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Trace Element Scavenging in Dry Wash Surficial Sediments in an Arid Region of Southern Nevada, USA

Transport von Spurenelementen aus ausgetrockneten Oberflächensedimenten in einer ariden Region in Südnevada, USA

Relevamiento de elementos traza en sedimentos de un cauce seco superficial en una región árida en el sur de Nevada, USA

微量元素在美国内华达州南部干旱区沙漠沟壑浅表沉积层中的迁移

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Abstract

Sediment samples were collected from a dry wash in Nelson, Nevada where the Techatticup Mine and Mill operated between 1850 and 1960. Samples were used to evaluate movement and behavior of certain metals and metalloids including aluminum, arsenic, barium, cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, lead, and vanadium. The data show that some metals and metalloids are more concentrated on larger particles whereas others show the opposite tendency. For example, As was greatest on silt fractions and least on coarse fractions, while Se was detected only on silts. Chromium, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations all increased with decreasing particle size (silt > sand > coarse), whereas Al, Ba, and V showed the opposite trend (silt < sands < coarse).

Zusammenfassung

Aus einem ausgetrockneten Flussbett in Nelson (Nevada) wurden Sedimentproben entnommen. In diesem Gebiet wurde zwischen 1850 und 1960 die Techatticup Grube betrieben. An den Proben wurden der Transport und das Verhalten von verschiedenen Metallen und Metalloiden, wie Aluminium, Arsen, Barium, Cadmium, Kupfer, Eisen, Mangan, Blei und Vanadium untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass einige Metalle und Metalloide an größeren Partikel akkumuliert sind, wohingegen andere einen entgegengesetzten Trend zeigen. Beispielsweise war As in der Schlufffraktion konzentriert und in der Kiesfraktion abgereichert. Selen wurde nur in der Schlufffraktion nachgewiesen. Die Konzentration von Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, und Zn stieg mit abnehmender Korngröße (Schluff > Sand > Kies), wohingegen Al, Ba und V einen entgegengesetzten Trend zeigten (Schluff < Sand < Kies).

Resumen

Muestras de sedimentos fueron colectadas en un cauce seco en Nelson, Nevada donde las minas Techatticup y Mill operaron entre 1850 y 1960. Las muestras fueron usadas para evaluar el movimiento y el comportamiento de ciertos metales y metaloides incluyendo aluminio, arsénico, bario, cadmio, cobre, hierro, manganeso, plomo y vanadio. Los datos muestran que algunos metales y metaloides están más concentrados en las partículas más grandes mientras que otros muestran la tendencia opuesta. Por ejemplo, As fue el mayor en las fracciones de limo y menos en fracciones gruesas, mientras que Se fue detectado solo en limos. Las concentraciones de Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb y Zn se incrementaron a medida que decrecía el tamaño de partícula (limo > arenas > grueso) mientras que Al, Ba y V mostraron la tendencia opuesta (limo < arenas < grueso).

抽象的

沉积物样品取自美国内华达州纳尔逊(Nelson, Nevada)的沙漠沟壑,区域内已废弃Techatticup矿的生产运行时间为1850 ~ 1960年。样品用于分析铝、砷、钡、镉、铜、铁、锰、铅、钒等金属和类金属的迁移特征。研究数据显示,一些金属和类金属元素更易富集于大颗粒沉积,而另一些元素易富集于小颗粒沉积。例如,砷在粉粒沉积中最多而在粗粒沉积中最少,硒几乎只能在粉粒沉积中才有检出。铬、铜、铁、锰、铅和锌浓度都随沉积颗粒粒径减小而增加(粉粒 > 砂粒 > 粗粒),而铝、钡和钒浓度随沉积颗粒粒径减小而减小(粉粒 < 砂粒 < 粗粒).

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Acknowledgments

We thank Deborah Morales of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Department of Geoscience and Todd Jesus Gadol-Tait of the University of Hawaii at Hilo for the collection and processing of samples. We also thank the reviewers whose time and expertise added great value to the overall paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Sciences, College of Southern Nevada, North Las Vegas, NV, 89030, USA

    Douglas B. Sims, Amanda C. Hudson & John E. Keller

  2. Environmental Engineering, Technological Educational Institute of Western Macedonia, Grevená, Greece

    Vatalis I. Konstantinos

  3. School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, NTUA, Athens, Greece

    Modis P. Konstantinos

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  1. Douglas B. Sims
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Correspondence to Douglas B. Sims.

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Sims, D.B., Hudson, A.C., Keller, J.E. et al. Trace Element Scavenging in Dry Wash Surficial Sediments in an Arid Region of Southern Nevada, USA. Mine Water Environ 36, 124–132 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-015-0379-8

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