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Mineralogical and geochemical constraints on environmental impacts from waste rock at Taojiang Mn-ore deposit, central Hunan, China

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

The mineralogy and geochemistry of the waste rocks distributed at Taojiang Mn-ore deposit, central Hunan province, China, were studied using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) fitted with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrum (atomic emission spectra) ICP-MS (AES), with the aim of predicting the environmental impacts of weathering of the waste rocks. The mineralogical results from microscope observation and XRD and EMPA studies show that the waste rock is composed of black shale and minor Mn carbonates. The oxidation of sulfide minerals such as galena, pyrite and chalcopyrite is accompanied by decomposition of Mn carbonates and K-feldspar during exposure to atmospheric O2. The geochemical characteristics of major, rare earth elements (REE) and trace elements of the waste rocks also show that the waste rock can be divided into black shale and Mn carbonate, and both of them are currently under chemical weathering. The major alkalies and alkaline elements (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Rb, Sr and Cs) and major elements (Fe, S and P) and heavy metals (Sc, V, Cr, Th, U, Sn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mo, Cd, Sb, an Tl) are being released during weathering. The mobility of alkalis and alkaline elements Ca, Mg, Na, K, Rb, Sr and Cs is controlled by decomposition of Mn carbonates. The dispersion of Cr, Sc and Th (U) might be related to weathering of K-feldspar, and the release of the heavy metals Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mo, Cd Sb and Tl is dominated by the breaking of sulfide minerals. The REE of the waste rocks and surrounding soils and the spidery distribution patterns of heavy metals in the waste rocks, the surrounding soils and the surface waters show that weathering of the waste rocks and bedrock might be the sources of heavy metal contamination for the surrounding soils and surface water system for the mining area. This is predicted by the mass-balance calculation by using Zr as an immobile element. Therefore, it is urgently necessary take measures to treat the waste rocks distributed throughout the area for the local environmental protection.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Scientific Foundation Committee of China grant number 40572172 and 40002021. We are grateful to MSc Latkiewicz at the Institute of Geological Science, Jagiellonian University (Poland), for help the EDS study. Mr. Xianglin Tu at the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (CAS) is thanked for help for the ICP-MS/AES analyses. The authors wish to thank Dr. G. Beardsmore at Monash University, Australia, for improving the English language of the manuscript and Dr. T. F. Zhou for an official review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Resource and Environment Science, Hunan Normal University, 410081, Changsha, China

    Bo Peng, Yaozhu Wang, Shurong Xie, Xiaoyan Tang & Changxun Yu

  2. Ore Geology Department, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059, Cracow, Poland

    Adam Piestrzynski & Jadwiga Pieczonka

  3. Xiangya 3rd Hospital, Central-South University, 410013, Changsha, China

    Meilian Xiao & Zhi Song

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  1. Bo Peng
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  2. Adam Piestrzynski
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Correspondence to Bo Peng.

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Peng, B., Piestrzynski, A., Pieczonka, J. et al. Mineralogical and geochemical constraints on environmental impacts from waste rock at Taojiang Mn-ore deposit, central Hunan, China. Environ Geol 52, 1277–1296 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0567-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0567-8

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