Title: Sequential extraction combined with isotopic analysis as a tool for studying lead contamination from mining activity

Authors: M. Iglesias, M. Sanchez, I. Queralt, M. Hidalgo, E. Margui

Addresses: Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain. ' Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain. ' Institute of Earth Sciences ''Jaume Almera'', CSIC, C/Lluis Sole Sabaris s/n. 08028, Barcelona, Spain. ' Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain. ' Institute of Earth Sciences ''Jaume Almera'', CSIC, C/Lluis Sole Sabaris s/n 08028 Barcelona, Spain

Abstract: Tailings deposits generated from mining activities constitute a potential risk to the environment through leaching of potentially toxic elements hosted by a variety of minerals present in the mine-waste materials. In the present work, in an attempt to study the potential mobility of lead in different type of Pb-Zn ore concentrate residues and its environmental impact, a sequential extraction method (modified BCR procedure) combined with isotopic analysis was applied. While the sequential extraction procedure gave information about the fractionation of lead in the different lattices of the waste samples, isotopic analysis was a complementary tool for studying potential sources of lead within the different phases extracted.

Keywords: sequential extraction; lead isotopic analysis; mining waste; lead contamination; environmental pollution; tailings deposits.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2010.029687

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2010 Vol.5 No.1/2, pp.64 - 78

Published online: 01 Dec 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article