Soil geochemical survey of abandoned mining sites in the Eastern-Central Peloritani Mountains, Sicily, Italy

Abstract

This investigation focused on topsoils ( n = 122) and vertical profiles ( n = 6) distributed over an area of 250 km 2 in the eastern-central Peloritani Mountains, northeastern Sicily. Georeferenced concentration of 53 elements (including potentially harmful ones), determined by ICP-MS after an aqua regia leach, were used to produce geochemical maps by means of a GIS-aided spatial interpolation process. Results show that there are two distinct areas: the larger, located between the Fiumendinisi, Budali and Ali villages, and the other between C. Postlioni and Femmina Morta, which contain anomalous As (up to 727 mg/kg), Sb (up to 60 mg/kg), Ag (up to 1 mg/kg) and Au (up to 0.1 mg/kg) concentrations. Most of the investigated areas have high contamination levels for As, Zn, Sb, and Pb that exceed the threshold values (As = 20 mg/kg, Zn = 150 mg/kg, Sb = 10 mg/kg and Pb = 100 mg/kg) established for soils by the Italian Environmental Law ( Decreto Legislativo 2006 , number 152). The isotopic ratios of 206 Pb/ 207 Pb and 208 Pb/ 207 Pb have been measured in selected soils on both leaches [using 1M HNO 3 –1.75M HCl (50:50)] and residues thereof. Soil leach reflects possible anthropogenic contamination, whereas soil residues indicate geogenic contributions. Results suggest that most of contamination in the soils is related to the presence of sulphide and sulphosalt rock-forming minerals in the surveyed area. The soil fraction contains a Pb value >1600 mg/kg and has ratios of 1.1695 for 206 Pb/ 207 Pb and 2.4606 for 208 Pb/ 207 Pb. Only one soil leach isotopic composition could reflect possible anthropogenic contamination. The correlation among As, Zn, Pb contents v. Pb isotopic signatures of 206 Pb/ 207 Pb indicates that surface and deep soils collected from profiles are dominated by geogenic compositions.

A contribution to the mineralogy of Sicily, Italy – Kintoreite from the Tripi mine, Peloritani Mountains: occurrence and crystal structure

“…There are several reasons for characterising this new occurrence of kintoreite. From an environmental perspective, this phase, whose origin is related to the weathering of primary ores, could be a potential host for the Pb anomaly observed in soils in the Alì area (Cosenza et al, 2015), in agreement with previous studies showing the presence of nanoparticles of kintoreite in soils (e.g. Schindler and Hochella, 2017).…”

“…This is particularly important since kintoreite is able to host PTE like Pb. Indeed, in the Alì area, high Pb content of geogenic origin in soils were reported by Cosenza et al (2015).…”

“…There are several reasons for characterizing this new occurrence of kintoreite. From an environmental perspective, this phase, whose origin is related to the weathering of primary ores, could be a potential host for the Pb anomaly observed in soils in the Alì area (Cosenza et al, 2015), in agreement with previous studies showing the presence of nanoparticles of kintoreite in soils (e.g., Schindler and Hochella, 2017). Moreover, the finding of kintoreite from the Peloritani Mountains is the third Italian occurrence of this mineral, following the identification reported by Albertini (2014) from the Monte Falò mine (Piedmont) and by Guastoni et al (2018) from the nearby locality of Chiotta Strivera (Piedmont).…”

“…De Vivo et al (1993) pointed out the presence of anomalies of As, Hg, Sb, Zn and Pb in stream sediments from the Peloritani Mountains. Cosenza et al (2015) investigated the soil geochemistry in this area, reporting high contents of PTE such as As, Zn, Sb and Pb. One of the two anomalous areas found in this region is located between Fiumedinisi, Budali and Alì, and Pb isotopes indicate a geogenic contribution to this contamination, related to the weathering of ore deposits and mine wastes in the area studied.…”

Occurrence and crystal chemistry of austinite, conichalcite and zincolivenite from the Peloritani Mountains, northeastern Sicily, Italy

“…For instance, De Vivo et al (1993) stressed the presence of anomalous contents of As, Hg, Sb, Zn and Pb in stream sediments from this area, whereas Dongarrà et al (2009) found high As concentrations in waters from mineralised areas. A geogenic source for the As contamination detected in the Peloritani Mountains was also suggested by Cangemi et al (2021), agreeing with previous results of Cosenza et al (2015) who reported high PTE content in soils from Fiumedinisi, Budali and Alì, related to the weathering of ore deposits and mine wastes.…”