A geochemical study of overbank sediments in the Tinto and Odiel basin (Huelva)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21701/bolgeomin.125.4.008Keywords:
Geochemistry, floodplain, Iberian Pyrite Belt, quaternary, sedimentationAbstract
The overbank sediments can act as a record of contaminants transported by rivers. In this study, these sediments are examined in the Odiel and Tinto rivers, both located in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Several vertical sections have been studied in their own floodplains (two in the Odiel River and one profile in the Tinto River). Samples were sieved at <63 µm and subjected to total digestion by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma-atomic emision spectrometry (ICP-AES) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA).
The results reflect substantial differences between the geochemical characteristics from the Tinto and Odiel floodplains. These differences are related to the inventoried mineralization in each basin, apart from the floodplain development itself. It has been detected that several flood layers show particularly a high level of contaminated elements. This could be related to overflows from tailing dams or mobilization of dumps due to exceptional rainfalls. The fact that the stream sediment presents a lower level of the majority of the analyzed heavy metals shows that the overbank sediments store the contaminants discharged in the past.
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