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Dabiré BAM, Sako A. Comprehensive assessment of heavy metal pollution of agricultural soils impacted by the Kalsaka abandoned gold mine and artisanal gold mining in northern Burkina Faso. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:755. [PMID: 39031288 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12894-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
In this study, the environmental quality of agricultural soils around the Kalsaka abandoned gold mine was evaluated. A total of 117 samples including industrial mine wastes, topsoil, and control soil were collected in and around the mine, and their heavy metal concentrations were determined using ICP-MS after aqua regia digestion. Except for Zn, the average concentrations of the metals were higher in mine wastes and the agricultural soils than their average upper continental crust (UCC) counterpart, whereas those of Ag, As, and Hg exceeded the UCC in the control soils. The control soils had the lowest contaminations and the lowest pollution levels for all metals except for Hg. Based on the average concentrations and coefficients of variation, it can be concluded that Cr, Ni, and Zn abundance in the agricultural soils was controlled by natural factors, whereas that of Ag, As, Hg, Co, Cu, and Mn was mainly associated with mining. The absence of Hg in industrial mine wastes and its high contents in agricultural and control soils reflected the artisanal gold mining source of this metal. Thus, single and integrated pollution indices showed that ecological risk and toxicity are much higher when Hg is included in the index calculation, suggesting cumulative effects of industrial and artisanal gold mining on the agricultural soil quality. The results also showed that Hg and As are the pollutants of major concern in the Kalsaka abandoned gold mine. Because of its proximity to human settlements, the Kalsaka abandoned gold mine necessitates an immediate rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baonipouo Anselme Metoman Dabiré
- Laboratoire Géosciences et Environnement (LaGE), Département Des Sciences de La Terre, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Aboubakar Sako
- Laboratoire Géosciences et Environnement (LaGE), Département Des Sciences de La Terre, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
- UFR Sciences Appliquées et Technologie, Université Daniel Ouezzin COULIBALY, BP 139, Dédougou, Burkina Faso.
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Ali JD, Guatame-Garcia A, Jamieson HE, Parsons MB, Leybourne MI, Koch I, Weber KP, Patch DJ, Harrison AL, Vriens B. Occurrence and mobility of thiolated arsenic in legacy mine tailings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172596. [PMID: 38657821 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
We studied the occurrence of dissolved thiolated Arsenic (As) in legacy tailings systems in Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada, and used aqueous and mineralogical speciation analyses to assess its governing geochemical controls. Surface-accessible and inundated tailings in Cobalt, Ontario, contained ∼1 wt-% As mainly hosted in secondary arsenate minerals (erythrite, yukonite, and others) and traces of primary sulfide minerals (cobaltite, gersdorffite and others). Significant fractions of thiolated As (up to 5.9 % of total dissolved As) were detected in aqueous porewater and surface water samples from these sites, comprising mostly monothioarsenate, and smaller amounts of di- and tri-thioarsenates as well as methylated thioarsenates. Tailings at the Goldenville and Montague sites in Nova Scotia contained less (<0.5 wt-%) As, hosted mostly in arsenopyrite and As-bearing pyrite, than the Cobalt sites, but exhibited higher proportions of dissolved thiolated As (up to 17.3 % of total dissolved As, mostly mono- and di-thioarsenate and traces of tri-thioarsenate). Dissolved thiolated As was most abundant in sub-oxic porewaters and inundated tailings samples across the studied sites, and its concentrations were strongly related to the prevailing redox conditions and porewater hydrochemistry, and to a lesser extent, the As-bearing mineralogy. Our novel results demonstrate that thiolated As species play an important role in the cycling of As in mine waste systems and surrounding environments, and should be considered in mine waste management strategies for high-As sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaabir D Ali
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adriana Guatame-Garcia
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Heather E Jamieson
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael B Parsons
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Matthew I Leybourne
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Arthur B. McDonald Astroparticle Physics Research Institute, Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Iris Koch
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kela P Weber
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - David J Patch
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anna L Harrison
- Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - Bas Vriens
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
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Dimech A, Isabelle A, Sylvain K, Liu C, Cheng L, Bussière B, Chouteau M, Fabien-Ouellet G, Bérubé C, Wilkinson P, Meldrum P, Chambers J. A multiscale accuracy assessment of moisture content predictions using time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography in mine tailings. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20922. [PMID: 38017002 PMCID: PMC10684595 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48100-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate and large-scale assessment of volumetric water content (VWC) plays a critical role in mining waste monitoring to mitigate potential geotechnical and environmental risks. In recent years, time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (TL-ERT) has emerged as a promising monitoring approach that can be used in combination with traditional invasive and point-measurements techniques to estimate VWC in mine tailings. Moreover, the bulk electrical conductivity (EC) imaged using TL-ERT can be converted into VWC in the field using petrophysical relationships calibrated in the laboratory. This study is the first to assess the scale effect on the accuracy of ERT-predicted VWC in tailings. Simultaneous and co-located monitoring of bulk EC and VWC are carried out in tailings at five different scales, in the laboratory and in the field. The hydrogeophysical datasets are used to calibrate a petrophysical model used to predict VWC from TL-ERT data. Overall, the accuracy of ERT-predicted VWC is [Formula: see text], and the petrophysical models determined at sample-scale in the laboratory remain valid at larger scales. Notably, the impact of temperature and pore water EC evolution plays a major role in VWC predictions at the field scale (tenfold reduction of accuracy) and, therefore, must be properly taken into account during the TL-ERT data processing using complementary hydrogeological sensors. Based on these results, we suggest that future studies using TL-ERT to predict VWC in mine tailings could use sample-scale laboratory apparatus similar to the electrical resistivity Tempe cell presented here to calibrate petrophysical models and carefully upscale them to field applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Dimech
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada.
- Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME), Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Anne Isabelle
- Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Karine Sylvain
- Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Chong Liu
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada
| | - LiZhen Cheng
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada
- Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Bruno Bussière
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada
- Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Michel Chouteau
- Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | - Paul Wilkinson
- British Geological Survey (BGS), Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Philip Meldrum
- British Geological Survey (BGS), Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Jonathan Chambers
- British Geological Survey (BGS), Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
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Tum S, Matsumoto S, Nishikata M, Yasutaka T. Assessment of seasonal changes in groundwater quality of waste rock dump in temperate continental climate, northern Japan. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 327:138482. [PMID: 36963590 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Understanding seasonal groundwater quality changes in temperate continental climate waste rock dumps (WRDs) is necessary for sustainable environmental risk prevention and legacy mine contamination management. Therefore, we conducted a field investigation of a WRD to determine the mechanisms controlling its groundwater quality dynamics. The research aimed to understand the impact of seasonal changes on heavy metals released from the WRD. Three monitoring wells were installed in the WRD to investigate the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and groundwater level (GL). The mineral composition of the waste rock was determined. Groundwater and river water samples from the monitoring wells and rivers surrounding the WRD were collected for chemical analysis. The sphalerite and galena concentrated in the WRD were assumed to be the main sources of Zn, Pb, and Cd contamination. Summer rainfall was the dominant recharge source of river water, which rapidly infiltrated to the WRD, altering the pH, EC, and GL of the groundwater. The pH, EC, and GL were stable in winter because snowpack covering the surface soil prevented groundwater recharge to the WRD. However, snow melting affected the pH, EC, and GL in the WRD. The sources of groundwater recharge (rainfall, river water, and snowmelt) altered the behaviour of the heavy metals in the WRD through two main mechanisms: the dissolution of sulphide minerals and efflorescent salts upon contact with the recharge water, and the dilution effect of the recharge water, which mixes with the groundwater in the WRD, reducing the heavy metal concentration. Sulphide mineral and efflorescent salt dissolution were significant in the deepest monitoring well and rainfall was the dominant recharge source which increased sulphide mineral and efflorescent salt dissolution in the WRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sereyroith Tum
- Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 7, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan
| | - Shinji Matsumoto
- Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 7, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan.
| | - Miu Nishikata
- Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 7, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Yasutaka
- Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 7, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan
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Bondu R, Casiot C, Pistre S, Batiot-Guilhe C. Impact of past mining activities on water quality in a karst area in the Cévennes region, Southern France. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162274. [PMID: 36801320 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sampling and analysis of groundwater and surface water were conducted to assess the potential impacts of abandoned mines on water quality in a karst area in Southern France. The results of multivariate statistical analysis and geochemical mapping revealed that water quality is affected by contaminated drainage from abandoned mine sites. Acid mine drainage with very high concentrations of Fe, Mn, Al, Pb and Zn was identified in a few samples collected from mine openings and near waste dumps. In general, neutral drainage with elevated concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, As, Ni and Cd was observed due to buffering by carbonate dissolution. The contamination is spatially limited around abandoned mine sites, suggesting that metal(oid)s are sequestered in secondary phases that form under near-neutral and oxidizing conditions. However, the analysis of seasonal variations in trace metal concentrations showed that the transport of metal contaminants in water is highly variable according to hydrological conditions. During low flow conditions, trace metals are likely to be rapidly sequestered in Fe-oxyhydroxides and carbonate minerals in the karst aquifer and the river sediments, while low or no surface runoff in intermittent rivers limits the transport of contaminants in the environment. On the other hand, significant amounts of metal(loid)s can be transported under high flow conditions, primarily in dissolved form. Dissolved metal(loid) concentrations in groundwater remained elevated despite dilution by uncontaminated water, likely as a result of the increased leaching of mine wastes and the flushing of contaminated waters from mine workings. This work shows that groundwater is the main source of contamination to the environment and highlights the need to better understand the fate of trace metals in karst water systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Bondu
- HydroSciences Montpellier, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, IMT Mines Alès, Montpellier, France; Groundwater Research Group (GRES), Research Institute on Mines and Environment (RIME), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Amos, QC, Canada.
| | - Corinne Casiot
- HydroSciences Montpellier, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, IMT Mines Alès, Montpellier, France
| | - Séverin Pistre
- HydroSciences Montpellier, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, IMT Mines Alès, Montpellier, France
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Liapun V, Motola M. Current overview and future perspective in fungal biorecovery of metals from secondary sources. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 332:117345. [PMID: 36724599 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms are intimately involved in many biogeochemical processes that underpin the transformation of metals and cycling of related substances, such as metalloids and radionuclides. Many processes determine the mobility and bioavailability of metals, thereby influencing their transfer to the environment and living organisms. These processes are closely related to global phenomena such as soil formation and bioweathering. In addition to environmental significance, microbial metal transformations play an essential role in both in situ and ex situ bioremediation processes for solid and liquid wastes. The solubilization of heavy metals from industrial waste and soil is commonly used in bioremediation. Moreover, immobilization processes are applicable to bioremediation of metals and radionuclides from aqueous solutions. This review provides an overview of critical metal extraction and recovery from secondary sources, applied microorganisms and methods, metal-microbe interactions, as well as a detailed description of known metal recovery mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoriia Liapun
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Martin Motola
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Ali JD, Guatame-Garcia A, Leybourne MI, Harrison AL, Vriens B. Dissolved thiolated arsenic formed by weathering of mine wastes. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 321:138124. [PMID: 36775040 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Aqueous thiolated arsenic (As) species play an important role in the biogeochemical cycling of As in wetlands and hydrothermal systems. Although mine wastes such as tailings ponds and waste rock piles may harbor similarly sub-oxic and neutral to alkaline conditions that favor the formation and mobility of thio-As species, quantitative data on their existence in these systems is lacking. We conducted laboratory column experiments under contrasting redox conditions with waste rock from the Antamina mine, Peru, and processed tailings from Montague, Nova Scotia, Canada. Dissolved As concentrations between 1 and 7000 μg/L were recorded in drainages across these mine waste types, with up to 13 μg/L As present in thiolated form, predominantly monothioarsenate. Higher percentages of thio-As species (up to 5%) were observed in drainages from enargite-rich materials compared to arsenopyrite-bearing materials (<0.5%). The lower abundance of dissolved thio-As in the arsenopyrite-rich mine waste samples is attributed to their partially oxidized nature and reduced mineral reactivity under the experimental circumneutral drainage pH, the difference in S [-II/0]-to-As molar ratios compared to the enargite-rich mine waste samples, as well as the oxidation of di- and tri-thiolated As species by dissolved Fe. Overall, our results demonstrate that aqueous thiolated As species may occur in mine wastes with different As-bearing minerals and could play an important role in governing the mobility and fate of As in these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaabir D Ali
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adriana Guatame-Garcia
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthew I Leybourne
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute, Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anna L Harrison
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Toulouse, 31400, France
| | - Bas Vriens
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
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Interesting Halophilic Sulphur-Oxidising Bacteria with Bioleaching Potential: Implications for Pollutant Mobilisation from Mine Waste. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11010222. [PMID: 36677514 PMCID: PMC9866277 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
For many years, research on the microbial-dissolution of metals from ores or waste materials mainly focussed on the study of acidophilic organisms. However, most acidophilic bioleaching microorganisms have limited tolerance to high chloride concentrations, thereby requiring fresh water for bioleaching operations. There is a growing interest in the use of seawater for leaching purposes, especially in regions with less access to fresh water. Consequently, there is a need to find halophilic organisms with bioleaching potentials. This study investigated the bioleaching potentials of four moderately halophilic sulphur-oxidising bacteria: Thiomicrospira cyclica, Thiohalobacter thiocyanaticus, Thioclava electrotropha and Thioclava pacifica. Results revealed T. electrotropha and T. pacifica as the most promising for bioleaching. Pure cultures of the two Thioclava strains liberated about 30% Co, and between 8-17% Cu, Pb, Zn, K, Cd, and Mn from a mine waste rock sample from the Neves Corvo mine, Portugal. Microwave roasting of the waste rock at 400 and 500 °C improved the bioleaching efficiency of T. electrotropha for Pb (13.7 to 45.7%), Ag (5.3 to 36%) and In (0 to 27.4%). Mineralogical analysis of the bioleached residues using SEM/MLA-GXMAP showed no major difference in the mineral compositions before or after bioleaching by the Thioclava spp. Generally, the bioleaching rates of the Thioclava spp. are quite low compared to that of the conventional acidophilic bioleaching bacteria. Nevertheless, their ability to liberate potential pollutants (metal(loid)s) into solution from mine waste raises environmental concerns. This is due to their relevance in the biogeochemistry of mine waste dumps, as similar neutrophile halophilic sulphur-oxidising organisms (e.g., Halothiobacillus spp.) have been isolated from mine wastes. On the other hand, the use of competent halophilic microorganisms could be the future of bioleaching due to their high tolerance to Cl- ions and their potential to catalyse mineral dissolution in seawater media, instead of fresh water.
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Kahale T, Ouédraogo O, Duarte Neto M, Simard V, Cabral AR. Field-based assessment of the design of lysimeters for landfill final cover seepage control. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2022; 72:1477-1488. [PMID: 36121383 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2022.2126557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Lysimeters are considered the most appropriate instrument for assessing percolations rates through landfill final covers. Their design, however, must take into consideration the unsaturated nature of water seepage, otherwise they may act as a sink or cause flow avoidance. The aim of this study was to investigate whether using a simple approach to lysimeter design produces reliable seepage control data. Two different design methods were compared using a three-year field database of suction and seepage data collected from large-scale lysimeters installed at the St-Nicephore landfill in Canada. The first, or control, whose side walls were as high as the thickness of the cover material, was inspired from lysimeters installed during the Alternative Cover Assessment Program (ACAP; USA). The second lysimeter was designed based on the proposed simple design methodology, which focuses on the unsaturated flow and hydraulic properties of the materials to determine the optimal wall height. Analysis of the database did not show any indication of significant preferential flow, or alteration of the flow regime by the second lysimeter, which collected as much percolation as the control one (less than 5% difference). The linear method has not been tested for extreme climatic conditions and the wall heights calculated using this method may be very high when designed for very fine-grained soil covers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Kahale
- Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Ousmane Ouédraogo
- Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | | | | | - Alexandre R Cabral
- Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Ostovar M, Ghasemi A, Karimi F, Saberi N, Vriens B. Assessment of EDTA-enhanced electrokinetic removal of metal(loid)s from phosphate mine tailings. SEP SCI TECHNOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/01496395.2022.2141650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mojtaba Ostovar
- Faculty of Civil Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Ghasemi
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering & Earth Science (SCEEES), Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Farhad Karimi
- Faculty of Civil Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Saberi
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Bas Vriens
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada
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11
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Dong Y, Chen D, Lin H. The behavior of heavy metal release from sulfide waste rock under microbial action and different environmental factors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:75293-75306. [PMID: 35655012 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20555-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The dissolution of heavy metals from the waste rock is controlled by many factors. Herein, we investigated the release behavior of iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) from sulfide waste rock under the actions of microorganisms and different environmental factors (solution pH value, particle size of waste rock, temperature, Fe3+ concentration). The release quantity of heavy metals was negatively correlated with pH and particle size and positively correlated with ambient temperature and Fe3+ concentration. Under the experimental conditions of pH value of 3.0, temperature of 35°C, and waste stone particle size of less than 0.075 mm,, the release quantity of Fe, Cr, Cu, and Zn reached 3680, 18.32, 132.20, 26.60 mg·kg-1 after 20 days of leaching, respectively. Rising the temperature to 45 °C, Fe, Cr, Cu, and Zn release quantities increased to 89.30, 5.81, 105.08, and 28.00 mg·kg-1. Six hundred milligrams per liter Fe3+ increased the release of heavy metals considerably (2.63-65.48 folds). The presence of microorganisms can significantly facilitate the release of heavy metals. Compared to the control group, the release quantities of Fe, Cr, Cu, and Zn increased 4.29, 3.17, 1.54, and 2.39 times, respectively. In addition, the waste rock under microbial action was more seriously corroded than that under chemical factors. The release behavior of these four heavy metals was consistent with the interfacial chemical reaction control model, indicating that the reactions mainly occurred on the surface of the waste rock. This study provides an essential reference for the study of heavy metal leaching behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingbo Dong
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory on Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Danni Chen
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hai Lin
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory on Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, Beijing, 100083, China.
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12
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Assesment of heavy metals concentration in initial soils of post-mining landscapes in Kryvyi Rih District (Ukraine). EKOLÓGIA (BRATISLAVA) 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/eko-2022-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Assessment of heavy metals content in the initial soils of the post-mining landscapes plays an important role in pollution control, ecological protection, and safe-guarding human health. In this study, the site-specific pedogeochemical background contents of several metals in soils in Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Mining & Metallurgical District (central part of Ukraine) were determined. The metal concentrations in the soils of Petrovsky waste rock dump were also quantified and were also assessed using indices of pollution. The field sampling was carried out at a depth of 0-10 cm in five plots in dump area and in one plot in control site. The 43 soil samples were collected. The results showed that local background concentrations of heavy metals in soils of studied area decreased in the following order (mg×kg−1): Fe (42 510) > Mn (761.7) > Cr (94.48) > Zn (90.51) > > As (31.85) > Cu (28.10) > Pb (18.73) > Co (16.21) > Sn (4.64) > Mo (0.28) > Cd (0.16). In the initial soils of devastated lands at Petrovsky waste rock dumps the predominance of increased Cd, Co, Fe, Mm, Mo and Sn content and the predominance of decreased As, Cr and Pb content were observed. Based on the mean values of the individual indices of pollution (Pollution index, Geoaccumulation index, Enrichment factor, Contamination factor) can be assumed that in these soils As, Cd, Fe, Mo, Pb and Sn are mostly coming from industrial activities. Co, Cr, Cu, Mn and Zn are mostly related to their natural occurrence in devastated lands. The values of integrated indices of pollution (Nemerow pollution index, Pollution load index, Degree of contaminated, Modified degree of contamination) indicated that the initial soils of post-mining landscapes can be evaluated as no polluted – and extremely heavy polluted.
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Dimech A, Cheng L, Chouteau M, Chambers J, Uhlemann S, Wilkinson P, Meldrum P, Mary B, Fabien-Ouellet G, Isabelle A. A Review on Applications of Time-Lapse Electrical Resistivity Tomography Over the Last 30 Years : Perspectives for Mining Waste Monitoring. SURVEYS IN GEOPHYSICS 2022; 43:1699-1759. [PMID: 36285292 PMCID: PMC9587091 DOI: 10.1007/s10712-022-09731-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Mining operations generate large amounts of wastes which are usually stored into large-scale storage facilities which pose major environmental concerns and must be properly monitored to manage the risk of catastrophic failures and also to control the generation of contaminated mine drainage. In this context, non-invasive monitoring techniques such as time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (TL-ERT) are promising since they provide large-scale subsurface information that complements surface observations (walkover, aerial photogrammetry or remote sensing) and traditional monitoring tools, which often sample a tiny proportion of the mining waste storage facilities. The purposes of this review are as follows: (i) to understand the current state of research on TL-ERT for various applications; (ii) to create a reference library for future research on TL-ERT and geoelectrical monitoring mining waste; and (iii) to identify promising areas of development and future research needs on this issue according to our experience. This review describes the theoretical basis of geoelectrical monitoring and provides an overview of TL-ERT applications and developments over the last 30 years from a database of over 650 case studies, not limited to mining operations (e.g., landslide, permafrost). In particular, the review focuses on the applications of ERT for mining waste characterization and monitoring and a database of 150 case studies is used to identify promising applications for long-term autonomous geoelectrical monitoring of the geotechnical and geochemical stability of mining wastes. Potential challenges that could emerge from a broader adoption of TL-ERT monitoring for mining wastes are discussed. The review also considers recent advances in instrumentation, data acquisition, processing and interpretation for long-term monitoring and draws future research perspectives and promising avenues which could help improve the design and accuracy of future geoelectric monitoring programs in mining wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Dimech
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4 Canada
- Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME), Québec, Canada
| | - LiZhen Cheng
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4 Canada
- Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME), Québec, Canada
| | - Michel Chouteau
- Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4 Canada
- Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME), Québec, Canada
| | - Jonathan Chambers
- British Geological Survey (BGS), Environmental Science Centre, Nottingham, NG12 5GG United Kingdom
| | - Sebastian Uhlemann
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, California 94720 United States
| | - Paul Wilkinson
- British Geological Survey (BGS), Environmental Science Centre, Nottingham, NG12 5GG United Kingdom
| | - Philip Meldrum
- British Geological Survey (BGS), Environmental Science Centre, Nottingham, NG12 5GG United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Mary
- Department of Geosciences, University of Padua, Padua, 35122 Italy
| | | | - Anne Isabelle
- Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4 Canada
- Research Institute of Mines and Environment (RIME), Québec, Canada
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Geochemical Assessment of Gypsum Scale Formation in the Hydrated Lime Neutralization Facility of the Daedeok Mine, South Korea. MINERALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/min12050574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Scale is widely observed in the hydrated lime mine drainage treatment plant of the Daedeok mine in South Korea. In order to understand the environment in terms of the formation of scale minerals, scale and water were collected from the AMD treatment facility and analyzed. In addition, the saturation index was calculated based on geochemical modeling to predict the minerals that could be produced in the AMD treatment facility, and the results were then compared with an analysis of onsite scale minerals. Furthermore, the onsite mine drainage was neutralized from pH 3 to pH 9 in the laboratory, and the precipitates produced were identified. The changes in the Ca2+ and SO42− concentrations were also identified over time for each pH. The results of geochemical modeling predicted the possible precipitation of gypsum, anhydrite, and bassanite after AMD neutralization. Scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) analysis results showed that the main mineral in scale formed at the AMD treatment facility was gypsum, produced by the reaction of SO42− and Ca2+ from lime during AMD. The laboratory neutralization experiment showed that gypsum was produced in all neutralization ranges from pH 3 to pH 9, and the higher the neutralization pH, the greater the amount of gypsum produced. It was demonstrated that simulated amounts of 2 g/L and 7 g/L gypsum at pH 5 and 9 were well matched with the experimental results. Iron (Fe), a major pollutant in the mine drainage system, was rapidly precipitated in the form of iron hydroxides after neutralization. As gypsum is produced slowly and continuously for a long period of time, it results in the growth of scale throughout the flow path. As a method of minimizing gypsum production in the AMD treatment facility using hydrated lime, it is recommended that the facility should be operated at the lowest pH possible, which will also enable the removal of major pollutants, such as iron and aluminum.
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Wen Q, Yang X, Yan X, Yang L. Evaluation of arsenic mineralogy and geochemistry in gold mine-impacted matrices: Speciation, transformation, and potential associated risks. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 308:114619. [PMID: 35121459 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The risk of arsenic (As) contamination from gold mining is a long-term environmental concern for mines worldwide. Researchers have mainly focused on As contamination induced by tailings, however, less attention has been paid mineralogically to differentiate the fate of As among different As-bearing matrices. This paper presents a detailed study of the mineralogical and morphological features of three typical As-bearing matrices (waste rock, ores, and tailings) using bulk chemical, microscopic and spectroscopic analyses, and reveals the geochemical behavior of As in those matrices. Results from mineral composition identified by RoqSCAN revealed that the matrices were dominated by quartz, k-feldspar, albite, muscovite, and clay minerals, with subordinate ankerite, chlorite, smectite, hematite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, apatite, pyrite, halite, and calcite. The sequential extraction scheme indicated that As in waste rock, ores and tailings was mainly hosted in arsenopyrite. Microscopic analysis observed that waste rock was significantly different from the ores and tailings in terms of mineralogical and morphological characteristics. For waste rock, from arsenopyrite to hematite, As content decreased from 46.12 wt% to 3.54 wt%. However, arsenopyrite presented as unweathered euhedral crystals or slight fragmentation in ores and tailings and a narrower oxidation rims than that of waste rock. The leaching test of SPLP showed that the highest As leaching was found in waste rock (0.246 mg/L) which was significantly higher than those in ores (0.080 mg/L) and tailings (0.148 mg/L). The As in waste rock displayed weaker geochemical stability than in ores and tailings, as supported by mineralogy analysis. Health risk assessment suggested waste rock had a higher health risk for both adults and children compared with ores and tailings. These findings reaffirm that understanding of As fate among different source materials is paramount for securing humans from As hazards. More must be done to decelerate the continuous oxidation of waste rock, thus mitigating As release into nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqian Wen
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiulan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Linsheng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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Welch C, Barbour SL, Hendry MJ. The geochemistry and hydrology of coal waste rock dumps: A systematic global review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 795:148798. [PMID: 34247080 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coal has been a major global resource for at least the past 250 years. The major waste product of coal mining is waste rock, which is stored in dumps of various sizes. Although the adverse effects of coal waste rock dumps on ecosystems and human health are widely recognised, there is little information on their internal hydrological and geochemical processes in the peer-reviewed literature. Coal and conventional waste rock dumps share many similarities, but coal waste rock dumps differ in structure, organic matter content, and size, which can affect the timing and rate of aqueous chemical release. In this global systematic review, we identify limited links to climate setting and dump construction, and inconsistent reporting of sampling and monitoring approaches, as limitations to the generalisation of findings. Furthermore, sources of aqueous constituents of interest (COIs) are not routinely or adequately identified, which can lead to incorrect assumptions regarding COI availability and geochemical mobility. Water flow regimes within dumps are dominated by matrix and/or preferential flow, depending on dump texture; these flow mechanisms exert a primary control on patterns of aqueous COI release. The inability to successfully transfer COI release rates from laboratory or field scale trials to operational scale dumps is primarily due to limitations of testing methods and fundamental characteristics of scale. Prediction of future release rates is hampered by a lack of long-term studies that fully characterise geochemistry (e.g., source and COI production rates) as well as dump hydrology (e.g., water balance, water migration). Five critical elements to include in best practice investigations are climate setting, dump physical characteristics, geochemical processes, water regime, and environmental load over time, as aqueous release of COIs from coal waste rock dumps occurs over decades to centuries. Key considerations are identified for each of these elements to guide best practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chani Welch
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - S Lee Barbour
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - M Jim Hendry
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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Long-Term Evolution of Uranium Mobility within Sulfated Mill Tailings in Arid Regions: A Reactive Transport Study. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11111201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Management of mill tailings is an important part of mining operations that aims at preventing environmental dispersion of contaminants of concern. To this end, geochemical models and reactive transport modeling provide a quantitative assessment of the mobility of the main contaminants. In arid regions with limited rainfall and intense evaporation, solutes transport may significantly differ from the usual gravity-driven vertical flow. In the uranium tailings of the Cominak mine (Niger), these evaporative processes resulted in the crystallization of gypsum, and to a lesser extent jarosite, and in the formation of surface levels of sulfated gypcrete, locally enriched in uranium. We present a fully coupled reactive transport modeling approach using HYTEC, encompassing evaporation, to quantitatively reproduce the complex sequence of observed coupled hydrogeochemical processes. The sulfated gypcrete formation, porosity evolution and solid uranium content were successfully reproduced at the surface and paleosurfaces of the tailing deposit. Simulations confirm that high solubility uranyl-sulfate phase may form at the atmospheric boundary where evaporation takes place, which would then be transformed into uranyl-phosphate phases after being watered or buried under fresh tailings. As these phases usually exhibit a lower solubility, this transition is beneficial for mine operators and tailings management.
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Acid Mine Drainage Sources and Impact on Groundwater at the Osarizawa Mine, Japan. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11090998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the origin of acid mine drainage (AMD) in a closed mine and groundwater flow system around the mine aids in developing strategies for environmental protection and management. AMD has been continuously collected and neutralized at Osarizawa Mine, Akita Prefecture, Japan, since the mine was closed in the 1970s, to protect surrounding river water and groundwater quality. Thus, water samples were taken at the mine and surrounding groundwaters and rivers to characterize the chemical properties and environmental isotopes (δ2H and δ18O). The results showed that the quality and stable isotope ratios of AMD differed from those of groundwater/river water, indicating that the recharge areas of AMD. The recharge area of AMD was evaluated as the mountain slope at an elevation of 400–500 m while that of the surrounding groundwater was evaluated at an elevation of 350–450 m, by considering the stable isotopes ratios. This indicates that the groundwater affected by AMD is limited to the vicinity of the mine and distributed around nearby rivers.
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Niu A, Lin C. Managing soils of environmental significance: A critical review. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 417:125990. [PMID: 34229372 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Globally, environmentally significant soils (ESSs) mainly include acid sulfate, heavy metal(loid)-contaminated, petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated, pesticide-contaminated, and radionuclide-contaminated soils. These soils are interrelated and have many common characteristics from an environmental management perspective. In this review, we critically evaluate the available literature on individual ESSs, aiming to identify common problems related to environmental quality/risk assessment, remediation approaches, and environmental regulation for these soils. Based on these findings, we highlight the challenges to, and possible solutions for sustainable ESS management. Contaminated land has been rapidly expanding since the first industrial revolution from the industrialized Western countries to the emerging industrialized Asia and other parts of the world. Clean-up of contaminated lands and slowdown of their expansion require concerted international efforts to develop advanced cleaner production and cost-effective soil remediation technologies in addition to improvement of environmental legislation, regulatory enforcement, financial instruments, and stakeholder involvement to create enabling environments. Two particular areas require further action and research efforts: developing a universal system for assessing ESS quality and improving the cost-effectiveness of remediation technologies. We propose an integrated framework for deriving ESS quality indicators and make suggestions for future research directions to improve the performance of soil remediation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anyi Niu
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Chuxia Lin
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
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Editorial for Special Issue “Novel and Emerging Strategies for Sustainable Mine Tailings and Acid Mine Drainage Management”. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11080902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is one of the most pressing problems facing humanity this century [...]
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Abstract
Mullite (3Al2O3·2SiO2) is an aluminosilicate characterized by excellent physical properties, which makes it an important ceramic material. In this way, ceramics based on mullite find applications in different technological fields as refractory material (metallurgy, glass, ceramics, etc.), matrix in composite materials for high temperature applications, substrate in multilayer packaging, protective coatings, components of turbine engines, windows transparent to infrared radiation, etc. However, mullite is scarce in nature so it has to be manufactured through different synthesis methods, such as sintering, melting-crystallization or through a sol-gel route. Commonly, mullite is fabricated from pure technical grade raw materials, making the manufacturing process expensive. An alternative to lowering the cost is the use of mining waste as silica (SiO2) and alumina (Al2O3) feedstock, which are the necessary chemical compounds required to manufacture mullite ceramics. In addition to the economic benefits, the use of mining waste brings out environmental benefits as it prevents the over-exploitation of natural resources and reduces the volume of mining waste that needs to be managed. This article reviews the scientific studies carried out in order to use waste (steriles and tailings) generated in mining activities for the manufacture of clay-based ceramic materials containing mullite as a main crystalline phase.
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Geoecological Zonation of Revegetation Enhances Biodiversity at Historic Mine Sites, Southern New Zealand. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Rocks exposed by mining can form physically, mineralogically, and geochemically diverse surface substrates. Engineered mine rehabilitation typically involves covering these rocks with a uniform layer of soil and vegetation. An alternative approach is to encourage the establishment of plant species that are tolerant of challenging geochemical settings. The zonation of geochemical parameters can therefore lead to geoecological zonation and enhanced biodiversity. Abandoned gold mines in southern New Zealand have developed such geoecological zonations that resulted from establishment of salt-tolerant ecosystems on substrates with evaporative NaCl. A salinity threshold equivalent to substrate electrical conductivity of 1000 µS separates this ecosystem from less salt-tolerant plant ecosystems. Acid mine drainage from pyrite-bearing waste rocks at an abandoned coal mine has caused variations in surface pH between 1 and 7. The resultant substrate pH gradients have led to differential plant colonisation and the establishment of distinctive ecological zones. Substrate pH <3 remained bare ground, whereas pH 3–4 substrates host two acid-tolerant shrubs. These shrubs are joined by a tree species between pH 4 and 5. At higher pH, all local species can become established. The geoecological zonation, and the intervening geochemical thresholds, in these examples involve New Zealand native plant species. However, the principle of enhancing biodiversity by the selection or encouragement of plant species tolerant of diverse geochemical conditions on exposed mine rocks is applicable for site rehabilitation anywhere in the world.
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Barago N, Covelli S, Mauri M, Oberti di Valnera S, Forte E. Prediction of Trace Metal Distribution in a Tailings Impoundment Using an Integrated Geophysical and Geochemical Approach (Raibl Mine, Pb-Zn Alpine District, Northern Italy). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18031157. [PMID: 33525581 PMCID: PMC7908430 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
When mines are decommissioned, tailings piles can act as sources of contamination for decades or even centuries. Tailings, which usually contain high concentrations of metals and trace elements, can be reprocessed for a secondary recovery of valuable elements with an innovative approach to a circular economy. This study offers new results for tailings ponds characterisation and chemical content prediction based on an integrated geophysical-geochemical approach. The study of the Raibl Pb-Zn tailings impoundment was done using bulk chemical analysis on borehole samples, Electrical Resistivity Tomography surveys, and Ground Penetrating Radar measurements. We found valuable and statistically significant correlations between the electrical resistivity of the mining impoundments and the metal distribution, thus providing a practical opportunity to characterise large volumes of metal-bearing tailings. In particular, these results can be useful to aid in the development of environmental monitoring programs for remediation purposes or to implement economic secondary recovery plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Barago
- Department of Mathematics & Geoscience, University of Trieste, Via Weiss 2, 34128 Trieste, Italy; (S.C.); (E.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-040-558-2218
| | - Stefano Covelli
- Department of Mathematics & Geoscience, University of Trieste, Via Weiss 2, 34128 Trieste, Italy; (S.C.); (E.F.)
| | - Mara Mauri
- Servizio Disciplina Gestione Rifiuti e siti Inquinati, Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia, Via Carducci 6, 34122 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Sara Oberti di Valnera
- Servizio Geologico, Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia, Via Sant’Anastasio 3, 34132 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Emanuele Forte
- Department of Mathematics & Geoscience, University of Trieste, Via Weiss 2, 34128 Trieste, Italy; (S.C.); (E.F.)
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