Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is one of the elements with increasing environmental significance. A total of 22 samples (soils, rocks and gels) were collected along a 6km transect around the Valdeazogues River valley in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Almadén, Spain). Samples were characterized by different soil types of depositional sequences associated with mining tailings, type and system tracts: 15 surface soil samples included in the transect; 3 of a Haploxerept soil profile developed on slates; 2 of quartzite and slates rocks (reference rocks in the area). Moreover, two of a gel substance (in the lower tract of the river). Soil samples were analyzed for Hg, Cu, Ni, Cr, V, Pb, Cd and As, as well as for organic matter, pH abrasion and calcium carbonate content. All samples were collected from the Almadén mining district. The level of occurrence of the elements (especially Hg) and the effect of some properties on its concentration distributions were investigated. The total mercury contents varied in the range 7,315–3.44mgkg−1. The mean concentration of total mercury in soils and rocks was 477.03mgkg−1dry mass. This value is very high compared to the regional background value of other areas. Only rarely is it higher than 1%: in one sample (7,315mgkg−1) it was almost eight times in comparison with the affected zones, with a high value of 1,000mgkg−1. Significant differences between samples were found in the total content of mercury. A large percentage of the samples registered detectable levels of V, Cr, Ni, Pb, As and Cu. Cd readings were below the detectable range for all samples tested. Cr mean concentration was 216.95mgkg−1 (minimun concentration 86, maximun 358); V mean concentration was 119.09mgkg−1 (minimun concentration 69, maximun 1,209); As mean concentration was 51.24mgkg−1 (minimun 13.3 and maximun 319.4); Ni mean concentration was 45.64mgkg−1 (minimun concentration 21.2 and maximun 125.6); Cu mean concentration was 33.25mgkg−1 (minimun concentration 19.3 and maximun 135); Pb mean concentration was 15.19mgkg−1 (minimun 1.12 and maximun 1013). Metal distribution generally showed spatial variability ascribed to significant anthropogenic perturbation by mining tailing type. Hg showed vertical profile characterized by surface enrichment, with concentrations in the upper layer (93.7–82.2mgkg−1 in front of 3.4 of the rock value) exceeding, in several occasions, the background value. The results obtained denote a potential toxicity of some heavy metals in some of the studied samples. Water-soluble mercury could enter the aquatic system and accumulate in sediments. Mercury and other heavy metals contamination depended on the duration and intensity of mining activities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Biester H, Gosar M, Muller G (1999) Mercury speciation in tailings of the dirija mercury mine. J Geochem Explor 65:195–204
Boszke L, Kowalski A, Siepak J (2004) Grain size partitioning of mercury in sediments of the middle Odra River (Germany/Poland). Water Air Soil Pollut 159(1–4):125–138
Bru de Sala E, Genesca J, Alvarez A (1960) Estudio geoquimico en la zona minera de “El Entredicho”, Almaden. Bol Soc Esp Min 5:149–157
FAO (1977) Guidelines for soil profile description, Rome
FAO (1990) Soil map of the world, revised legend. World Soil Resources Report Number 60, Rome
FAO (2006) World reference base for soil resource. World Soil Resources Report 103, p 128
Fergusson JE (1990) The heavy elements chemistry environmental impacts and health effects. Pergamon Press, Oxford
Ferrari GA, Magaldi D (1983) Degreé of soil weathering as determined by abrasion pH: aplications in soil study and in paleopedology. Pedology XXXIII:93–104
Grant HW (1969) Abrasion pH, an index of chemical weathering. Clays and Clay Miner 17:151–157
Henderson PJ, McMartin I (1995) Mercury distribution in humus and surficial sediments in the vicinity of Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. Water Air Soil Pollut 80:1043–1046
Higueras P, Oyarzun R, Munhar J, Morata D (2000) The Almadén metallogenic cluster (Ciudad Real, Spain): alcaline magmatism process at an intraplate tectonic setling. Revista de la Sociedad geológica de España 13-1:105–119
Higueras P, Oyarzun R, Biester H, Lillo J, Lorenzo S (2003) A first insight into mercury distribution and speciation in the Almadén mining district, Spain. J Geochem Explor 80:95–104
Higueras P, Oyarzun R, Sánchez Hernández JC, Molina Abril JA, Lillo J, Lorenzo S, Esbrí JM, Gray JE, Hines ME (2004) Un caso de contaminación milenaria: el Distrito de Almadén. VII Congreso Nacional de Medio Ambiente, Madrid
Huckabee JW, Sanz Díaz F, Janzen SA, Solomon J (1983) Distribution of mercury in vegetation at Almadén, Spain. Environ Pollut (Series A) 30:211–224
Kabata-Pendias A, Pendias H (1999) Biogeochemistry of trace elements. Panswowe Wydawunictwo, Warszawa
Kim CS, Brown Jr GE, Rytuba JJ (2000) Characterization and speciation of mercury-bearing mine wastes using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Sci Total Environ 261(1–3):157–168
Kim CS, Rytuba JJ, Brown Jr GE (2004) Geological and anthropogenic factors influencing mercury speciation in mine wastes. Appl Geochem 19(3):379–393
Lindberg SE, Jackson DR, Huckabee JW, Janzen SA, Levin MJ, Lund JRJ (1979) Atmospheric emission and plant uptake of mercury from agricultural soils near the Almaden mercury mine. Environ Qual 8:572–578
Navarro A, Collado D,Carbonell M, Sánchez JA (2004) Impact of mining activities in a semi-arid environment: Sierra Almagrera district, SE Spain. Environ Geochem Health 26:383–393
Navarro A, Biester H, Mendoza JL, Cardellach E (2006) Mercury speciation and mobilization in contaminated soils of the Valle del Azogue Hg mine (SE, Spain). Environ Geol 49:1089–1101
Rodríguez L, López-Bellido FJ, Carnicer A, Alcalde-Moraño V (2003) Phytoremediation of mercury-polluted soils using crop plants. Fresenius Environ Bull 12(9):967–971
Rytuba JJ (2000) Mercury mine drainage and processes that control its environmental impact. Sci Total Environ 260:57–71
Slowey AJ, Johnson SB, Rytuba JJ, Brown Jr GE (2003) Role of organic acids in promoting colloid transport of mercury from mine tailings. Environ Sci Technol 37(22):5102–5108
USDA-NCRS. Keys to soil taxonomy (10th edn). p 331
Slowey AJ, Rytuba JJ, Brown Jr GE (2005) Speciation of mercury and mode of transport from placer gold mine tailings. Environ Sci Technol 39(6):1547–1554
Viladevall M, Font X, Navarro A (1999) Geochemical mercury survey in the Azogue Valley (Betic area, SE Spain). J Geochem Explor 66:27–35
Wallschlager D, Desai VM, Spengler M, Wilken R (1998) Heavy metals in the environment: mercury speciation in floodplain soils and sediments along a contaminated river transect. J Environ Qual 27(5):1034–1044
Acknowledgments
This research could not have been developed without the cooperation of the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente of Spain (Environmental Ministry) Project: 1.2-137/2005/3-B.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bueno, P.C., Bellido, E., Rubí, J.A.M. et al. Concentration and spatial variability of mercury and other heavy metals in surface soil samples of periurban waste mine tailing along a transect in the Almadén mining district (Spain). Environ Geol 56, 815–824 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1182-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1182-z