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Spatial distribution of major and trace elements in a mining dam: sources and relationships among elements of environmental concern

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Abstract

The concentration of major and trace elements have been determined in sediments samples taken from a mining dam, located in the upper area of the Tinto River basin (SW Spain). This dam, built to fulfil water needs for mining operations, is now completed clogged by accumulation of fine sediments. The results obtained for vertical and horizontal distribution of chemical elements showed highest average concentrations of Fe and Al, both with 10 %, and S (about 4 %). Toxic elements, such as As and Pb occur also with high concentrations (2515 and 5172 mg/kg, respectively). Determination of Enrichment Factors (EF) showed that sediments are enriched in elements related with the massive sulphide ore bodies and subsequent acid mine drainage processes. The elements Pb and As are that of major environmental concern, with enrichment factors higher than 10. Application of cluster analysis put in evidence the main sources of elements, allowing for the modelling of the origin of the accumulated matter. Therefore, in addition to contributions from sulphide (Fe, S) and gangue (Al, Mg), there are grouping of elements mobilized from phyllosilicates and feldspars, (e.g. Ca and K) as well as a specific group that reflects the geochemical affinity of rare earth elements in such acidic environment. Moreover, the way how elements are grouped testify the heterogeneity of geological contributions as well as the mining cycles over 4000 years of mining history in this worldwide known river basin.

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Acknowledgments

This study is a contribution of the DGCICYT-CGL2010-21268-C02-01 project, which has been financed by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, and the Andalusian Autonomous Government Excellence Projects, P10-RNM-6570 project. The Institute of Earth Sciences (ICT) is funding under contract with FCT (the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation, Reference UID/GEO/04683/2013. The authors greatly appreciate the efforts of the three anonymous reviewers who carefully review the paper, and their valuable suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación Para la Ingeniería en Minería Sostenible (CIPMS), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Huelva, Ctra. Palos de la Frontera, s/n., 21218, Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain

    T. Valente, J. A. Grande, J. C. Cerón, M. L. de la Torre, M. Santisteban & J. Borrego

  2. Grupo de Geomorfología Ambiental y Recursos Hídricos, Departamento de Geodinámica y Paleontología, Universidad de Huelva, Huelva, Spain

    J. C. Cerón

  3. Departamento de Ciências da Terra, Institute of Earth Sciences, Pole of University of Minho, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal

    T. Valente

  4. Departamento de Explotación y Prospección de Minas, Universidad de Oviedo, Escuela Politécnica de Mieres, c/Gonzalo Gutiérrez Quirós, s/n., 33600, Mieres, Spain

    P. Fernández

  5. Departamento de Química y Ciencia de los Materiales, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Centro de Investigación en Química Sostenible-CIQSO, Universidad de Huelva, Huelva, Spain

    D. Sanchez-Rodas

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  1. T. Valente
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Correspondence to T. Valente.

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Valente, T., Grande, J.A., Cerón, J.C. et al. Spatial distribution of major and trace elements in a mining dam: sources and relationships among elements of environmental concern. Environ Earth Sci 75, 342 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4863-z

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