Solid-phase control on the mobility of potentially toxic elements in an abandoned lead/zinc mine tailings impoundment, Taxco, Mexico

Romero, Francisco Martín; Armienta, M.A.; González-Hernández, Galia

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2006.07.017

Cited by 135 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In the study area the source of these metals are probably from the oxidation of exposed sulphide minerals such as galena and sphalerite from mine wastes which are then leached into soils during heavy precipitation (Chen, et al, 1997;Romero, et al, 2007). These sulphide minerals are associated with the Pb-Zn mineralization in the Arufu mining district (Abimola and Akanda, 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil and Surface Water in the Arufu Lead-Zinc Mining District, Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria

Adamu¹,

Nganje²

2011

Ghana Mining Journal

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This paper is aimed at investigating the nature of heavy metals dispersion in soil and surface water around the Arufu leadzinc mine, Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria. Rock samples from mine pits and adjoining outcrops as well as water samples from mine pits and adjacent streams were collected and analyzed. Also analysed were soil samples collected from mine waste and adjoining areas as well as from a forest to serve as control. All samples were analysed for Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr, As, Cd and Ag, using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Organic Matter (OM) content of the soil samples, and the pH of both soil and water samples were also determined. The results show that the OM content of soil was generally low (4 + 1.1%) and both soil and water samples were characterized by moderate pH values of 6.30 to 8.00 and 5.60 to 7.80 respectively. Furthermore, soils developed over bedrock show normal (background) levels of heavy metals, while soils developed over mine waste are enriched in Zn (181 + 83 mg/kg); Pb (40 + 28 mg/kg) and Cd (3 + 2 mg/kg). Also, water samples from mine ponds are enriched in Pb (0.02 -0.10 mg/1) and Cd (0.02 -0.04 mg/1). The sources of these heavy metals are most probably sulphides in the mine waste. Tailing and mine pits may therefore represent point sources of heavy metal contaminants and should therefore be reclaimed to prevent further contamination.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil and Surface Water in the Arufu Lead-Zinc Mining District, Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria

Adamu¹,

Nganje²

2011

Ghana Mining Journal

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“…Nevertheless, the disposal of an enormous volume of tailings dumps poses a serious risk to the surrounding environment through air pollution due to air-dried out tailings, erosion of the tailings with the potential of valuable land degradation, and leaching of soluble inorganic potentially toxic chemical species (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cr) occurring in a variety of minerals present in the tailings dump [8]. The leaching or release of soluble inorganic potentially toxic chemical species from tailings dumps into the adjacent surface and groundwater systems has been reported to be a major environmental concern induced by tailings dumps [7,9]. When sulfide minerals (mainly pyrite) present within the tailings are in contact with atmospheric oxygen and infiltrating rain water, the tailings become susceptible to oxidative weathering, consequently resulting in the formation of acidic mine drainages with low pH conditions laden with high concentration of sulfates (SO 4 2− ), and potentially toxic chemical species [10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Bortnikova et al [15], the main minerals within the tailings, decreasing the acidity, are carbonates such as calcite, dolomite, siderite, and alumino-silicates such as chlorite, epidote, and plagioclase. According to Romero et al [7], neutralization of the acidity in the tailings occurs through the dissolution of these carbonate and alumino-silicate minerals, which consume hydrogen ions and generate neutral to medium alkaline pH conditions within the tailings systems. Under medium alkaline pH condition, the solubility and mobility of many potentially toxic chemical species becomes low, consequently, dissolved concentrations of potentially toxic chemical species in tailings leachates and pore waters becomes relatively low, mitigating the environmental severity of potentially toxic chemical species [7,9,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Romero et al [7], neutralization of the acidity in the tailings occurs through the dissolution of these carbonate and alumino-silicate minerals, which consume hydrogen ions and generate neutral to medium alkaline pH conditions within the tailings systems. Under medium alkaline pH condition, the solubility and mobility of many potentially toxic chemical species becomes low, consequently, dissolved concentrations of potentially toxic chemical species in tailings leachates and pore waters becomes relatively low, mitigating the environmental severity of potentially toxic chemical species [7,9,16]. Sulfide oxidation and neutralization processes have a great influence on the solubility and mobility of potentially toxic chemical species and their retention in primary and secondary mineral phases within the tailings [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tailings dump characteristics vary accordingly depending on the type of the ore mined, mining equipment used, chemicals implemented during mineral processing, mineralogy and geochemistry, and particle size of the tailings [6]. However, tailings dumps generally contain un-wanted and un-economic minerals bound with the mined ore, potentially toxic chemical species (Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, and Ni) bound to minerals present within the tailings dump, and inorganic chemicals such as sulfuric acid used to enhance ore separation during mineral processing [7]. Nevertheless, the disposal of an enormous volume of tailings dumps poses a serious risk to the surrounding environment through air pollution due to air-dried out tailings, erosion of the tailings with the potential of valuable land degradation, and leaching of soluble inorganic potentially toxic chemical species (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cr) occurring in a variety of minerals present in the tailings dump [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mobility and Attenuation Dynamics of Potentially Toxic Chemical Species at an Abandoned Copper Mine Tailings Dump

2018

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Large volumes of disposed mine tailings abound in several regions of South Africa, as a consequence of unregulated, unsustainable long years of mining activities. Tailings dumps occupy a large volume of valuable land, and present a potential risk for aquatic systems, through leaching of potentially toxic chemical species. This paper reports on the evaluation of the geochemical processes controlling the mobility of potentially toxic chemical species within the tailings profile, and their potential risk with regard to surface and groundwater systems. Combination of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) techniques, show that the tailing profiles are uniform, weakly altered, and vary slightly with depth in both physical and geochemical properties, as well as mineralogical composition. Mineralogical analysis showed the following order of abundance: quartz > epidote > chlorite > muscovite > calcite > hematite within the tailings profiles. The neutralization of the dominant alumino-silicate minerals and the absence of sulfidic minerals, have produced medium alkaline pH conditions (7.97-8.37) at all depths and low concentrations of dissolved Cu (20.21-47.9 µg/L), Zn (0.88-1.80 µg/L), Pb (0.27-0.34 µg/L), and SO 4 2− (15.71-55.94 mg/L) in the tailings profile leachates. The relative percentage leach for the potentially toxic chemical species was low in the aqueous phase (Ni 0.081%, Cu 0.006%, and Zn 0.05%). This indicates that the transport load of potentially toxic chemical species from tailings to the aqueous phase is very low. The precipitation of secondary hematite has an important known ability to trap and attenuate the mobility of potentially toxic chemical species (Cu, Zn, and Pb) by adsorption on the surface area. Geochemical modelling MINTEQA2 showed that the tailings leachates were below saturation regarding oxyhydroxide minerals, but oversaturated with Cu bearing mineral (i.e., cuprite). Most of the potentially toxic chemical species occur as free ions in the tailings leachates. The precipitation of secondary hematite and cuprite, and geochemical condition such as pH of the tailings were the main solubility and mobility controls for the potentially toxic chemical species, and their potential transfer from tailings to the aqueous phase.

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Environmental Geochemistry

2021

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Solid-phase control on the mobility of potentially toxic elements in an abandoned lead/zinc mine tailings impoundment, Taxco, Mexico

Cited by 135 publications

References 28 publications

Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil and Surface Water in the Arufu Lead-Zinc Mining District, Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria

Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil and Surface Water in the Arufu Lead-Zinc Mining District, Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria

Mobility and Attenuation Dynamics of Potentially Toxic Chemical Species at an Abandoned Copper Mine Tailings Dump

Environmental Geochemistry

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