Sediment record of mining legacy and water quality from a drinking-water reservoir, Aztec, New Mexico, USA

Blake, Johanna M.; Brown, Jeb E.; Ferguson, Christina L.; Bixby, Rebecca J.; DeLay, Naomi

doi:10.1007/s12665-020-09126-9

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 70 publications

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“…Several studies around the world investigated trace element contamination of water, sediments, soil, and plants as a result of mining activities [15][16][17]19,22,[25][26][27][32][33][34]. These studies show that the levels of element contamination around mines depend on the geochemical characteristics, history, and pace of mining of mineral deposits [35][36][37][38][39][40][41].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Paleolimnological Perspective on Arctic Mountain Lake Pollution

Dauvalter

Slukovskii

Denisov

et al. 2022

Water

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The chemical composition of sediments from the Arctic mountain Lake Bolshoy Vudjavr, situated in the western part of the Russian Arctic zone, was studied. The lake has been under intense anthropogenic load for more than 90 years since the development of the richest apatite–nepheline deposits in the world started. A 27 cm thick sediment core was sampled in the central part of the lake at the maximum depth of 37.4 m. The concentrations of more than 50 elements were analyzed by the mass spectral method, ICP-MS. The lake sedimentation rate established from the change in the content of the radioactive isotope 210Pb was 2.3 mm/yr. The effluent from apatite–nepheline production and atmospheric fallout enrich the sediments of Lake Bolshoy Vudjavr with alkali and alkaline earth metals, N, P, Mn, Fe, Al compounds, rare earth elements, and trace elements (Sb, Cu, Zn, Pb, Bi, Nb, Ta, Th). Analysis of the forms of elements in the lake sediments showed that the studied elements are mainly found in stable fractions—mineral, acid-soluble, and associated with organic matter. The pollution of the sediments of Lake Bolshoy Vudjavr was assessed by the integral index PLI (Pollution Load Index) and CF (contamination factor). The PLI value sharply increased after the “Apatite” Plant had been launched and a large amount of wastewater from the mines had been released into the lake. The highest PLI values were detected in the sediment layers accumulated during the period 1990s–2000s. Sb (18.2), P (10.3), Sr (7.8), and La (6.0) have the maximum CF values among all the studied elements.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Paleolimnological Perspective on Arctic Mountain Lake Pollution

Dauvalter

Slukovskii

Denisov

et al. 2022

Water

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Sediment cores in a municipal drinking-water reservoir as a record of geochemical transport within a watershed, Farmington Lake, New Mexico, USA

et al. 2022

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Environmental and health impact of current uranium mining activities in southwestern Sinai, Egypt

et al. 2022

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Stream sediments and groundwater samples were collected from the vicinity of El Allouga uranium mine in southwestern Sinai and analyzed for their radionuclides to explore the geochemical dispersion and environmental impact. The radioactivity measurements were performed using γ-ray spectrometry and UV-photometry. Most stream sediments samples have eU concentrations more than the background level. The significant correlations between eU, clay, and organic matter contents reflect possible adsorption of U to the surface of clay and organic matter. The high radionuclide concentrations in the stream sediment are mainly due to contamination from the mining process, and, in some locations, due to rock outcrops weathering. The measured concentrations of U in groundwater samples exceed the Maximum Contamination Level of groundwater U (30 ppb). The lack of correspondence of U concentrations in the country rocks and associated groundwater indicates the high mobility of U and reflects absence of a simple rock/water equilibration. Water resources in the study area have 234U/238U activity ratios with obvious deviations from secular equilibrium. The U isotopic data support that uranium ore body could be locally forming within the rock aquifer at El Allouga area. The calculated external hazard parameter values are higher than the worldwide average in 30% of the studied stream sediment samples; this indicates that people who are exposed to that level of radiation for a lifetime would have an elevated cancer risk. The Annual Effective Dose resulting from U activity concentrations in the studied drinking water is significantly higher than the recommended limit for children and adults. Therefore, the available water resources in the study area are considered unsafe for human consumption.

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Sediment record of mining legacy and water quality from a drinking-water reservoir, Aztec, New Mexico, USA

Cited by 4 publications

References 70 publications

A Paleolimnological Perspective on Arctic Mountain Lake Pollution

A Paleolimnological Perspective on Arctic Mountain Lake Pollution

Sediment cores in a municipal drinking-water reservoir as a record of geochemical transport within a watershed, Farmington Lake, New Mexico, USA

Environmental and health impact of current uranium mining activities in southwestern Sinai, Egypt

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