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Iron ore mining promotes iron enrichment in sediments of the Gualaxo do Norte River basin, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

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Abstract

The objective of the present study is to assess the influence of iron ore mining on Fe concentrations in fluvial sediments of the Gualaxo do Norte River basin (Minas Gerais State, Brazil). Initially background values were determined for Fe by means of the boxplot representation, the iterative 2σ technique and the calculated distribution function, using geochemical data obtained for alluvial terraces. Geochronologic analyses in carbonaceous materials attested for the proposed background values. After that, chemical analyses of active drainage sediments collected along the entire basin were carried out and a geochemical map of the study area was prepared. The mean background value for Fe is relatively high (8.2 wt %), when compared to the Fe concentration in the Earth’s crust (5.6 wt %). Such background value is strongly associated with the geological characteristics of the region. It was observed that most of the high Fe concentrations were detected in active sediments collected in the main river of the basin and not in its tributaries. This suggests that Fe enrichment is not only linked to the local geology but also to possible increase resulting from accidental leakage of iron ore mining tailings from containment dams and lakes upstream. It is suggested that measures that help stop or minimize such impact be adopted. The large capacity of Fe to adsorb and form complexes with toxic metals implicates in environmental hazards that may not be restricted only to the Gualaxo do Norte river basin, but may affect the other basins downstream.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development-Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico and Tecnológico (CNPq) (Projects 577211-2008-0 and 476881-20072), the Program for Support of Excellence Nuclei-Programa de Apoio a Núcleos de Excelência (PRONEX) linked to the Minas Gerais Foundation for Research-Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) (CRA-APQ-00415-09), and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel-Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for the doctorate scholarship granted to the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Goiano Federal Institute-Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brazil

    Aline Sueli de Lima Rodrigues & Guilherme Malafaia

  2. Department of Geology, EM, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Aline Sueli de Lima Rodrigues, Adivane Terezinha Costa & Hermínio Arias Nalini Júnior

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  1. Aline Sueli de Lima Rodrigues
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  3. Adivane Terezinha Costa
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Correspondence to Aline Sueli de Lima Rodrigues.

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Rodrigues, A.S.d.L., Malafaia, G., Costa, A.T. et al. Iron ore mining promotes iron enrichment in sediments of the Gualaxo do Norte River basin, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Environ Earth Sci 71, 4177–4186 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2808-y

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