Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Environmental Hazards of Different Types of Mining Waste from a Former Mediterranean Metal Mining Area

Roberto Rodríguez-Pacheco, Gregorio García (), Ana Vanessa Caparrós-Ríos, Virginia Robles-Arenas, Cristóbal García-García, Rocío Millán, Araceli Pérez-Sanz and Luis Alberto Alcolea-Rubio
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Roberto Rodríguez-Pacheco: Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) CN-IGME, Ríos Rosa 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Gregorio García: Agronomical Engineering Department, Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT), 30202 Cartagena, Spain
Ana Vanessa Caparrós-Ríos: Servicio de Apoyo a la Investigación Tecnológica (SAIT), Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT), 30202 Cartagena, Spain
Virginia Robles-Arenas: Departamento de Ingeniería Minera y Civil, Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT), 30202 Cartagena, Spain
Cristóbal García-García: Departamento de Ingeniería Minera y Civil, Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT), 30202 Cartagena, Spain
Rocío Millán: CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Araceli Pérez-Sanz: Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Food Science, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), 28049 Madrid, Spain
Luis Alberto Alcolea-Rubio: Servicio de Apoyo a la Investigación Tecnológica (SAIT), Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT), 30202 Cartagena, Spain

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: Mine waste constitutes one of the biggest environmental and management problems, both due to its quantity and its danger when they are rich in toxic elements. There is a wide variety of waste from the oxidation of ores in metal mining areas, both metal sulphide and other minerals. These residues may be enriched in potentially toxic elements that can spread and contaminate ecosystems, farmland and villages. This study has focused on the characterization and evaluation of residues derived from metal-bearing mining waste in abandoned mining areas. Mineralogy and geochemical characteristics were determined by XRD, WDXRF and TG-MS techniques. In addition, DIN 38414-S4 leaching tests were carried out to assess the risk and mobility of potentially toxic elements. Silicates and oxides were found as the main mineral groups, followed by sulphates. These tailings were particularly enriched in Zn, Pb, As, Sb and Cd, while their leachates had high or extreme metal content. Consequently, these mining wastes are considered toxic and hazardous, even for landfills. Sulphides, as the primary source, and sulphates from their oxidation, were the main sources of these pollutants. Sulphates, As, Zn, Cd and Cu determined the specific environmental impact of the different tailing types, which were grouped into different clusters according to their mineralogy and geochemistry. These results provided a better understanding of the environmental hazards associated with the different types of metal mining waste in the area studied.

Keywords: abandoned metal mines; mine waste characterization; tailing typology; environmental hazards; Cartagena–La Unión mining area; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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