Trace elements distributions at Datoko- Shega artisanal mining site, northern Ghana (original) (raw)
Related papers
2011
Stream sediment samples were analyzed for the concentrations of some trace metals in the Obuasi gold min-ing environment, Ghana. The objectives were to determine the possible impacts of mining operations in the area on sediments ’ trace metal load, and the resulting effects on agriculture and livelihoods. The concentra-tions of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), with calcium (Ca) as reference element, were compared to their respective background concentrations to calculate the enrichment and contamination factors, and also geo-accumulation and pollution load indices of each trace metal. These were in turn com-pared to standard tables to determine the status of contamination. Q-mode hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was then applied to the samples for spatial classification. This study suggests probable contribution of min-ing and associated activities in the Obuasi area to the concentrations of trace metals especially arsenic, in the stream sediments. Thre...
Environment and Natural Resources Research, 2014
Mining and related activities are sources of heavy metal contamination in streams, such as copper, zinc, cadmium, arsenic and lead. The study is focused on Ibodi, southwestern Nigeria which is located in the basement complex of Nigeria and it is to assess the stream sediments of Ibodi in order to decipher the environmental impact assessment of mining activities on the environment. A total of ten stream sediment were collected from the study area and its environs along major tributaries, air dried at room temperature, sieved with 75 micron sized sieve and analyzed in the laboratory using ICP-MS (inductively couple plasma mass spectrometry technique). The analytical results of the major elements analyses show that Iron oxide [Fe 2 O 3 ] has the highest major element composition, value ranging from 2.36%-10.61% with an average value of 5.262%. This highest concentration of Iron oxide was found in location 1, with a value of 10.61% and this can be attributed to the underlying geology of amphibolites' in the Ibodi study area, which are known to be rich in Iron as well as magnesium i.e ferromagnesian minerals. Magnesium oxide [MgO] range in composition from 0.11%-0.92% with an average value of 0.349%, the highest concentration was found in location 3. [Al 2 O 3 ] ranges in composition from 0.83%-4.158% with an average value of 2.109% the highest value was also found at location 3, it is the next in abundance to Iron oxide in the Ibodi study area. Potassium oxide [K 2 O] range in composition from 0.04%-0.65% with an average value of 0.183%, other major oxides such as [P 2 O 5 ], [TiO 2 ], [Na 2 O] and [CaO] have average values of 0.109%, 0.096%,0.008% and 0.162% respectively; These values are generally low within the Ibodi study area, The analytical results for trace element geochemistry of Ibodi study area show that Vanadium [V] has a high concentrations and it range from 35.00 ppm-202.00 ppm with an average mean value of 92.50 ppm, the highest concentration of this element was found in location 1 of the Ibodi study area. Arsenic [As] range from 0.10 ppm-1.6 ppm with an average value of 0.644 ppm, there is a significant enrichment of Cobalt [Co] and Chromium [Cr] with concentrations ranging from 4.0 ppm-53.50 ppm and 35.20 ppm-150.70 ppm respectively, with average mean values of 17.73 ppm and 88.78 ppm respectively; Manganese [Mn] has the highest concentration in the study area, with concentration value ranging from 86.00 ppm-2165.00 ppm having an average value of 768.20 ppm; the highest concentration of this element was found in location 1 of the study area. [Ga], [Ni] and [Pb] show considerable enrichments within the study area with concentration values ranging from 3.10 ppm-9.50 ppm, 5.30 ppm-37.70 ppm and 6.75 ppm-18.44 ppm, with average values of 6.08 ppm,19.80 ppm, 12.209 ppm respectively, Rubidium [Rb] range in concentration from 6.50 ppm-30.90 ppm with an average value of 13.41 ppm, Strontium [Sr] has concentration values that range from 4.70 ppm-37.20 ppm with an average value of 15.06 ppm. [Y], [Zr] and [Zn] has concentration values that range from 7.99 ppm-21.10 ppm, 1.20 ppm-4.00 ppm and 26.20 ppm-83.60 ppm respectively with average mean values of 15.065 ppm, 2.21 ppm and 46.58 ppm, the value of zinc [Zn] is considerably high in the study area with the highest value found at location 4 of the study area indicating some level of enrichment of this metals within the study area, also [Rb], [Y] and [Sr] show some considerable enrichments within the study area. from the study of the environmental parameter such as box plot and Geo-accumulation indexes the values of the selected trace elements are all less than 1, meaning that all the selected trace metals in Ibodi study area have values less than zero and are in the negative zone. In order to determine the pollution status of the study area, the values of the elements when compared to the Muller classes of www.ccsen geo-accum elements f
Current World Environment Journal, 2014
The concentrations of eight trace elements, Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg) and arsenic(As) in sediment and water were assessed in four artisanal and small-scale mining(ASM) localities in the Amansie West District (6°282 N 1°532 W) of Ghana along two river courses from May 2011 to July 2011. Triplicate water and sediment samples were randomly taken at five different points at each of the localities and the elements determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS ). Using the Geoaccumulation Index( I geo ) assessment, the sediments were found to be polluted to different degrees with Cu (Uncontaminated to moderately contaminated/Moderately contaminated), Hg (Uncontaminated to moderately contaminated/Moderately contaminated) and As (Moderately contaminated/Moderately to strongly contaminated). The Enrichment Factor (EF) indicated human influence -artisanal mining activities on the sediment concentration of Cd and Pb for all the localities and only some of the localities for the rest of the trace elements. The elements are major sediment pollutants ( EF > 2) in one or more of the localities. The I geo and EF gave diverse status of the sediment qualities of the localities. Cd, Pb, Hg and As water concentrations in the four artisanal mining localities were all found to be above the WHO maximum acceptable of levels for drinking water. Inhabitants in the mining localities face the risk of getting various diseases by drinking the waters contaminated with the trace elements.
American Journal of Environmental Protection
Recently, the problems posed by chemical contaminants, in particular metallic trace elements (TMEs), in the environment, have aroused the interest of the scientific community, because the protection of the environment requires knowledge of the fate of these contaminants and their effects on the living beings that depend on them. Their presence in environmental matrices is often caused by human activities, particularly agriculture, livestock farming, industry and transport. In the region of the Lobaye prefecture, in the southwest of the Central African Republic, gold and diamonds have been mined for decades in an artisanal manner using inadequate methods and environmentally unfriendly substances such as mercury and cyanide. The aim of this study is to determine the trace metal content of the water and sediments in the study area in order to predict the environmental and health risks associated with their use. Water and sediment samples were taken at 16 sites, 6 boreholes, 10 watercourses and a control well, and their concentrations in metals such as Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results obtained reveal a significant contamination of these waters and underline a significant variability of the concentrations of the TMEs according to the metal analysed and the type of water, on the semi-mechanised exploitation site at DIKEKELE, the concentration of mercury is 8 µg/l higher than the standard of 1 µg/. The sediments are composed of a majority of Quartz at about 80% on average and 20% overall of kaolinite and muscovite and contain a high proportion of Cr, Pb, Cu, Co and Ni and a low proportion of Hg.
Journal of environmental science and pollution research, 2016
Trace metal concentrations in water and sediment samples collected from six rivers in some artisanal and small-scale gold mining sites at Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region of Ghana were studied. A total of 70 water and sediment samples were analysed for Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As) Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Manganese (Mn) using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Four out of the seven trace metals, namely, Hg, As, Pb and Cd in all the water samples examined exceeded their respective WHO maximum acceptable limit in drinking water. In order of decreasing ecological threat, the trace metals investigated can be arranged in the following order: Hg>Cd>As>Cu>Pb>Zn>Mn. The Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and Contamination factor (Cf) values of sediment indicate that all the rivers studied were heavily contaminated (3<Igeo≤4) and uncontaminated to moderately contaminated (0<Igeo≤1) with Hg and Cd respectively. The strong correlation between Hg, As and Cd concentrations in water and sediment samples showed the possibility of sediment acting as a secondary pollution source. High Potential Ecological Risk (PER) index values (332.67≤RI≤649.03) were recorded for the six rivers studied suggesting possible detrimental effect on the health of inhabitants of the community who depend on the rivers for drinking water without prior treatment.
The Mining-Geology-Petroleum Engineering Bulletin, 2019
An active gold mining area in Okpella, Edo State, Nigeria was studied to assess the contribution of gold mining to the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in stream sediments. Standard geochemical sampling and sample treatment techniques were employed, and samples were analysed using the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method. The concentrations of arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were determined in fifteen stream sediment samples from an active gold mining area, which also receives discharged marble mine water. The enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I geo) were calculated using the XRF analysis results to assess the level of PTEs pollution in the area. The sediments showed a PTEs concentration trend of Cu > Zn > Pb > As > Cr > Hg > Ni > Co. The EF results revealed extremely severe enrichment of Hg, moderate enrichment of Cu, minor enrichment of As and Pb, and no enrichment of Co, Cr, Ni and Zn in the sediments. The I geo also showed that the sediments were extremely polluted with Hg, moderately polluted with Cu but there was no evidence of pollution from other PTEs. Extreme pollution of the sediments by Hg and its enrichments in Cu, As and Pb are due to indiscriminate active artisanal gold mining in the area. It is recommended that immediate remediation measures should be enforced to mitigate the possible environmental health hazards to humans and livestock in the area.
Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 1998
During an environmental study of stream-sediments, large variations in metal values were noticed in contaminated sediments taken from the same site at different times. The question arose as to whether these differences were due to variations in contaminate input or merely represented the heterogeneity of the contaminated sediments at the site. Large numbers of replicate samples and measurements could be utilized to help answer the questions, but this is time-consuming and costly. Random errors can be estimated by the use of a duplicate analyses scheme and much use has been made of duplicate analyses in geochemical surveys and prospecting. In the work reported here, use was made of duplicate analyses to study Cu, Pb, and Zn variation in environmental stream-sediment samples. Samples were collected from three areas: (1) adjacent to the La Bajada mine along the Santa Fe River, (2) adjacent to the Pecos mine along the Pecos River, and (3) downstream from the Alamitos mill located on a tributary of the Pecos River. Both rivers are located in northern New Mexico. The mines and the mill have been inactive for many years. ANOVA statistics were used to evaluate differences in Cu, Pb, and Zn values between contaminated sites that were immediately adjacent. The large variations in metal values noted on earlier trips at the sites on the Pecos River were not noted in this study. Analytical error was the greatest contributor to total variance. Differences in the adjacent site means were most apparent in the smallest size fraction (<63 µm). But even these differences were shown to be mostly due to random error. The smallest size fraction contained the highest metal values at all three sites. Stream-sediments at the La Bajada mine site did not appear to be contaminated.
The Mining-Geology-Petroleum Engineering Bulletin, 2019
An active gold mining area in Okpella, Edo State, Nigeria was studied to assess the contribution of gold mining to the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in stream sediments. Standard geochemical sampling and sample treatment techniques were employed, and samples were analysed using the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method. The concentrations of arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were determined in fifteen stream sediment samples from an active gold mining area, which also receives discharged marble mine water. The enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I geo) were calculated using the XRF analysis results to assess the level of PTEs pollution in the area. The sediments showed a PTEs concentration trend of Cu > Zn > Pb > As > Cr > Hg > Ni > Co. The EF results revealed extremely severe enrichment of Hg, moderate enrichment of Cu, minor enrichment of As and Pb, and no enrichment of Co, Cr, Ni and Zn in the sediments. The I geo also showed that the sediments were extremely polluted with Hg, moderately polluted with Cu but there was no evidence of pollution from other PTEs. Extreme pollution of the sediments by Hg and its enrichments in Cu, As and Pb are due to indiscriminate active artisanal gold mining in the area. It is recommended that immediate remediation measures should be enforced to mitigate the possible environmental health hazards to humans and livestock in the area.
Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 2015
The present study was carried out to assess stream sediment quality and pollution level by major and trace elements near six abandoned barite mines in the Oban massif and Mamfe Embayment (SE Nigeria). Results showed that the stream sediments are sandy (>70%) and slightly acidic (pH, 4.1-6.3) with LOI ≤ 4%, qualitatively indicating low organic matter contents. The concentrations of trace elements varied widely among the dump sites and decreased with depth and distance away from mine dump sites. Comparison of average trace element concentrations in the sediments with background concentrations revealed that most of the sediments were polluted with Fe, As, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn at all the mine sites. Pollution by Cd was documented at locations underlain by shale rock, while Cr pollution was at area underlain by basement. Pollution by Co was mainly within shale and basement areas. Concentrations of Al, Ni and V across all mine sites and Co at sedimentary area were below background values. Lowest concentrations of elements were recorded with the sandstone area and the highest concentration in the basement area. Moderate values of elements characterized the shale area. The index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) based on average values for the depth range 0-30cm indicated varying degrees of pollution with Al, Fe, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni and V (practically unpolluted, Class 0); As, Ba, Cu and Zn (slightly polluted, Class I) and Pb (moderately to strongly polluted, Class III). However, these levels of pollution are milder compared to when maximum Igeo values were used. The sediments were slightly to strongly polluted with Pb across all the sample sites irrespective to the lithology. The Itot defined as the sum of Igeo for all trace elements obtained from the different mine sites indicated that the basement areas are most polluted compared to the areas underlain by sedimentary rocks. The spatial distribution of different pollution level by trace elements was irregular and not defined to any geologic terrains.
Journal of Mining and Environment, 2019
In this work, the concentrations of the potentially toxic elements in stream sediments in SE Nigeria were assessed for pollution monitoring in mining, quarrying, and farming areas. The levels of iron, molybdenum, vanadium, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, cobalt, manganese, chromium, barium, and beryllium were determined. The concentrations of the elements were in the order of Fe > Ba > Mn > Cr > Zn > Pb > Cu > Co > Ni > As > Mo. There were significant positive correlations at P EiR (Pb)> EiR (Cu) > EiR (Co) > EiR (Cr) > EiR (V) > EiR (Ni) > EiR (Zn). Ba, Pb, and As should be monitored further to determine their source and recommend possible remedial measures. The result of this work could be used to improve water management efficiency and serve as a benchmark of vulnerability assessment of the studied area. This could also be useful for future impact assessment and adequate planning of mining and farming areas. In addition, the result obt...