metals concentrations, it used the first step of BCR 701 sequential extraction scheme in a modified form, by reducing the extraction time from 16 hours to 20 minutes by sonication. The total and mobile concentrations of metals were determined by using ICP-MS. The concentrations of the mobile fractions of Cd, As and Cu are between 60 and 98% for Cd, 10 and 38% for As and up to 44% for Cu, indicating their presence in a bioavailable form. Due to the high mobility, these metals can pass from sediment to surface water and, implicitly, to the aquatic ecosystems. The pollution indices, calculated for the total content of As, Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb, indicate the presence of a strong environmental risk of sediment degradation in most investigated site.

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Potential risk assessment in stream sediments, soils and waters after remediation in an abandoned W>Sn mine (NE Portugal)

Cited by 28 publications

References 48 publications

Potential toxic elements in stream sediments, soils and waters in an abandoned radium mine (central Portugal)

Potential toxic elements in stream sediments, soils and waters in an abandoned radium mine (central Portugal)

Spatial environmental risk evaluation of potential toxic elements in stream sediments

Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Sediments Pollution with Mobile Heavy Metals in an Abandoned Mining Area from Romania

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