Using Geoelectrical Imaging to Recognize Zn-Pb Post-Mining Waste Deposits

Pierwoła, Jolanta

doi:10.15244/pjoes/43498

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The average conductivity of dry waste was about 10 mS/m (~100 Ωm). In conditions of high humidity, the conductivity of the waste significantly increased, reaching even 250 mS/m (~4 Ωm) (Pierwoła, 2015). The zone of strong disturbances, visible at the end of the profile at both depths, correlated with the traces of mass movements on the slope.…”

Section: Results Of Geophysical Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Integrated geophysical and geochemical methods applied for recognition of acid waste drainage (AWD) from Zn-Pb post-flotation tailing pile (Olkusz, southern Poland)

Pierwoła

Szuszkiewicz

Cabała

et al. 2020

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Long-term underground exploitation of Zn-Pb ores has led to drainage of the area and formation of a huge dumping ground in the form of a pile. In its vicinity, processes of acid drainage have developed as a result of contamination of soils and groundwater. Geochemical transformations of mineral contents of waste can significantly affect physical and chemical properties of the soils and the bedrock. At the prospect of termination of the mining activity in the near future, determining the routes of the pollution migration, ability to monitor acid drainage processes and assessment of the risk of heavy metal pollution are really crucial. The paper presents a proposal for solving this problem by means of geophysical methods: Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), Time Domain-Induced Polarisation (TDIP), Frequency Domain Electromagnetics (FDEM) and shallow-depth magnetometric surveys combined with geochemical investigations. The obtained results of geophysical surveys have been confirmed by geochemical investigations. The applied ERT and TDIP methods make it possible to identify the spread of the zones of pollution around the tailing pile, but their effectiveness depends on humidity of the ground. Soil magnetometry and shallow-depth induction profiling are a good tool to identify the medium contaminated with minerals redeposited by aeolian processes and allow to determine the range of the dust spread from the pile. It has been shown that the range of impact of the geochemical changes around the tailing pile is high and depends not only on directions and dynamics of water flow from the pile but also on aeolian transport.

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Section: Results Of Geophysical Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Integrated geophysical and geochemical methods applied for recognition of acid waste drainage (AWD) from Zn-Pb post-flotation tailing pile (Olkusz, southern Poland)

Pierwoła

Szuszkiewicz

Cabała

et al. 2020

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…The IP models were converted into normalized chargeability (chargeability/resistivity). It allowed for better targeting of the sulphides, as reported by [42]. Based on a DOI threshold equal to 0.1, the inverted resistivity models were constrained by the datasets, up to a depth limit of 50 to 100 m (depending on the profiles) [36,37] (Figures 6 and 7).…”

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confidence: 99%

Geophysical Investigation of the Pb–Zn Deposit of Lontzen–Poppelsberg, Belgium

et al. 2018

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The drillhole information from the Lontzen-Poppelsberg site has demonstrated three orebodies and has allowed the estimation of the extension of the lodes, their dip, and the location at the ground surface. The localisation of the lodes makes them excellent targets for further exploration with geophysics. This deposit is classified as a Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) deposit. It consists mainly of Pb-Zn-Fe sulphides that display contrasting values in resistivity, chargeability, density, and magnetic susceptibility, with regards to the sedimentary host rocks. The dipole-dipole direct current (DC) resistivity and induce polarization (IP) profiles have been collected and inverted to successfully delineate the Pb-Zn mineralization and the geological structures. Short-spacing EM34 electromagnetic conductivity data were collected mainly on the top of Poppelsberg East lode and have revealed a conductive body matching with the geologically modelled mineralization. Gravity profiles have been carried out perpendicularly to the lode orientation; they show a strong structural anomaly. High resolution ground magnetic data were collected over the study area, but they showed no anomaly over the ore deposits. The geophysical inversion results are complementary to the model based on drill information, and allow us to refine the delineation of the mineralization. The identification of the geophysical signatures of this deposit permits targeting new possible mineralization in the area.

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“…Electromagnetic tests carried out in Olkusz demonstrated the high electrical conductivity (the low electrical resistivity) of stored waste – 2–65 mS m −1 (15–500 Ωm) (Cabala et al, 2008). On the other hand, measurements of induced polarization showed elevated normalized chargeability values, compared to the native geology, related to the presence of metalliferous (Fe, Pb) sulphides and clay minerals (Pierwoła, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of land degradation caused by historical Zn‐Pb mining using electrical resistivity tomography

et al. 2021

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Soil contamination with trace elements in mining areas still remains an urgent research problem due to their negative environmental impact that needs to be assessed. Despite the wide application of the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method to different environmental problems, it continually remains methodologically challenging in soil contamination near waste dumps of post‐metal historical mining. The aims of our study were: (1) to validate ERT measurements for detecting soil contamination by trace elements in the vicinity of a waste dump containing post‐processing spoil from Zn‐Pb ore smelting, (2) to determine the extent of soil contamination, and (3) to analyze the mineralogical, physical, and chemical properties of the soils affected. ERT enabled us to study the variability of electrical properties of soils, to locate the area of contamination, and to evaluate its spatial diversity in both. The impact of soil pollution is reflected on ERT cross‐sections in the form of electrical resistivities that decrease with increasing depth and distance from the waste dump. The respective maximum contents of Zn, Pb and Cd in the soils were 28,903, 12,407, and 136 mg kg−1. The total concentration of trace elements in soils was the highest down to a depth of 0.25 m and decreased in the order: Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd > Tl > As > Cr > Ni. The electrical resistivities of the soil samples were negatively correlated with the silty and clayey fraction content (−0.78), specific electrical conductivity (−0.75), total trace element content (−0.67), organic matter content (−0.57), and gravimetric water content (−0.53). The results also indicate that the electrical properties of the topsoil depend directly on the type of mineral components. Hydrated iron sulphates, lead sulphates, water‐bound in aluminosilicates, Fe oxides/hydroxides, and hydrated Fe, Zn, and Pb sulphates present in the soil all decrease its electrical resistivity. Our results show the impact of the mineralogical, physical, and chemical properties of the soils on the measured electrical resistivity and that including this information in the interpretation of ERT results enables non‐invasive detailed determination of soil contamination by trace elements.

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Using Geoelectrical Imaging to Recognize Zn-Pb Post-Mining Waste Deposits

Cited by 17 publications

References 13 publications

Integrated geophysical and geochemical methods applied for recognition of acid waste drainage (AWD) from Zn-Pb post-flotation tailing pile (Olkusz, southern Poland)

Integrated geophysical and geochemical methods applied for recognition of acid waste drainage (AWD) from Zn-Pb post-flotation tailing pile (Olkusz, southern Poland)

Geophysical Investigation of the Pb–Zn Deposit of Lontzen–Poppelsberg, Belgium

Detection of land degradation caused by historical Zn‐Pb mining using electrical resistivity tomography

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