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Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Mill Tailings Impoundments from the Panasqueira Mine (Portugal): Implications for the Surrounding Environment

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Abstract

Selected geochemical results are presented from a study of the Panasqueira mine (Sn–W mineralization), which is one of the Portuguese test sites for the e-EcoRisk project (http://www.e-ecorisk.info/). These data permit a better understanding of the dynamics inherent to leaching, transport, and accumulation of some elements (mainly As, but also Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd) in different sampling media and their environmental relevance. Stream sediment and water samples were found to be contaminated by the stored waste material in the tailing ponds; this effect could be observed for a considerable distance downstream.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the European Commission through the e-Ecorisk Project (# EVG1-2002-25 0068), “A regional enterprise network decision-support system for environmental risk and disaster management of large-scale industrial spills”. The authors are greatly indebted to Professor Rafael Fernández-Rubio for his constructive comments and also to the anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lab S Mamede Infesta INETI, 4466-956, S. Mamede de Infesta, Portugal

    Paula F. Ávila

  2. Dept de Geociências, GeoBioTec, Univ de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Paula F. Ávila & Eduardo Ferreira da Silva

  3. CERENA, Natural Resources and Environment Centre, IST, Av Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal

    Ana R. Salgueiro

  4. Dept Prospecção Minerais Metálicos INETI, 2720, Alfragide, Portugal

    J. A. Farinha

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  1. Paula F. Ávila
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  2. Eduardo Ferreira da Silva
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  3. Ana R. Salgueiro
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  4. J. A. Farinha
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Correspondence to Paula F. Ávila.

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Ávila, P.F., Silva, E.F.d., Salgueiro, A.R. et al. Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Mill Tailings Impoundments from the Panasqueira Mine (Portugal): Implications for the Surrounding Environment. Mine Water Environ 27, 210–224 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-008-0046-4

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