Rainwater-induced migration of potentially toxic elements from a Zn–Pb slag dump in Ruda Śląska in light of mineralogical, geochemical and geophysical investigations

Warchulski, Rafał; Mendecki, Maciej J.; Gawęda, Aleksandra; Sołtysiak, Marek; Gadowski, M.

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2019.104396

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The historical metallurgical slags are good materials for providing information on former metal smelting methods and their contemporary mining ore quality [10][11][12][13][14]. The examination of slags can provide significant information about chemical transformation rates and the metal stability associated therein [15][16][17][18][19][20]. Multiple geochemical investigations show that, historically, lead production has had an impact on environmental pollution since the Roman times, e.g., in England [21], Sweden [22], and Spain [23].…”

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confidence: 99%

Pb-Rich Slags, Minerals, and Pollution Resulted from a Medieval Ag-Pb Smelting and Mining Operation in the Silesian-Cracovian Region (Southern Poland)

Cabała

Warchulski

Rozmus³

et al. 2019

Minerals

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Since the 12th century in the Silesian-Cracovian area, lead, litharge, and silver have been produced by the pyrometallurgical processing of Pb-Ag-Zn ore. Slags and soils contaminated with heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe, Mn, As) were the subject of this research. Samples were collected during archaeological works in the area of early medieval metallurgical settlement. The main goals of the analyses (Scanning Electron Miscroscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Electron Probe Microanalyzer (EPMA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)) were the determination of the mineralogical composition of furnace batches and smelting temperatures and conditions. In soils, the anthropogenic phases enriched in Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, P, and primary minerals like goethite, ferrihydrite, sphalerite, galena, smithsonite, minrecordite, cerussite, gypsum, anglesite, jarosite, and hemimorphite were identified. The soil from former metallurgical settlements contained up to 1106 mg·kg −1 Pb, 782 mg·kg −1 Zn, 4.7 mg·kg −1 Cd in the fine fraction. Much higher heavy metal concentrations were observed in the waste products of ore rinsing, up to 49,282 mg·kg −1 Pb, 64,408 mg·kg −1 Zn, and 287 mg·kg −1 Cd. The medieval smelting industry and Pb-Ag-Zn ore processing are marked by highly anomalous geochemical pollution (Pb, Zn, Cd, Fe, Mn, Ba) in the topsoil. The methods of mineralogical investigation, such as SEM-EDS or EMPA, can be used to identify mineralogical phases formed during metallurgical processes or ore processing. Based on these methods, the characteristic primary assemblage and synthetic phases were identified in the area polluted by medieval metallurgy and mining of Pb-Ag-Zn ores, including MVT (Mississippi Valley Type) deposits. The minerals distinguished in slags and the structural features of metal-bearing aggregates allow us to conclude that batches have included mostly oxidised minerals (PbCO 3 , ZnCO 3 , CaZn(CO 3 ) 2 , FeOOH), sulfides (PbS and ZnS) and quartz (SiO 2 ). The laboratory experiment of high-temperature heating of the examined slags showed that smelting temperatures used in the second half of 13th century were very high and could have reached up to 1550 • C. The results indicate, that geochemical and mineralogical methods can be used to obtain important information from archaeological sites, even after archaeological work has long ceased.Minerals 2020, 10, 28 2 of 16 mining and metallurgy centres since Roman times. In the period between the 10th and 12th centuries, iron, lead, tin, silver, and gold had become more important for the development of civilization in Central and Eastern European countries. Since the beginning of the 10th century in medieval Europe, in areas where ores of Ag-Pb, Au, As-Au, Cu, Sn and Fe occurr, mining centres have appeared, such as at the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge), Harz Mountains, and Sudetes.One of Europe's largest Zn-Pb, MVT (Mississippi Valley) type ore deposits can be found in the Silesian-Cracow area (southern Poland) [1]. Shallow deposits are represented...

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confidence: 99%

Pb-Rich Slags, Minerals, and Pollution Resulted from a Medieval Ag-Pb Smelting and Mining Operation in the Silesian-Cracovian Region (Southern Poland)

Cabała

Warchulski

Rozmus³

et al. 2019

Minerals

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“…There adds to the bioavailability of Cd that a possible transformation of Cd from metal oxides in smelting slags to adsorbed phases and carbonates ( Wang et al, 2020 ). Warchulski et al (2019) prove the importance of rainfall-induced weathering on PTMs mobilization and migration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Some PTMs (i.e., As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) of the slag are very high and more than these in the soil of its bottom weathering profile ( Table S1 ). Although most of the slag PTMs are generally dominated by polymetallic or other phases ( Ettler, Piantone & Touray, 2003 ; Scokart, Meeus-Verdinne & De Borger, 1983 ; Sobanska et al, 2016 ), they could be easily transported to the surrounding circumstances due to long-term natural weathering ( Sobanska et al, 2016 ; Tyszka et al, 2014 , 2018 ) or other processes occurring in acidic environments ( Scokart, Meeus-Verdinne & De Borger, 1983 ; Sobanska et al, 2016 ; Warchulski et al, 2019 ; Yang et al, 2006 ). There adds to the bioavailability of Cd that a possible transformation of Cd from metal oxides in smelting slags to adsorbed phases and carbonates ( Wang et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…And the groundwater level is relatively shallow (approximately the dept at 240 cm) in the research area through field observations. Additionally, many leaching experiments show that some PTMs in the slag could easily migrate into the surrounding environment ( Zhu et al, 2012 ; Piatak, Parsons & Ii, 2015 ; Liu et al, 2018 ; Tyszka et al, 2018 ; Warchulski et al, 2019 ). The Cd and Zn migrate with organic matter that brings about more potential hazards of the groundwater movements near zinc smelters in acidic sandy soils ( Scokart, Meeus-Verdinne & De Borger, 1983 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Potentially toxic metal(loid) distribution and migration in the bottom weathering profile of indigenous zinc smelting slag pile in clastic rock region

Peng

Yang

Jin

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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Background There are contaminated by potentially toxic metal(loid)s (PTMs) that the surface soil and the weathering profiles around the indigenous zinc smelting slag piles or smelters in the smelting area. However, few systematic studies are currently focusing on the PTM distribution and migration among the slag and its bottom weathering profile. Methods This research determined the concentrations of PTMs and pH values. And we analyzed PTM distribution in the two weathering profiles (slag-covered and slag-absent) with a small horizontal distance in the clastic rock region in the smelting area. Results The soil As and Pb contents, respectively, within the 30 and 50 cm depth in the slag-covered section were higher than those in the slag-absent profile. All soil Cd and Zn contents of the slag-covered core were significantly higher than those in the slag-absent weathering section. Conclusions Compared with the slag-absent weathering section, some PTMs (i.e., As, Cd, Pb and Zn) in the bottom weathering profile were polluted by these elements in the covered slag in the clastic rock region, and their depths were influenced by the slag to varying degrees. Additionally, with time, some PTMs (especially Cd and Zn) of the slag might finally contaminate the groundwater by leaching and infiltration through its bottom weathering profile in the clastic rock region.

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“…At present, geophysical surveys are correlated with detailed chemical and mineralogical studies (Mendecki et al, 2020; Nagamori et al, 2007; Warchulski et al, 2019), which permits the accurate and detailed interpretation of the areas under scrutiny.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of land degradation caused by historical Zn‐Pb mining using electrical resistivity tomography

et al. 2021

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Soil contamination with trace elements in mining areas still remains an urgent research problem due to their negative environmental impact that needs to be assessed. Despite the wide application of the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method to different environmental problems, it continually remains methodologically challenging in soil contamination near waste dumps of post‐metal historical mining. The aims of our study were: (1) to validate ERT measurements for detecting soil contamination by trace elements in the vicinity of a waste dump containing post‐processing spoil from Zn‐Pb ore smelting, (2) to determine the extent of soil contamination, and (3) to analyze the mineralogical, physical, and chemical properties of the soils affected. ERT enabled us to study the variability of electrical properties of soils, to locate the area of contamination, and to evaluate its spatial diversity in both. The impact of soil pollution is reflected on ERT cross‐sections in the form of electrical resistivities that decrease with increasing depth and distance from the waste dump. The respective maximum contents of Zn, Pb and Cd in the soils were 28,903, 12,407, and 136 mg kg−1. The total concentration of trace elements in soils was the highest down to a depth of 0.25 m and decreased in the order: Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd > Tl > As > Cr > Ni. The electrical resistivities of the soil samples were negatively correlated with the silty and clayey fraction content (−0.78), specific electrical conductivity (−0.75), total trace element content (−0.67), organic matter content (−0.57), and gravimetric water content (−0.53). The results also indicate that the electrical properties of the topsoil depend directly on the type of mineral components. Hydrated iron sulphates, lead sulphates, water‐bound in aluminosilicates, Fe oxides/hydroxides, and hydrated Fe, Zn, and Pb sulphates present in the soil all decrease its electrical resistivity. Our results show the impact of the mineralogical, physical, and chemical properties of the soils on the measured electrical resistivity and that including this information in the interpretation of ERT results enables non‐invasive detailed determination of soil contamination by trace elements.

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Rainwater-induced migration of potentially toxic elements from a Zn–Pb slag dump in Ruda Śląska in light of mineralogical, geochemical and geophysical investigations

Cited by 18 publications

References 36 publications

Pb-Rich Slags, Minerals, and Pollution Resulted from a Medieval Ag-Pb Smelting and Mining Operation in the Silesian-Cracovian Region (Southern Poland)

Pb-Rich Slags, Minerals, and Pollution Resulted from a Medieval Ag-Pb Smelting and Mining Operation in the Silesian-Cracovian Region (Southern Poland)

Potentially toxic metal(loid) distribution and migration in the bottom weathering profile of indigenous zinc smelting slag pile in clastic rock region

Detection of land degradation caused by historical Zn‐Pb mining using electrical resistivity tomography

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