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Dos Santos DS, Ribeiro PG, Andrade R, Silva SHG, Gastauer M, Caldeira CF, Guedes RS, Dias YN, Souza Filho PWM, Ramos SJ. Clean and accurate soil quality monitoring in mining areas under environmental rehabilitation in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:385. [PMID: 38507123 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12495-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Soil quality monitoring in mining rehabilitation areas is a crucial step to validate the effectiveness of the adopted recovery strategy, especially in critical areas for environmental conservation, such as the Brazilian Amazon. The use of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry allows a rapid quantification of several soil chemical elements, with low cost and without residue generation, being an alternative for clean and accurate environmental monitoring. Thus, this work aimed to assess soil quality in mining areas with different stages of environmental rehabilitation based on predictions of soil fertility properties through pXRF along with four machine learning algorithms (projection pursuit regression, PPR; support vector machine, SVM; cubist regression, CR; and random forest, RF) in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon. Sandstone and iron mines in different chronological stages of rehabilitation (initial, intermediate, and advanced) were evaluated, in addition to non-rehabilitated and native forest areas. A total of 81 soil samples (26 from sandstone mine and 55 from iron mine) were analyzed by both traditional wet-chemistry methods and pXRF. The available/exchangeable contents of K, Ca, B, Fe, and Al, in addition to H+Al, cation exchange capacity at pH = 7, Al saturation, soil organic matter, pH, sum of bases, base saturation, clay, and sand were accurately predicted (R2 > 0.70) using pXRF data, with emphasis on the prediction of Fe (R2 = 0.93), clay content (R2 = 0.81), H+Al (R2 = 0.81), and K+ (R2 = 0.85). The best predictive models were developed by RF and CR (86%) and when considering pXRF data + mining area + stage of rehabilitation (73%). The results highlight the potential of pXRF to accurately assess soil properties in environmental rehabilitation areas in the Amazon region (yet scarcely evaluated under this approach), promoting a more agile and cheaper preliminary diagnosis compared to traditional methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula Godinho Ribeiro
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Belém, PA, 66055-090, Brazil
| | - Renata Andrade
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, MG, 37200-900, Brazil
| | | | - Markus Gastauer
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Belém, PA, 66055-090, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Silva Guedes
- Federal University of the South and Southeast of Pará, Xinguara, Pará, Brazil
| | - Yan Nunes Dias
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Belém, PA, 66055-090, Brazil
| | | | - Silvio Junio Ramos
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Belém, PA, 66055-090, Brazil.
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Camêlo DDL, Silva Filho LAD, Arruda DLD, Cyrino LM, Barroso GF, Corrêa MM, Barbeira PJS, Mendes DB, Pasa VMD, Profeti D. Mineralogical fingerprint and human health risk from potentially toxic elements of Fe mining tailings from the Fundão dam. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169328. [PMID: 38104831 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
In 2015, >50 million cubic meters of Fe mining tailings were released into the Doce River basin from the Fundão dam, raising the question of its consequences on the affected ecosystems. This study aimed to establish a mineralogical-(geo)chemical association of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from Fe mining tailings from the Fundão dam, collected seven days after the failure, through a multidisciplinary approach combining assessment of the risk to human health, environmental geochemistry, and mineralogy. Thus, eleven tailings samples were collected with the support of the Brazilian Military Police Fire Department. Granulometry, magnetic measurements, optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and sequential chemical extraction of PTEs analyses were performed. Contamination indexes, assessment of risk to human health, and Pearson correlation were calculated using the results of sequential chemical extraction of PTEs. The predominance of goethite in Fe oxyhydroxide concentrates from the mud indicates that the major source of hematite may not be from tailings, but from pre-existing soils and sediments, and/or preferential dissolution of hematite in deep flooded zones of the tailings column of the Fundão dam. Moreover, the high correlation of most carcinogenic PTEs with their crystallographic variables indicates that goethite is the primary source of contaminants. Goethites from Fe mining tailings showed high specific surface area and Al-substitution, and due to their greater stability and reactivity, the impacts on PTE sorption phenomena and bioavailability may be maintained for long periods. However, their lower dissolution rate, and the consequent release of heavy metals would promote greater resilience for affected ecosystems, preventing significant PTE inputs under periodic reduction conditions. More specific studies, involving the crystallographic characteristics of Fe oxyhydroxides should be developed since they may provide another critical component of this set of complex and dynamic variables that interfere with the bioavailability of metals in ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo de Lima Camêlo
- Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo 29500-000, Brazil.
| | | | - David Lukas de Arruda
- Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo 29500-000, Brazil
| | - Luan Mauri Cyrino
- Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo 29500-000, Brazil
| | - Gilberto Fonseca Barroso
- Department of Oceanography and Ecology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo 29075-910, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Metri Corrêa
- Federal University of Agreste of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco 55292-270, Brazil
| | | | - Danniel Brandão Mendes
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Vânya Marcia Duarte Pasa
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Demetrius Profeti
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo 29500-000, Brazil
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T Silva de Sá R, Tesser Antunes Prianti M, Andrade R, Oliveira Silva A, Rodrigues Batista É, Valentim Dos Santos J, Magno Silva F, Aurélio Carbone Carneiro M, Roberto Guimarães Guilherme L, Chakraborty S, C Weindorf D, Curi N, Henrique Godinho Silva S, Teixeira Ribeiro B. Detailed characterization of iron-rich tailings after the Fundão dam failure, Brazil, with inclusion of proximal sensors data, as a secure basis for environmental and agricultural restoration. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 228:115858. [PMID: 37062481 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Following the Fundão dam failure in Brazil, 60 million m3 of iron-rich tailings were released impacting an extensive area. After this catastrophe, a detailed characterization and monitoring of iron-rich tailings is required for agronomic and environmental purposes. This can be facilitated by using proximal sensors which have been an efficient, fast, and cost-effective tool for eco-friendly analysis of soils and sediments. This work hypothesized that portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry combined with a pocket-sized (Nix™ Pro) color sensor and benchtop magnetic susceptibilimeter can produce substantial data for fast and clean characterization of iron-rich tailings. The objectives were to differentiate impacted and non-impacted areas (soils and sediments) based on proximal sensors data, and to predict attributes of agronomic and environmental importance. A total of 148 composite samples were collected on totally impacted, partially impacted, and non-impacted areas (natural soils). The samples were analyzed via pXRF to obtain the total elemental composition; via Nix™ Pro color sensor to obtain the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) parameters; and assessed for magnetic susceptibility (MS). The same samples used for analyses via the aforementioned sensors were wet-digested (USEPA 3051a method) followed by ICP-OES quantification of potentially toxic elements. Principal component analysis was performed to differentiate impacted and non-impacted areas. The pXRF data alone or combined with other sensors were used to predict soil agronomic properties and semi-total concentration of potentially toxic elements via random forest regression. For that, samples were randomly separated into modeling (70%) and validation (30%) datasets. The pXRF proved to be an efficient method for rapid and eco-friendly characterization of iron-rich tailings, allowing a clear differentiation of impacted and non-impacted areas. Also, important soil agronomic properties (clay, cation exchange capacity, soil organic carbon, pH and macronutrients availability) and semi-total concentrations of Ba, Pb, Cr, V, Cu, Co, Ni, Mn, Ti, and Li were accurately predicted (based upon the lowest RMSE and highest R2 and RPD values). Sensor data fusion (pXRF + Nix Pro + MS) slightly improved the accuracy of predictions. This work highlights iron-rich tailings from the Fundão dam failure can be in detail characterized via pXRF ex situ, providing a secure basis for complementary studies in situ aiming at identify contaminated hot spots, digital mapping of soil and properties variability, and embasing pedological, agricultural and environmental purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Renata Andrade
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, 37200000, Brazil
| | - Aline Oliveira Silva
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, 37200000, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fernanda Magno Silva
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, 37200000, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - David C Weindorf
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA
| | - Nilton Curi
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, 37200000, Brazil
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da Silva APV, Silva AO, Lima FRDD, Benedet L, Franco ADJ, Souza JKD, Ribeiro Júnior AC, Batista ÉR, Inda AV, Curi N, Guilherme LRG, Carneiro MAC. Potentially toxic elements in iron mine tailings: Effects of reducing soil pH on available concentrations of toxic elements. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:114321. [PMID: 36222244 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Tailings from iron mining are characterized by high concentrations of iron and manganese oxides, as well as high pH values. With these characteristics, most of the potentially toxic elements (PTE) contained in the tailings are somewhat unavailable. The aim of the present study was to evaluate how a reduction in the pH of iron mine tailings may affect PTE availabilities. The tailings were collected on the banks of the Gualaxo do Norte River (Mariana, MG, Brazil), one of the main areas impacted by the rupture of the Fundão Dam (Barragem de Fundão). A completely randomized experimental design was used, including five pH values (6.4, 5.4, 4.3, 3.7, and 3.4) and five replications. The concentrations of the PTE (Ba, Cr, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, and Zn) were determined after extraction following different methodologies: USEPA 3051A, DTPA, Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3, and distilled water. A comparison of the available concentrations of the elements in the tailings with those in a soil not impacted by tailings shows that Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ba, and Co were higher in the soil impacted by the tailings. The different methods used for evaluating the availability of PTE in the tailings at various pH exhibited the following decreasing order in relation to the quantity extracted: Mehlich-3 > Mehlich-1 > DTPA > distilled water. However, regarding sensitivity to change in pH, the order was DTPA > water > Mehlich-1 > Mehlich-3. The increases in the concentrations of PTE due to the reduction in the pH of the tailings did not lead to concentrations that exceed the limits of Brazilian regulations. The DTPA extractant exhibited higher coefficients of correlation between the PTE concentrations and the pH of the tailings, proving to be suitable for use in areas affected by the deposition of iron mine tailings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lucas Benedet
- Department of Soil Science, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Nilton Curi
- Department of Soil Science, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG, Brazil
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Silva AO, Guimarães AA, Lopez BDO, Zanchi CS, Vega CFP, Batista ÉR, de Souza Moreira FM, da Costa Souza FR, Pinto FA, Dos Santos JV, Carneiro JJ, Siqueira JO, Kemmelmeier K, Guilherme LRG, Rufini M, de Souza Dias Junior M, da Silva Aragão OO, de Castro Borges PH, de Oliveira-Longatti SM, Carneiro MAC. Chemical, physical, and biological attributes in soils affected by deposition of iron ore tailings from the Fundão Dam failure. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:462. [PMID: 34216287 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09234-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring degraded areas is essential for evaluation of the quality of the rehabilitation process. In this study, we evaluate how the physical and chemical characteristics of the mixture of iron ore tailings with the soil have affected the soil microbial biomass and activity in areas along the Gualaxo do Norte River after the Fundão Dam disaster. Composite soil samples were collected from areas that were impacted (I) and not impacted (NI) by the tailings. The following attributes were evaluated: chemical element content; soil density, porosity, and texture; microbial biomass carbon; basal respiration; and enzyme activity and density of microbial groups (bacteria, actinobacteria, fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizae, phosphate solubilizers, cellulolytic microorganisms, nitrifiers, ammonifiers, and diazotrophs). According to result, the deposition of tailings increased the pH and the soil available P, Cr, Fe, and Mn content and reduced organic matter. The physical and biological attributes were negatively affected, with increases in the silt content and density of the soil, and reduction in macroporosity and in the microbial biomass and activity of the soil (respiration and enzymes) in the impacted area. However, the impacted areas exhibited greater densities of some microbial groups (cellulolytic microorganisms, nitrifiers, and diazotrophic bacteria). Modifications in the organic matter and silt content are the main attributes associated with deposition of the tailings that affected soil microbial biomass and microbial activity. This may affect erosive conditions and the functionality of the ecosystem, indicating an imbalance in this environment. In contrast, the higher density of some microbial groups in the impacted areas show the high rehabilitation potential of these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Oliveira Silva
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Amanda Azarias Guimarães
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Bruna Daniela Ortiz Lopez
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Carin Sgobi Zanchi
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | | | - Éder Rodrigues Batista
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | | | | | - Flávio Araújo Pinto
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Jessé Valentim Dos Santos
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Joana Junqueira Carneiro
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - José Oswaldo Siqueira
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Karl Kemmelmeier
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | | | - Márcia Rufini
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
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