Abstract
The analysis of a short core collected in the Tinto Estuary (SW Spain) permits to delimitate the influence of historical mining activities on sediments and microfauna (Foraminifera and Ostracoda). In very shallow palaeochannels of the middle estuary, a first mining period (~3,600 cal years BP) caused high sediment pollution by Cu, with a significant diminution of the palaeontological record due to continuous acid mining drainage processes. In this core, the polluted levels derived from both Roman extractions (2,000–1,900 years BP) and the extensive mining activities between 1870 and 1935 have been eroded. The 1,800–200 years BP period is characterized by a limited mining activity and an important improvement of this ecosystem. In addition, the effects of recent industrial wastes have been limited in this area.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bodergat AM, Oki K, Ishizaki K, Rio M (2002) Volcanisme, activité anthropique et circulation des masses océaniques: leur influence respective sur la distribution des populations d’ostracodes dans la baie de Kagoshima (île de Kyushu, Japan). C R Geosci 334:1053–1059
Bodergat AM, Oki K, Rio M, Tabarant M (2006) Taxonomic units, civilization, volcanism: their influence on the chemical composition of ostracod carapaces (Kagoshima Bay, Kyushu Island, Japan). Mar Biol Res 2:316–325
Borrego J (1992) Sedimentología del estuario del río Odiel (Huelva, S. O. España). Ph.D thesis, University of Sevilla, Spain
Borrego J, Morales JA, Pendón JG (1995) Holocene estuarine facies along the mesotidal coast of Huelva, south-western Spain. Spec Publ Assoc Sedimentol 24:151–170
Davis RA Jr, Welty AT, Borrego J, Morales JA, Pendón JG, Ryan JG (2000) Río Tinto estuary (Spain): 5000 years of pollution. Environ Geol 39:1107–1116
Debenay JP, Tsakiridis E, Soulard R, Grossel H (2001) Factors determining the distribution of foraminiferal assemblages in Port Joinville Harbor (Ile d’Yeu, France): the influence of pollution. Mar Micropal 43:75–118
Flores M (1981) Las antiguas explotaciones de las minas de Rio Tinto, Huelva, España. Instituto de Estudios Onubenses 1:1–93
González-Regalado ML, Ruiz F (1996) Les foraminifères benthiques de la baie du Sud-Ouest de l’Espagne pendant le Néogène supérieur: le Mio-Pliocene de Huelva. Rev Paléobiol 15:109–120
González-Regalado ML, Ruiz F, Baceta JI, González-Regalado E, Muñoz JM (2001) Total benthic foraminifera assemblages in the southwestern Spanish estuarios. Geobios 34:39–51
Leblanc M, Morales JA, Borrego J, Elbaz-Poulichet F (2000) 4,500 year-old mining pollution in southwestern Spain: long-term implications for modern mining pollution. Econ Geol 95:655–662
Morales JA, San Miguel EG, Borrego J (2003) Tasas de sedimentación reciente en la Ría de Huelva. Geogaceta 33:15–18
Miller G (1981) Die Schwermetallbelastung der Sedimente des Neckars und seiner Nebenflusse: eine Bestandsaufnahme. Chem Zeit 105:157–164
Nelson CH, Lamothe PJ (1993) Heavy metal anomalies in the Tinto and Odiel Rivers and estuary system, Spain. Estuar Coasts 16:496–511
Nigam R, Saraswat R, Panchang R (2004) Application of foraminifers in ecotoxicology. Retrospect, perspect and prospect. Environ Poll 127:27–40
Nieto JM, Sarmiento AM, Olías M, Cánovas CR, Riba I, Kalman J, Delvalls A (2007) Acid mine drainage pollution in the Tinto and Odiel rivers (Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Spain) and bioavaility of the transported metals to the Huelva Estuary. Environ Int 33:445–455
Palacios-Fest MR, Park LE, González-Porta J, Palacios-Fest MR, Dix GR (2003) Química de conchas de ostrácodos: una alternativa para medir contaminación por metales en sistemas acuáticos. Rev Mex Cienc Geol 20:139–153
Ruiz F, González-Regalado ML, Borrego J, Morales JA, Pendón JG, Muñoz JM (1998) Stratigraphic sequence, elemental concentrations and heavy metal pollution in Holocene sediments from the Tinto-Odiel Estuary, southwestern Spain. Environ Geol 34:270–279
Ruiz F, González-Regalado ML, Baceta JI, Pendón JG (2000) Comparative ecological analysis of the ostracod faunas from low- and high-polluted southwestern Spanish estuaries: a multivariate approach. Mar Micropal 40:345–376
Ruiz F, González-Regalado ML, Borrego J, Abad M, Pendón JG (2004) Ostracoda and foraminifera as short-term tracers of environmental changes in very polluted areas: the Odiel Estuary (SW Spain). Environ Poll 129:49–61
Tylmann W, Golebiewski R, Wozniak PP, Czarnecka K (2007) Heavy metals in sediments as evidence for recent pollution and quasi-estuarine processes: an example from Lake Druzno, Poland. Environ Geol 53:35–46
Acknowledgments
The financial support of the DGYCIT (projects PB93-1205, CTM2006-06722 and CGL2006-01412), Andalusia Board (PAI RNM-238 and RNM-276), and the Huelva University is gratefully acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ruiz, F., Borrego, J., González-Regalado, M.L. et al. Interaction between sedimentary processes, historical pollution and microfauna in the Tinto Estuary (SW Spain). Environ Geol 58, 779–783 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1551-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1551-2