PMID: 16509314Mar 3, 2006Paper

Element flows associated with marine shore mine tailings deposits

Environmental Science & Technology
Bernhard Dold

Abstract

From 1938 until 1975, flotation tailings from the Potrerillos--El Salvador mining district (porphyry copper deposits) were discharged into the El Salado valley and transported in suspension to the sea at Chaliaral Bay, Atacama Desert, northern Chile. Over 220 Mt of tailings, averaging 0.8 +/- 0.25 wt % of pyrite, were deposited into the bay, resulting in over a 1 kilometer seaward displacement of the shoreline and an estimated 10-15 m thick tailings accumulation covering a approximately 4 km2 surface area. The Chaniaral case was classified by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in 1983 as one of the most serious cases of marine contamination in the Pacific area. Since 1975, the tailings have been exposed to oxidation, resulting in a 70-188 cm thick low-pH (2.6-4) oxidation zone at the top with liberation of divalent metal cations, such as Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ (up to 2265 mg/L, 18.1 mg/L, and 20.3 mg/ L, respectively). Evaporation-induced transport capillarity led to metal enrichment atthe tailings surface (e.g. up to 2.4% Cu) in the form of secondary chlorides and/or sulfates (dominated by eriochalcite [CuCl.H2O] and halite). These, mainly water-soluble, secondary minerals were exposed to eolian transport in the d...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 26, 2013·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Bernhard Dold, Leyla Weibel
Jul 1, 2008·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Dagmar Kock, Axel Schippers
Jun 16, 2016·Journal of Health & Pollution·Sandra CortésCatterina Ferreccio
Sep 14, 2019·Marine Environmental Research·Robert Benaiges-FernandezBernhard Dold
Feb 7, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Sandra CortésLuis Muñoz
Aug 28, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Sandra CortésLesliam Quirós-Alcalá

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