Iron Quadrangle stream sediments, Brazil: geochemical maps and reference values

Vicq, Raphael de; Matschullat, Jörg; Leite, Mariângela Garcia Praça; Nalini, Hermínio Árias; Mendonça, Fellipe Pinheiro Chagas

doi:10.1007/s12665-015-4508-2

Cited by 40 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The major components of the Brumadinho tailings were also observed by the Brazilian Geological Service 14 . The similarity of the tailings released by the Brumadinho and Fundão Dams occurred because both mine complexes are located in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region in southeast Brazil, which is rich in iron deposits 15 . www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Immediate consequences of the tailings dam rupture along the Paraopeba River.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…According to the historical series between 2000 and 2018, the incidence of levels above those in Brazilian law (CONAMA 357/2005) was already demonstrated along the Paraopeba basin for dissolved Fe (35%), total Mn (90% upstream and 50% downstream from the dam rupture area), dissolved Al (30%), Pb (10%), As, Cr, Ni, Zn, dissolved Cu and Cd (less than 5%) 21 . These variations may be natural due to the high background contents of the elements in rocks and soils or due to iron and gold deposits, together with the pollution caused by intense human activity in the region 15 . However, the potential impact of tailings dam rupture can worsen this situation and cannot be ignored because some elements, such as Al, Ba, Cd, Ce, Co, Er, Fe, Gd, Hg, In, La, Li, Lu, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Sc, Ti, U, V, Y, and Zn, increased their levels in the water downstream of the dam rupture area in relation to upstream levels as a direct influence of the tailings passage (Supplementary Table S4).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Metal concentrations and biological effects from one of the largest mining disasters in the world (Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil)

Vergílio

Lacerda

Oliveira

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

105

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The rupture of the Brumadinho mining tailings dam in Brazil is considered one of the largest mining disasters in the world, resulting in 244 deaths and 26 missing people, in addition to the environmental consequences. The present study aims to evaluate the concentrations of multiple elements and the biological effects on water and sediments of the Paraopeba River after the Brumadinho Dam rupture. The tailings are formed by fine particulate material with large amounts of Fe, Al, Mn, Ti, rare earth metals and toxic metals. In the water, the levels of Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and U were higher than those allowed by Brazilian legislation. In the sediments, Cr, Ni, Cu and Cd levels were higher than the established sediment quality guidelines (TEL-NOAA). The differences in metal concentrations in the water and sediments between the upstream and downstream sides of the dam illustrate the effect of the tailings in the Paraopeba River. Toxicological tests demonstrated that the water and sediments were toxic to different trophic levels, from algae to microcrustaceans and fish. The fish exposed to water and sediments containing mine ore also accumulated metals in muscle tissue. This evaluation emphasizes the necessity of long-term monitoring in the affected area. In less than four years, two major environmental tragedies involving mining dams occurred in Brazil. The first incident is considered the industrial disaster with the greatest environmental impacts in Brazilian history and the largest of the world involving tailings dams. The rupture of the Fundão Dam in the subdistrict of Bento Rodrigues, 35 km from the municipality of Mariana in Minas Gerais State on November 5, 2015, resulted in 19 deaths due to the release of more than 40 million m 3 of tailings that were transported to the mouth of the Doce River 1. The 668 km length of affected water by Fundão tailings is the largest ever recorded 2. The second incident occurred on January 25, 2019, when a tailings dam ("Dam B1") failed at Córrego do Feijão mine in the city of Brumadinho, also in Minas Gerais State, releasing approximately 12 million m 3 , which directly affected the administrative area of the company and parts of the nearby communities 3 , resulting in 244 deaths and 26 missing people, as some bodies were completely buried in the mud and never found 4. Although the previous evaluation by the Brazilian Mining Agency classified Dam B1 in Brumadinho as "low risk of collapse and high potential of associated damage" 5 , the rupture of the Brumadinho Dam led to the release of iron ore tailings into the Feijão stream that is a tributary of the Paraopeba River 6 (Supplementary Video, Fig. 1). Along the way, the volume of tailings led to an immediate increase in water turbidity (Supplementary Fig. S1a), impacts on the water supply in the municipalities provided by the Paraopeba River, and damage to fauna and

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal concentrations and biological effects from one of the largest mining disasters in the world (Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil)

Vergílio

Lacerda

Oliveira

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

105

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…It is noteworthy that these assays were performed with much higher As concentrations than those found in natural environment (Vicq et al, 2015). Thus, its bioremediation potential might present better efficiency in natural conditions.…”

Section: Bacteria As Metal Bioremediator Agents and Plant Supportersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Average concentrations of arsenic in soils from the IQ regions are around 960 mg/kg, though in some situations it might reach up to 13400 mg/kg. These higher As-concentrations generally occur associated with magmatic sulfides and iron ores (Vicq et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Alcaligenes faecalisassociated with Mimosa calodendron rizhosphere assist plant survival in arsenic rich soils

Felestrino

Assis

Lemes

et al. 2017

J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr.

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The ferruginous rupestrian grasslands (FRG) in the Iron Quadrangle (IQ) are ecosystems characterized by rocky soils with reduced availability of water and nutrients, but high levels of metals. In order to comprehend the interference of microorganisms on the adaptive process of endemic plant Mimosa calodendrum (Fabaceae), bacteria associated with its roots and rhizosphere were isolated. Fourteen isolates were obtained and subsequently grown in the presence of different concentrations of arsenic (As) species. The isolate Mc250, an Alcaligenes faecalis strain, resisted to 10 mM of As (III) and 800 mM of As (V). In the presence of this strain, atomic spectrometer detected a reduction of 55% for As (III) and 72% for As (V) respectively in 10 mM and 500 mM solution. Scanning electron microscopy of this isolate demonstrated morphological modification and EDX spectroscopy revealed the presence of both As species adsorbed on the membrane, justifying the removal observed in the in vitro assays. To validate this potential removal of As in vivo, tomato plants were used as grown model in the presence and absence of A. faecalis in soil previously contaminated with 5 mM of As (III). After 14 days, plants from contaminated soil had their growth improved when compared to untreated control plants. All these results suggest for the first time that plant-associated bacteria from FRG-IQ present potential for soil rhizoremediation and may benefit the adaptive processes of plants in extreme environments including application in recovering degraded areas.

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“…A typical example is found in the rivers within the Iron Quadrangle (IQ). The region is an important Brazilian geological geomorphological domain of mountainous relief with a significant history of gold, iron, and bauxite mining (De Vicq et al, 2015). In spite of the geological diversity, studies in the IQ have verified the contents of metals in fluvial systems derived from anthropogenic activities (Parra et al, 2012, Nascimento et al, 2018, Dos Reis et al 2019.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between land use and water quality in a watershed impacted by iron ore tailings and domestic sewage

et al. 2019

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Changes in land use and land cover in watersheds, together with population increases and urbanization of these areas, have caused negative impacts on surface water quality. Based on land-use types, we conducted a comprehensive water quality study of the Rio do Peixe watershed, a tributary of the Rio Doce River, located in the Iron Quadrangle, with different land uses/land covers. For this study, the relationship between water quality variables and land use types were examined according to the water quality index and principal components analysis. The water samples were collected from twelve stations located along the basin in two different seasons. The results of metals/semimetals concentrations reflected regional lithology, and in the case of iron, it was anthropic activities. Also, the computed water quality index values were between 26.8 and 74.9. The water quality was poor in four stations of the river basin in both seasons. Furthermore, the variables that influence water quality the most were E. coli, DBO, turbidity, nitrate, and total phosphorus. The multivariate statistics gave five principal components that together accounted for 58.3%, whereas analysis of score plots identified the formation of two groups with more perceptible anthropic influence. Finally, environmental impacts of the river basin, such as deforestation, erosion, domestic sewage, and iron ore tailings, were the main factors that interfered with water quality.

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Iron Quadrangle stream sediments, Brazil: geochemical maps and reference values

Cited by 40 publications

References 24 publications

Metal concentrations and biological effects from one of the largest mining disasters in the world (Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil)

Metal concentrations and biological effects from one of the largest mining disasters in the world (Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil)

Alcaligenes faecalisassociated with Mimosa calodendron rizhosphere assist plant survival in arsenic rich soils

Relationship between land use and water quality in a watershed impacted by iron ore tailings and domestic sewage

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