In the present study, an investigation of the mineralogy and morphology, the heavy metal content and the health risk of urban road dusts from the second largest city of Greece was conducted. For this reason road dust samples from selected sites within the city core area were collected. No differences were observed in the mineralogy of road dusts coming from different sampling sites, and they were mainly consisted of quartz and calcite, while an elevated amorphous content was detected. Morphologically road dusts presented Ca-rich, Fe-rich and silicates particles with various shapes and sizes. The mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in road dust were 1.76, 104.9, 662.3, 336.4, 89.43, 209 and 452.8 μg g, respectively. A series of spatial distribution patterns revealed that the hotspot areas were tended to associate with major road junctions and regions with high traffic. Combination of pollution indexes and statistical analyses (correlation analysis, cluster analysis and principal component analysis) revealed that road dusts have a severe influence by anthropogenic activities. In attempt to identify the source of metals through geostatistical and multivariate statistical analyses, it was concluded as follows: Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn mainly originated from tire/break wear and vehicle abrasions, while Cd, Mn and Pb were mainly related to fuel/oil leakage from automobiles along with oil lubricants and vehicle abrasion. Hazard quotient values for children based on total metal concentrations for the road dust ingestion route were lower than safe level (=1). However, the fact that the Hazard Index value for Pb (0.459) which is a particularly toxic metal, was close to safe level, renders essential further investigation in order to provide more reliable characterizations of potential health risks.

The Vathi porphyry Cu-Au ± Mo mineralization is located in the Serbo-Macedonian metallogenic province of the Western Tethyan Metallogenic Belt. It is mainly hosted by a latite and is genetically associated with a quartz monzonite intrusion, which intruded the basement rocks of the Vertiskos Unit and the latite, 18 to 17 Ma ago. A phreatic breccia crosscuts the latite. The quartz monzonite was affected by potassic alteration, whereas the latite was subjected to local propylitic alteration. Both styles of alteration were subsequently overprinted by intense sericitic alteration. M-type and A-type veins are spatially associated with potassic alteration, whereas D-type veins are related to the sericitic alteration. Three ore assemblages are associated with the porphyry stage: (1) pyrite + chalcopyrite + bornite + molybdenite + magnetite associated with potassic alteration; (2) pyrite + chalcopyrite related to propylitic alteration; and (3) pyrite + chalcopyrite + native gold ± tetradymite associated with sericitic alteration. A fourth assemblage consisting of sphalerite + galena + arsenopyrite + pyrrhotite + pyrite ± stibnite ± tennantite is related to an epithermal overprint. Fluid inclusion data indicate that the A-type veins and related porphyry-style mineralization formed at 390–540 °C and pressures of up to 646 bars (<2.6 km depth) from boiling hydrothermal fluids. A later condensation of vapor-rich inclusions resulted in a moderately saline fluid (8.4–11.2 wt % NaCl equiv) at temperatures between 311 and 392 °C, which were related to sericitic alteration, D-type veins, and associated metallic mineralization. Subsequent dilution of the moderately saline fluid at lower temperatures (205–259 °C) produced a less saline (1.4–2.9 wt % NaCl equiv.) fluid, which is likely associated with the late epithermal overprint.

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Seven commercial cosmetic clays having different colour (white, green, pink and red) available in pharmacies and herbalists’ shops in the Greek market have been examined for their trace element concentrations (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, Hf, Hg, La, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Tl, V, Y, Zn and Zr). According to EC Regulation 1223/2009 the presence of As, Be, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Se, Te, Tl, Zr and their compounds is prohibited in cosmetics. The most abundant trace elements in the white clays were P (330 μg/g), Pb (220 μg/g) and Zr (11 μg/g) and for the green clays were P (1250 μg/g), As (43 μg/g), Cr (31 μg/g), Pb (30 μg/g) and Ni (23 μg/g). Red and pink clays had lower concentrations of these elements than their white and green counterparts. The green clays are three times enriched in As and the kaolinite-rich white clays are nine times enriched in Pb compared to the Average Shale. The main mineral phase in the white clays is either kaolinite or calcite, in green clays smectite, in pink clay kaolinite and talc and in red clays it is vermiculite. The specific activities of 238U, 226Ra, 228Ra, 228Th and 40K were determined by γ-ray spectroscopy. The kaolinite-rich white clays are more enriched in 238U-series radionuclides (238U and 226Ra) than the smectitic green clays. In contrast, the green clays were more enriched in 232Th-series radionuclides (228Ra and 228Th) and 40K than the white clays.

The Vathi porphyry Cu-Au±Mo deposit is located in the Kilkis ore district, northern Greece. Hydrothermally altered and mineralized samples of latite and quartz monzonite are enriched with numerous rare and critical metals. The present study focuses on the bulk geochemistry and the mineral chemistry of pyrite, chalcopyrite, magnetite, and titanite. Pyrite and chalcopyrite are the most abundant ore minerals at Vathi and are related to potassic, propylitic, and sericitic hydrothermal alterations (A- and D-veins), as well as to the late-stage epithermal overprint (E-veins). Magnetite and titanite are found mainly in M-type veins and as disseminations in the potassic-calcic alteration of quartz monzonite. Disseminated magnetite is also present in the potassic alteration in latite, which is overprinted by sericitic alteration. Scanning electron microscopy and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses of pyrite and chalcopyrite reveal the presence of pyrrhotite, galena, and Bi-telluride inclusions in pyrite and enrichments of Ag, Co, Sb, Se, and Ti. Chalcopyrite hosts bornite, sphalerite, galena, and Bi-sulfosalt inclusions and is enriched with Ag, In, and Ti. Inclusions of wittichenite, tetradymite, and cuprobismutite reflect enrichments of Te and Bi in the mineralizing fluids. Native gold is related to A- and D-type veins and is found as nano-inclusions in pyrite. Titanite inclusions characterize magnetite, whereas titanite is a major host of Ce, Gd, La, Nd, Sm, Th, and W.