Nonequilibrium leaching behavior of metallic elements (Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) from soils collected from long-term abandoned mine sites

Kim, Juhee; Hyun, Seunghun

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.04.018

Cited by 33 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(38 reference statements)

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“…Spatial and temporal distribution of potentially toxic trace elements in soils of the post-mining areas has been a subject of numerous studies (Bačeva et al 2014;Neiva et al 2014;Semhi et al 2014;Kim and Hyun 2015;Wahsha et al 2016). In contrast, limited data exist on geochemical background of trace metal(loid)s in historic mining areas (Loredo et al 2006;Martínez et al 2007;Gałuszka et al 2015;Gutiérrez et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical background of potentially toxic trace elements in reclaimed soils of the abandoned pyrite–uranium mine (south-central Poland)

Gałuszka

Migaszewski

Duczmal-Czernikiewicz

et al. 2016

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Spatial distribution patterns of As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, U and Zn were determined in topsoil samples collected after 40 years of chemical remediation conducted in the inoperative ''Staszic'' pyrite-uranium mine in the Holy Cross Mountains, south-central Poland. Soil samples were taken from 58 sites using a systematic random sampling design. Selected samples were subjected to an X-ray diffractometry analysis on bulk soils and separated clay fractions. Hematite, goethite and gypsum are common mineral phases in soil samples. Technogenic soils developed on reclaimed mine spoils show uniform spatial element distribution patterns and additionally a distinct enrichment in As, Pb, Mn, U and Zn. Mineral and chemical composition of soils vs. rocks points to the lithogenic source of the determined elements. The results of chemical analysis have been used for evaluation of geochemical background of trace elements in the study area with the iterative 2r-technique. This investigation shows that using mean crustal element concentrations (Clarke values) as proxies of threshold values in soils are not useful for determination of strongly positive geochemical anomalies. A modified enrichment factor, i.e. a local enrichment factor, is proposed for identification of sites where soils are contaminated.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical background of potentially toxic trace elements in reclaimed soils of the abandoned pyrite–uranium mine (south-central Poland)

Gałuszka

Migaszewski

Duczmal-Czernikiewicz

et al. 2016

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…They came to the conclusion that Ni dissolution tends to increase with continued weathering if no preventive or control measures are undertaken at the site. A contrary effect was detected by Kim and Hyun (2015), who also tested leaching effects in laboratory experiments in which the solubility of most metals decreased with time and increasing seepage. Coulthard and Macklin (2003) used a modelling approach and revealed the exceptional longevity of contamination in fluvial systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The major external source of trace metals in soils is usually contamination caused by anthropogenic activities, such as metal mining, smelting and processing or the use of fossil fuels. It is well known that mining and processing of metal ore can be significant causes of trace metal contamination of the environment (Dudka andAdriano 1997, Egli et al, 2011a;Kim and Hyun, 2015;Navarro et al 2008, Singh et al 2005, Zhuang et al, 2009. Mine sites may be a potential threat to public health due to the risk of polluting nearby groundwater, soils, livestocks and crops, unless managed properly, because high concentrations of trace metals and metalloids can be discharged from mine waste (e.g., mine debris and mine-impacted soils) (Bech et al, 2017;Duruibe et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The long-term interaction of mine tailings with soils and the wider environment: Examples from Mont Chemin, Switzerland

Egli

Berger²,

Kündig

et al. 2017

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

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There is no doubt that mine tailings and waste are an environmental problem and can be a risk to human health and other organisms. Although many studies about acid rock drainage have been performed, the dispersal of trace elements and their impact on the environment (groundwater, soils and agricultural use) and the long-term (i.e., decades to centuries) behaviour of mine tailings on silicate parent rock is still a matter of debate. Our main scope was, therefore, to develop an approach that enables a relatively fast and reliable prediction of the leaching of potentially toxic elements and, thus, to determine the reactivity of former mining sites. To do so, we traced back the leaching behaviour of metals such as copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in soils formed on tailings from small mines over a relatively long time period. Using a chronosequence approach based on historical records of mining activities and C-14 dating, element leaching could be traced over a time period of approximately 1000 years for the historic mining sites at Mont Chemin (Switzerland). The weathering index B, that expresses chemical leaching of base cations and weathering of silicate minerals, and trace element ratios to immobile compounds (such as hafnium (Hf)) indicated that element leaching, and thus reactivity of the material, was very intense during the first 200 years after abandonment of the site. Between approximately 200-400 years, the rate of elemental change in the soils was strongly reduced tending (moderate reactivity) to very small values, and consequently low reactivity, for exposure ages of > 400 years. Thus, the chronosequence approach enabled to determine the reactivity of the sites. Soil organic carbon and oxyhydroxides were not effective enough to completely retain trace metals. Many former small mining sites exist in the Swiss Alps. Using a database that contains information about the period of activity, date of abandonment, elements used and geology, we extrapolated our findings to sites in Switzerland with moderately comparable conditions to Mont Chemin. This relatively simple empirical approach enabled a spatialisation and rough estimation of the sites regarding their reactivity. A large number of small mining sites in Switzerland were characterised as still highly reactive and only a few were considered to be weakly reactive. With the help of the chronosequence approach and extrapolation of the small former mining sites, a relatively fast overview of the reactivity of sites could be achieved. This approach, however, cannot substitute for a detailed risk analysis of such sites.

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“…The increase of As concentration after stop-flow demonstrates that release of As is a time-dependent process. The nonequilibrium leaching is likely due to transformation between recalcitrant and leachable forms (Kim and Hyun 2015).…”

Section: Modeling As Release Kineticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Once associated with soils or sediments, the primary process of metals release into liquid phase is leaching (Kim and Hyun 2015). However, not all elements present in sediment are equally susceptible to leaching upon interacting with water.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arsenic speciation and kinetic release simulation of stream sediment contaminated by gold mining

Cai

et al. 2015

J Soils Sediments

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Purpose Understanding the mechanisms and kinetics controlling the release of metals from sediment is a prerequisite for evaluating the risk of sediment contaminated by toxic elements. The objectives of this research were to determine the leaching properties of arsenic (As) from stream sediment contaminated by gold mining and to quantify the kinetic rate of As release using a leaching experiment and numerical modeling. Materials and methods In this study, we collected surface stream sediment from Jiehe River which was contaminated by gold mining in Zhaoyuan, Shandong Province. Chemical speciation of As was analyzed by a modified three-step BCR sequential extraction procedure. The sediment microscopic morphological characteristics and elemental composition on the surface of the sediment were analyzed by scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). Release kinetics of As were studied by a simulated leaching experiment using a stirred-flow reactor and a two-site equilibrium-kinetic model. Results and discussion The sediments we studied were significantly contaminated by As, with maximum concentrations of 777.8-3389 mg/kg. Sequential extraction analysis suggested that As contents in weak acid extractable, oxidizable, reducible, and residual forms were 2.6-9.8, 18-79, 2.4-7.1, and 8.7-75 %, respectively. SEM-EDS analysis showed that As on the surface of the sediment was higher than its overall content in all four sediments especially sediment JH27, which has high content of TOC, indicating that abundant As was sorbed or precipitated on the sediment surface. Our two-site equilibrium-kinetic model fits the As release data well and can reproduce the stop-flow experimental results. Kinetic rates obtained from curve fitting showed large variation among sediments for As, indicating different reaction mechanisms. Conclusions The release of As from stream sediment contaminated by gold mining was nonequilibrium and timedependent and might cause long-term pollution to river water. Our two-site model was demonstrated as an effective tool to describe the kinetic release of As from stream sediment to waters.

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Nonequilibrium leaching behavior of metallic elements (Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) from soils collected from long-term abandoned mine sites

Cited by 33 publications

References 24 publications

Geochemical background of potentially toxic trace elements in reclaimed soils of the abandoned pyrite–uranium mine (south-central Poland)

Geochemical background of potentially toxic trace elements in reclaimed soils of the abandoned pyrite–uranium mine (south-central Poland)

The long-term interaction of mine tailings with soils and the wider environment: Examples from Mont Chemin, Switzerland

Arsenic speciation and kinetic release simulation of stream sediment contaminated by gold mining

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