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Heavy Metal Speciation by Tessier Sequential Extraction Applied to Artisanal Gold Mine Tailings in Eastern Cameroon

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Abstract

The Bétaré Oya gold district is situated in the Lom Basin, one of Cameroon’s Neoproterozoic volcano-sedimentary basins. The aim of this study was to evaluate the speciation, bioavailability and potential risk of metals in mine tailing of Bétaré Oya gold district. The metal content of the mine tailing samples collected is evaluated using an Inductive Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer. Speciation was performed according to the Tessier sequential extraction procedure. The low presence of clay in the tailings of the study area reduces the adsorption and mobilization of metals. Pyrite was the dominant sulphide mineral present in the study area. Metal speciation shows that greater portion of metals are bound to Fe–Mn oxide, and decrease progressively to inert fraction, organic fraction, carbonate and exchangeable forms. Relatively high mobility factors observed for Cd, Pb, Co, Fe, Zn and Mn at all sampling sites indicate high mobility, reactivity, susceptibility and bioavailability of these metals in the mine tailings studied. The enrichment of Ni, Cd, Cu, Pb, Co, Fe, Zn and Mn in soil and sediments when compared to metal bioavailability in mine tailings can be attributed to intense oxidation and dissolution of sulphide minerals linked to primary gold mineralization, intense weathering and anthropogenic activities. Contamination index, contamination degree, enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index indicate that Cd, La, As, Hg, and Pb may pose an ecological risk. The potential ecological risk assessment shows a low to very high level of ecological risk. The evaluation of metals content and chemical speciation in the study area is necessary to predict their mobility, bioavailability and potential risk to the ecosystem and this study represents the first metal speciation study in gold mines in Cameroon.

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Availability of Data and Materials

Data obtained during and/or analysed during this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This study is part of the first author’s ongoing PhD research at The University of Bamenda.

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No funding received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Mining and Environmental Science, The University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon

    Lemnyuy Prosper Yiika & Cheo Emmanuel Suh

  2. Higher Teachers Training College Bambili, The University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon

    Margaret Awah Tita

  3. Institute of Geological and Mining Research, P.O. Box 4110, Nlongkak Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Mumbfu Ernestine Mimba

  4. Department of Geology, University of Buea, South West Region, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon

    Cheo Emmanuel Suh & Ndema Mbongué Jean-Lavenir

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  1. Lemnyuy Prosper Yiika
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  2. Margaret Awah Tita
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  4. Mumbfu Ernestine Mimba
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by LPY, CES, TAM, MEM and NMJL. The first draft of the manuscript was written by LPY. Further modifications were made by CES, MEM and TAM. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Lemnyuy Prosper Yiika.

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Yiika, L.P., Tita, M.A., Suh, C.E. et al. Heavy Metal Speciation by Tessier Sequential Extraction Applied to Artisanal Gold Mine Tailings in Eastern Cameroon. Chemistry Africa 6, 2705–2723 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-023-00652-0

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