Assessment of heavy metal mobility in mine tailings in the province of Huelva

J. C. Arranz González; V. Cala Rivero

doi:10.21701/bolgeomin.122.2.006

Authors

J. C. Arranz González Departamento de Investigación en Recursos Geológicos, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España
V. Cala Rivero Departamento de Geología y Geoquímica. Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21701/bolgeomin.122.2.006

Keywords:

abandoned mines, leaching, metal extraction, mine tailings, TCLP

Abstract

Metallurgic mine wastes often contain high concentrations of potentially toxic elements, the mobility of which may pose an environmental hazard for water and surrounding ecosystems. We have examined the mobility of Ag, As, Cu, Pb and Zn from composite surface samples (0-20 cm) of different pyritic tailings impoundments in the province of Huelva (Spain). These samples were also subject to physicalchemical and mineralogical (XRD) characterization. The total metal content of the tailings ranged between 1.89-11.2 ppm for Ag, 72-610 ppm for As, 245-1194 ppm for Cu, 220-11933 for Pb and 41-706 for Zn, all proving to be highly acidic. The mobility of these elements was assessed by using a seven-step sequential extraction procedure and applying the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). We investigated the applicability of TCLP to the tailings by comparing the results with those of the first steps of the sequential extraction procedure. It was found that the pH values remained buffered (close to 4.97) upon adding the TCLP extraction reagent and that the pH values differed significantly from those of the aqueous extracts. This could result in an underestimation of mobile forms compared with those disolved in water. We may also conclude that due to the presence of specific minerals or to the preference of some elements for acetate ions the results of any assessment of metal mobility in pyritic tailings using the TCLP test may be questionable.

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