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Gold Mine Impact on Soil Quality, Youga, Southern Burkina Faso, West Africa

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Abstract

The present study aims to assess the impact of a gold mine located in the southeastern part of Burkina Faso on local soil quality. This information is needed in order to determine any health hazards and potential remediation strategies as the mining site is expected to be turned over to the local community after the closure of the mine. For the purpose, total minor and trace elements analysis as well as a sequential extraction were performed and results were interpreted using different methodologies: enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo) computed using two separate background samples, and comparison to selected national standard. The soil analysis revealed a moderate to significant soil EF and Igeo with hotspots located closer to the ore processing plant and on the east side of the site, with a maximum arsenic concentration of 286.55 ± 12.50 mg/kg. Sequential extraction revealed, however, that less than 2% of the arsenic is found in the exchangeable part. Cobalt and zinc are more distributed in the different fractions than arsenic. Geogenic and anthropogenic contributions were revealed by the study.

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Acknowledgments

A word of thanks is given to the Health Safety and Environment Officers for helping with the on-field activities. The authors thank the Burkina Mining Company for authorizing this study.

Funding

The first author received scholarship for the doctoral studies number 600026671 from the Islamic Development Bank.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Industrial Water and Ecotechnology, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University Campus Kortrijk, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium

    Wendkuuni Florentin Compaore, Ann Dumoulin & Diederik P. L. Rousseau

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  1. Wendkuuni Florentin Compaore
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  2. Ann Dumoulin
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  3. Diederik P. L. Rousseau
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Correspondence to Wendkuuni Florentin Compaore.

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Highlights

• Gold mine site soils were sampled for minor and trace element analysis.

• Enrichment factors reveal anthropogenic contribution to soil contaminants.

• Geoaccumulation index calculation confirmed soil contamination.

• Sequential extraction exhibited a substantial share in the mobilizable fraction.

• Minor and trace elements in soils were impacted by both anthropogenic and geogenic sources.

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Compaore, W.F., Dumoulin, A. & Rousseau, D.P.L. Gold Mine Impact on Soil Quality, Youga, Southern Burkina Faso, West Africa. Water Air Soil Pollut 230, 207 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-019-4257-z

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