Solid-phase partitioning and release-retention mechanisms of copper, lead, zinc and arsenic in soils impacted by artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities

Chemosphere
Carlito Baltazar TabelinMylah Villacorte-Tabelin

Abstract

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operations are major contributors to the Philippines' annual gold (Au) output (at least 60%). Unfortunately, these ASGM activities lacked adequate tailings management strategies, so contamination of the environment is prevalent. In this study, soil contamination with copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and arsenic (As) due to ASGM activities in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro, Philippines was investigated. The results showed that ASGM-impacted soils had Cu, Pb, Zn and As up to 3.6, 83, 73 and 68 times higher than background levels, respectively and were classified as 'extremely' polluted (CD = 30-228; PLI = 5.5-34.8). Minerals typically found in porphyry copper-gold ores like pyrite, chalcopyrite, malachite, galena, sphalerite and goethite were identified by XRD and SEM-EDS analyses. Furthermore, sequential extraction results indicate substantial Cu (up to 90%), Pb (up to 50%), Zn (up to 65%) and As (up to 48%) partitioned with strongly adsorbed, weak acid soluble, reducible and oxidisable fractions, which are considered as 'geochemically mobile' phases in the environment. Although very high Pb and Zn were found in ASGM-impacted soils, they were relatively immobile under oxidising conditions ...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 13, 2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Yingru ZhouTaowu Ma

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
X-ray
scanning
atomic emission spectroscopy

Software Mentioned

PHREEQC
Match ! Impact
Geochemist s Workbench®

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