Iron ore mining promotes iron enrichment in sediments of the Gualaxo do Norte River basin, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
Nenhuma Miniatura disponível
Data
2014
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Editor
Resumo
The objective of the present study is to assess
the influence of iron ore mining on Fe concentrations in
fluvial sediments of the Gualaxo do Norte River basin
(Minas Gerais State, Brazil). Initially background values
were determined for Fe by means of the boxplot representation,
the iterative 2r technique and the calculated
distribution function, using geochemical data obtained for
alluvial terraces. Geochronologic analyses in carbonaceous
materials attested for the proposed background values.
After that, chemical analyses of active drainage sediments
collected along the entire basin were carried out and a
geochemical map of the study area was prepared. The
mean background value for Fe is relatively high (8.2
wt %), when compared to the Fe concentration in the
Earth’s crust (5.6 wt %). Such background value is
strongly associated with the geological characteristics of
the region. It was observed that most of the high Fe concentrations
were detected in active sediments collected in
the main river of the basin and not in its tributaries. This
suggests that Fe enrichment is not only linked to the local
geology but also to possible increase resulting from accidental
leakage of iron ore mining tailings from containment
dams and lakes upstream. It is suggested that measures that
help stop or minimize such impact be adopted. The large
capacity of Fe to adsorb and form complexes with toxic
metals implicates in environmental hazards that may not be
restricted only to the Gualaxo do Norte river basin, but may
affect the other basins downstream.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Geochemical background, Iron ore mining, Fluvial sediments
Citação
RODRIGUES, A. S. de L. et al. Iron ore mining promotes iron enrichment in sediments of the Gualaxo do Norte River basin, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Environmental Earth Sciences, v. 71, p. 4177-4186, 2014. Disponível em: <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12665-013-2808-y>. Acesso em: 20 de jun. 2017.