Application of multivariate statistic of U, Th and Pb concentrations and Pb Isotopic signatures in the assessment of geogenic and anthropogenic sources in a U-mineralized area.

Abstract

This work presents a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) study using Pbi- sotope signatures and U, Th and Pb concentrations from groundwater, sedi- ments and rocks (granites and orthogneisses) of the Complex of Lagoa Real (Bahia, Brazil). This area is naturally enriched in U and Th, with the occur- rence of Pb derived from the radioactive decay of the elements (238U, 235U and 232Th) in the form of their stable isotopes 206Pb, 207Pb and 208Pb in addition to the natural isotope 204Pb. Sampling was carried out in the rainy season (De- cember to January) and the points were selected according to regional hy- drology and geology. Thirty samples were analyzed: 12 of groundwater (AP) and 18 of sediments (S). The results show that the use of isotopic ratios allows discrimination between geogenic and anthropogenic samples. This informa- tion is not obtained using only the analysis of concentration data. Statistically, the isotopic data of Pb stand out as an efficient tool in the characterization of sources in the scenario investigated, allowing an effective environmental monitoring and a better management of the mining activities.