Environmental pollution and depth distribution of metal(loid)s and rare earth elements in mine tailing

Azizi, Mitra; Faz, Ángel; Zornoza, Raúl; Martínez-Martínez, Silvia; Shahrokh, Vajihe; Acosta, José A.

doi:10.1016/j.jece.2022.107526

Cited by 25 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…As shown in Table 1 , the surface and subsurface soils in Unit S1 were slightly alkaline (7.86 and 7.97, respectively), which are lower than the pH from Unit S2 (8.13–8.27). The result from the previous study [ 27 ] showed that all the materials that made up the surface of mine ponds (sludge and gravimetric waste), which are near Unit S1 and Unit S2, showed a high acidity (3.86–3.15 and 4.89–3.15). A lower pH value of sludge near S1 [ 27 ] may result in lower pH values in the surface and subsurface soils of Unit S1 in comparison to Unit S2.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The result from the previous study [ 27 ] showed that all the materials that made up the surface of mine ponds (sludge and gravimetric waste), which are near Unit S1 and Unit S2, showed a high acidity (3.86–3.15 and 4.89–3.15). A lower pH value of sludge near S1 [ 27 ] may result in lower pH values in the surface and subsurface soils of Unit S1 in comparison to Unit S2. In total, these pH conditions are suitable for plant growth, and it is also the key factor influencing the migration, adsorption, and precipitation of metal(loid)s and REEs in soil.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The predominance of sand fraction in the natural soils ( Table 1 ) and mining residues near them [ 27 ] probably resulted in wind and water erosion to mobilize these particles to the nearby environment and promote water infiltration [ 32 ]. These soil samples exhibited small EC values (0.13–0.19 dsm −1 ), indicating low transfer of salts from mine waste to natural soils.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Results showed that the highest concentrations of total metal(loid)s were mainly found for Fe, Al, Pb, Zn, and Mn in both Units ( Table 2 ). The previous study [ 27 ] reported that mining waste materials in the vicinity of these natural soils are composed of high concentrations of Fe, Pb, and Zn that originated from jarosite, clinochlore, and halloysite minerals [ 28 ]. Therefore, the enrichment of these elements in these Units possibly came from mining waste materials.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For hundreds of years, the Mazarron district (Murcia Region, southeast Spain) has been exposed to mining activity for Pb, Ag, and Zn extraction [ 27 ]. Although this site was abandoned in 1996, many tailing ponds remain in the area without any restoration [ 28 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Phytoremediation Potential of Native Plant Species in Mine Soils Polluted by Metal(loid)s and Rare Earth Elements

Azizi

Faz

Zornoza

et al. 2023

Plants

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Mining activity has an adverse impact on the surrounding ecosystem, especially via the release of potentially toxic elements (PTEs); therefore, there is an urgent need to develop efficient technologies to remediate these ecosystems, especially soils. Phytoremediation can be potentially used to remediate contaminated areas by potentially toxic elements. However, in soils affected by polymetallic contamination, including metals, metalloids, and rare earth elements (REEs), it is necessary to evaluate the behavior of these toxic elements in the soil-plant system, which will allow the selection of the most appropriate native plants with phytoremediation potential to be used in phytoremediation programs. This study was conducted to evaluate the level of contamination of 29 metal(loid)s and REEs in two natural soils and four native plant species (Salsola oppositifolia, Stipa tenacissima, Piptatherum miliaceum, and Artemisia herba-alba) growing in the vicinity of a Pb-(Ag)-Zn mine and asses their phytoextraction and phytostabilization potential. The results indicated that very high soil contamination was found for Zn, Fe, Al, Pb, Cd, As, Se, and Th, considerable to moderate contamination for Cu, Sb, Cs, Ge Ni, Cr, and Co, and low contamination for Rb, V, Sr, Zr, Sn, Y, Bi and U in the study area, dependent of sampling place. Available fraction of PTEs and REEs in comparison to total concentration showed a wide range from 0% for Sn to more than 10% for Pb, Cd, and Mn. Soil properties such as pH, electrical conductivity, and clay content affect the total, available, and water-soluble concentrations of different PTEs and REEs. The results obtained from plant analysis showed that the concentration of PTEs in shoots could be at a toxicity level (Zn, Pb, and Cr), lower than toxic but more than sufficient or natural concentration accepted in plants (Cd, Ni, and Cu) or at an acceptable level (e.g., V, As, Co, and Mn). Accumulation of PTEs and REEs in plants and the translocation from root to shoot varied between plant species and sampling soils. A. herba-alba is the least efficient plant in the phytoremediation process; P. miliaceum was a good candidate for phytostabilization of Pb, Cd, Cu, V, and As, and S. oppositifolia for phytoextraction of Zn, Cd, Mn, and Mo. All plant species except A. herba-alba could be potential candidates for phytostabilization of REEs, while none of the plant species has the potential to be used in the phytoextraction of REEs.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Phytoremediation Potential of Native Plant Species in Mine Soils Polluted by Metal(loid)s and Rare Earth Elements

Azizi

Faz

Zornoza

et al. 2023

Plants

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Artisanal mining of monazite and cassiterite in the Amazon: Potential risks of rare earth elements for the environment and human health

da Costa Alves Filho,

da Silveira Pereira,

Dias

et al. 2024

Environmental Management

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A artisanal mining is applied on a large scale in developing countries, and in the Amazon region, the scenario is no different. This method of mineral exploration generally does not employ mitigation techniques for potential damages and can lead to various environmental problems and risks to human health. The objectives of this study were to quantify the concentrations of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and estimate the environmental and human health risks in artisanal mining areas for cassiterite and monazite in the Amazon region, as well as to understand the dynamics of this risk over time after exploitation. A total of 32 samples of waste classi ed as sterile and mining reject in active areas, as well as in areas deactivated for one and ten years, were collected. Soil samples were also collected in a forest area considered as a reference site. The concentrations of REEs were quanti ed using alkaline fusion and ICP-MS. The results were used to calculate pollution indices and environmental and human health risks.REEs showed higher concentrations in anthropized areas. Pollution and environmental risk levels were higher in areas deactivated for one year, with considerable contamination factors for Gd and Sm and signi cant to extreme enrichment factors for Sc. Human health risks were low in all studied areas. The results indicate that artisanal mining of cassiterite and monazite has the potential for contamination and enrichment by REEs.

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Heavy Metal Contamination in Rhizosphere of Plants at a Decommissioned Gold Mine Tailings Dam

Doku,

Belford

2024

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Environmental pollution and depth distribution of metal(loid)s and rare earth elements in mine tailing

Cited by 25 publications

References 51 publications

Phytoremediation Potential of Native Plant Species in Mine Soils Polluted by Metal(loid)s and Rare Earth Elements

Phytoremediation Potential of Native Plant Species in Mine Soils Polluted by Metal(loid)s and Rare Earth Elements

Artisanal mining of monazite and cassiterite in the Amazon: Potential risks of rare earth elements for the environment and human health

Heavy Metal Contamination in Rhizosphere of Plants at a Decommissioned Gold Mine Tailings Dam

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