Zn mobility and geochemistry in surface sulfide mining soils from SE Spain

García, Gregorio; Peñas, J.M.; Manteca, José Ignacio

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2007.04.008

Cited by 29 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…These findings, therefore, might represent a health risk associated with Zn pollution for the population of DES and YOC (CCME 2007; Garcia et al 2008). Concerning U, the highest concentrations were found in SUM (mean±SE=67 ± 20, maximum = 223).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Evaluating top soil trace element pollution in the vicinity of a cement plant and a former open-cast uranium mine in central Argentina

et al. 2010

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Purpose Heavy metals are especially dangerous because of their persistence and toxicity. Soil behaves as a sink of heavy metals by aerial deposition of particles emitted by different human activities. The aims of this work were to identify the levels and sources of heavy metal and trace elements in agricultural and residential areas in Argentina and to evaluate the enrichment of total and HCl-extracted heavy metals. Materials and methods Ninety-four topsoil samples were collected in Córdoba, Argentina (0-10 cm). The majority of the samples were subject to agricultural practices. The possible metal pollution sources were a cement plant and an industrial waste incinerator, a former open-cast uranium mine, petrochemical, and mechanical and metallurgical industries among others. The elements As, and Zn were measured by neutron activation analysis, and Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were partially extracted by 0.5-M HCl and measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Several nonparametric statistics were performed to the dataset in order to accomplish the objectives of the study. Results and discussion The mean total Ba concentration exceeded soil quality guidelines for residential areas, with the maximum total As and Co concentrations surpassing the agricultural and residential limits stated in national and international legislations. The elements As and Ba were found to be controlled by parent factors, whereas Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were controlled by both anthropogenic and pedogenic factors. A cement plant was the main source of Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, whereas lanthanides, Fe, K, U, and also Zn were associated with a former open-cast operation uranium mine. A correlation analysis showed that soil organic matter and pH had strong associations with 0.5-M HCl-extracted Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Conclusions Fe-normalized enrichment factors calculated for 0.5-M HCl-extracted heavy metals are potentially significant for characterizing the element bioavailability, the anthropogenic contamination, and the anomaly assessment. According to soil quality guidelines for environmental health, the human and wildlife populations in Córdoba Province might be experiencing toxic As, Ba, Co, Cr, Ta, U, and Zn effects. Therefore, mitigation strategies should be performed on an abandoned mine (Schlagintweit Uranium Mine), Yocsina, Despeñaderos, and Oliva.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Evaluating top soil trace element pollution in the vicinity of a cement plant and a former open-cast uranium mine in central Argentina

et al. 2010

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“…If some ephemeral flooding event develops resuspension of the sediments in the El Beal wadi the effects on water chemistry and the associated heavy metals water content can be different depending on the ability to detach overbank sediments or mid-bed sediments. As it is shown, from DIN tests, sulfur, zinc, or cadmium in solution can be several times higher if the overbank sediments are supplied to the flooding waters, mainly linked to the presence of soluble sulfates formed from the alteration (principally oxidation) of the sulfide mineralization (Garcia et al 2008;Plumlee and Logsdon 1999). Despite their lower content in overbank sediments, Mn and Fe exhibit noticeable leaching values, thus implying the presence of immobile Fe-Mn bearing mineral phases in mid-bed sediments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Geochemical and Mineralogical Features of Overbank and Stream Sediments of the Beal Wadi (Cartagena-La Union Mining District, SE Spain): Relation to Former Lead–Zinc Mining Activities and Its Environmental Risk

González-Fernández

Jurado-Roldan

Queralt

2010

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Heavy metals and some major element concentrations were investigated in overbank sediments and stream bed sediments of the ephemeral Beal wadi creek in the Cartagena-La Union mining district (SE Spain). Two vertical sediment profiles were extracted and the chemical and mineralogical compositions were both investigated by X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. Geochemical variations in vertical profiles of these two kinds of sediments allow observing noticeable heavy metals pollution (especially Fe, Pb, and Zn) in both kind of sediments but especially in the overbank sediments (reaching values of approximately 13% Fe, 6% Pb, and 6% Zn). A single extraction (DIN 38414-S4 leaching test) was made to observe the transfer of metals from solids to liquid phase. Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd contents surpass the leaching values established by the DIN 38414-S4 limits established by Spanish legislation to consider these wastes as hazardous wastes. Geochemical comparison between leaching behavior of the two types of sediments reveals a major ability of overbank sediments in transferring heavy metals to the water flow.

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“…The semiarid climate is a typical Mediterranean, with annual average temperature of 18°C and an annual rainfall of~200-300 mm. This mining area was an important center for the extraction of mineral ores such as sphalerite [(Zn, Fe) (Garcia et al, 2008). We selected the Brunita tailings pond to represent a typical mine waste deposit characterized by laminated deposits of acidic materials, and of extremely low contents of carbon and nitrogen (Table 1).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Amendments with organic and industrial wastes stimulate soil formation in mine tailings as revealed by micromorphology

et al. 2009

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Amendments with organic and industrial wastes stimulate soil formation in mine tailings as revealed by micromorphology Zanuzzi, A.; Arocena, J.M.; van Mourik, J.M.; Faz Cano, A. General rightsIt is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Disclaimer/Complaints regulationsIf you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: http://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible. Mine tailings are inhospitable to plants and soil organisms, because of low pH and poor soil organic matter contents. Vegetation establishment requires a soil system capable of supporting the nutrient and water requirements of plants and associated organisms. The objective of this study was to understand the influence of added organic and industrial wastes to the formation of soils in degraded landscapes left behind by past mining activities. Specifically, we stimulated the build up of soil organic matter (SOM) and the accumulation of calcite in mine tailing deposits. We amended field experimental plots with pig manure (PM), sewage sludge (SS) in combination with blanket application of marble wastes (MW). Soil samples were collected for physical and chemical analyses, two years after the addition of industrial wastes. Three years after amendments, we took undisturbed samples for micromorphological analysis. Soil pH increased from 2.7 to 7.4 due to dissolution of calcite from MW amendment. The acidity in tailings and low rainfall in the study area precipitated the secondary calcite as infillings within the 0-4 cm layer. Total organic carbon (TOC) increased from 0.86 to 2.5 g TOC kg − 1 soil after 24 months since the application of amendments. The build up of SOM resulted to stable SOM-calcite complex as dense incomplete infillings mixed with secondary calcite, and cappings on calcite particles from MW addition. These SOM cappings provide water and nutrient to support initial seedling establishment in mine tailings. We attribute the granular structure of amended materials to soil organisms (e.g., earthworm activity) involved in the decomposition of plant materials. We suggest that any organic matter amendments to acidic mine tailing deposits must be combined with calcium carbonate-rich materials to accelerate the build up of SOM to accelerate the establishment of functional ecosystem characterized by, among others, the presence of healthy soils with granular microstructure.

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Zn mobility and geochemistry in surface sulfide mining soils from SE Spain

Cited by 29 publications

References 18 publications

Evaluating top soil trace element pollution in the vicinity of a cement plant and a former open-cast uranium mine in central Argentina

Evaluating top soil trace element pollution in the vicinity of a cement plant and a former open-cast uranium mine in central Argentina

Geochemical and Mineralogical Features of Overbank and Stream Sediments of the Beal Wadi (Cartagena-La Union Mining District, SE Spain): Relation to Former Lead–Zinc Mining Activities and Its Environmental Risk

Amendments with organic and industrial wastes stimulate soil formation in mine tailings as revealed by micromorphology

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