16 research outputs found
Enrichment of trace elements in the clay size fraction of mining soils
Reactive waste dumps with sulfide minerals pro-
14 mote acid mine drainage (AMD), which results in water and
15 soil contamination by metals and metalloids. In these systems,
16 contamination is regulated by many factors, such as mineral-
17 ogical composition of soil and the presence of sorption sites
18 on specific mineral phases. So, the present study dedicates
19 itself to understanding the distribution of trace elements in
20 different size fractions (<2-mm and <2-μm fractions) of min-
21 ing soils and to evaluate the relationship between chemical
22 and mineralogical composition. Cerdeirinha and Penedono,
23 located in Portugal, were the waste dumps under study. The
24 results revealed that the two waste dumps have high degree of
25 contamination by metals and arsenic and that these elements
26 are concentrated in the clay size fraction. Hence, the higher
27 degree of contamination by toxic elements, especially arsenic
28 in Penedono as well as the role of clay minerals, jarosite, and
29 goethite in retaining trace elements has management implica-
30 tions. Such information must be carefully thought in the reha-
31 bilitation projects to be planned for both waste dumps