scholarly journals Surficial geochemistry and bioaccessibility of tellurium in semiarid mine tailings

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Hayes ◽  
Nicole A. Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Mining District ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
High Degree ◽  
X Ray Absorption

Environmental contextTellurium can be more toxic than arsenic, but its fate in the surficial environment is poorly understood. We studied tellurium behaviour in semiarid mine tailings and found that most tellurium is associated with iron (oxy)hydroxides as tellurate (TeVI), the less toxic oxidation state. Iron (oxy)hydroxides are likely to control the fate of Te in the surficial environment and may effectively sequester Te oxyanions released by oxidative weathering. AbstractTellurium (Te) is a critical element owing to its use in solar technology. However, some forms are highly toxic. Few studies have examined Te behaviour in the surficial environment, thus little is known about its potential human and environmental health impacts. This study characterises two physicochemically distinct Te-enriched mine tailings piles (big and flat tailings) deposited by historic gold (Au) mining in the semiarid Delamar mining district, Nevada, USA. The big tailings are characterised by smaller particle size and higher concentrations of potentially toxic elements (up to 290mgTekg−1), which are enriched at the tailings surface. In contrast, the flat tailings have larger particle size and properties that are relatively invariant with depth. Based on the sulfate to sulfide ratio, the tailings were determined to be sulfate dominated, which suggested a high degree of weathering, although the flat tailings did contain significant amounts of sulfides (~40%). Tellurium X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the big tailings indicates that tellurate, the less toxic Te species, is the principal form of Te. Electron microscopy indicates that most of the Te present at the site is associated with iron (oxy)hydroxides, and sometimes with other potentially toxic elements, especially lead and antimony. Physiologically-based extraction tests indicate that substantially more Te is solubilised in synthetic stomach fluids than in lung fluids, with gastric bioaccessibility ranging from 13 to 31% of total Te. This points to low to medium bioaccessibility, which is common for iron (oxy)hydroxide-associated elements. Together, these results represent a preliminary assessment of Te surficial behaviour in a semiarid environment and indicate that Te in these tailings represent a moderate health concern.

scholarly journals Treatment of Soil Contaminated by Mining Activities to Prevent Contamination by Encapsulation in Ceramic Construction Materials

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 6740
Author(s):  
Juan María Terrones-Saeta ◽  
Jorge Suárez-Macías ◽  
Antonio Bernardo-Sánchez ◽  
Laura Álvarez de Prado ◽  
Marta Menéndez Fernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ceramic Material ◽  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ceramic Materials ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Mining District ◽  
Different Soils

Mining is an essential activity for obtaining materials necessary for the well-being and development of society. However, this activity produces important environmental impacts that must be controlled. More specifically, there are different soils near new or abandoned mining productions that have been contaminated with potentially toxic elements, and currently represent an important environmental problem. In this research, a contaminated soil from the mining district of Linares was studied for its use as a raw material for the conforming of ceramic materials, bricks, dedicated to construction. Firstly, the contaminated soil was chemically and physically characterized in order to evaluate its suitability. Subsequently, different families of samples were conformed with different percentages of clay and contaminated soil. Finally, the conformed ceramics were physically and mechanically characterized to examine the variation produced in the ceramic material by the incorporation of the contaminated soil. In addition, in this research, leachate tests were performed according to the TCLP method determining whether encapsulation of potentially toxic elements in the soil occurs. The results showed that all families of ceramic materials have acceptable physical properties, with a soil percentage of less than 80% being acceptable to obtain adequate mechanical properties and a maximum of 70% of contaminated soil to obtain acceptable leachate according to EPA regulations. Therefore, the maximum percentage of contaminated soil that can be incorporated into the ceramic material is 70% in order to comply with all standards. Consequently, this research not only avoids the contamination that contaminated soil can produce, but also valorizes this element as a raw material for new materials, avoiding the extraction of clay and reducing the environmental impact.

scholarly journals Environmental Threats of Ancient Pb Mining and Metallurgical Activities in the Linares Mining District (Southern Spain)

Proceedings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (23) ◽  
pp. 1459
Author(s):  
Carlos Boente ◽  
Carlos Sierra ◽  
Julián Martínez ◽  
Eduardo Rodríguez-Valdés ◽  
Elías Afif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Mining District ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
Industrial Sites ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Metallurgical Activities

Former industrial sites are now dedicated to other land uses in the Linares mining district. Here we selected five residential/farming areas (squares of 1 km2 each) and sought to evaluate the levels of contamination by Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) of the soils, and also to offer an insight into the threat these pollutants may pose to human health or the environment by means of risk assessment. High concentrations especially of Pb, and also of As, Cd, Cu and Zn were found in quantities that are considerably bioavailable. Moreover, risk assessment revealed unacceptable concentrations for Pb and As in all the areas as well as for Cd and Cu in some squares.

Wild Flora of Mine Tailings: Perspectives for Use in Phytoremediation of Potentially Toxic Elements in a Semi-Arid Region in Mexico

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 476-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariadna S. Sánchez-López ◽  
Ma. del Carmen A. González-Chávez ◽  
Rogelio Carrillo-González ◽  
Jaco Vangronsveld ◽  
Margarita Díaz-Garduño
Keyword(s):  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Effect of limestone and dolomite tailings’ particle size on potentially toxic elements adsorption

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 726-739
Author(s):  
Sofia Farmaki ◽  
Eleni Vorrisi ◽  
Olga K. Karakasi ◽  
Angeliki Moutsatsou
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Taguchi Method ◽  
Adsorption Capacity ◽  
Contact Time ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Fixed Bed ◽  
Solution Concentration ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Batch Experiments ◽  
Rock Particle

Abstract The aim of the study is the investigation of potentially toxic elements adsorption on limestone, dolomite and marble particles of different size. As parameters, rock particle size, solution concentration, contact time and presence of other elements in the solution have been investigated. Four fractions with different particle size (−4mm + 1mm, −1mm + 315μm, −315μm + 90μm, <90μm) have been studied. Batch experiments have been carried out at 20, 60, 120 min from monoelement and competitive Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn solutions at concentrations 5, 100, 500 mg/L, whereas fixed bed conditions have also been applied. In lower concentrations, adsorption reaches equilibrium after 60 min. 15% difference in Pb adsorption and 15-30% in Zn adsorption has been observed depending on particle size. However, according to Taguchi method particle size has not proven a determinative parameter, so as to make grinding and/or sieving necessary for their further utilisation. Cd and Zn adsorption from a competitive solution is lower, whereas Cu and Pb adsorption is similar. Adsorption capacity of materials rises up to 0.03 mg Cd/g, 0.60 mg Cu/g, 0.03 mg Pb/g, 0.60 mg Zn/g. In fixed bed conditions more than 93% element is adsorbed, of which only 4% is leached.

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