Assessment of the pollution potential of a special case of abandoned sulfide tailings impoundment in Riotinto mining district (SW Spain).

Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
Julio César Arranz-GonzálezLucas Vadillo-Fernández

Abstract

This work describes a special case of pollution potential assessment applied to an abandoned sulfide tailings impoundment located in the Riotinto mining district (Huelva), near the Tinto River. Three overlapping levels of discharged tailings were recognized in the impoundment, from deeper to upper: pale yellow to white, red, and brownish-yellow. Mineralogical, physical, and chemical characteristics of tailings, water leachates, water, and sulfate efflorescent salts were analyzed. The total toxic element content and the leachate concentration were respectively used to calculate two indices that support potential toxicity assessment: the Index of Contamination (IC) and the Hazard Average Ratio (HAQ). According to the IC values, all tailings samples showed a high potential for contaminating soils and sediments, especially the intermediate tailings with up to As (8.6 g kg-1), Pb (14.8 g kg-1), and Cu (1 g kg-1). Deeper tailings leachate was extremely saline and acidic, with a very high concentration of sulfates and toxic elements, exceeding the values: 2600, 980, 30, and 17 mg L-1 for SO4, Fe, Al, and Cu, respectively. For this reason, these deeper tailings were linked to the saline and acid seepage, and also to the sulfate acid ef...Continue Reading

References

Dec 19, 2015·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·B P C GroverH Tutu
Mar 25, 2020·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Francisco Javier Fernández-NaranjoLucas Vadillo
Aug 10, 2020·Journal of Environmental Management·Fredy Guzmán-MartínezVirginia Rodríguez-Gómez

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