scholarly journals Multi-Media Geochemical Exploration in the Critical Zone: A Case Study over the Prairie and Wolf Zn–Pb Deposits, Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1174
Author(s):  
Anicia Henne ◽  
Nathan Reid ◽  
Robert L. Thorne ◽  
Samuel C. Spinks ◽  
Tenten Pinchand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Critical Zone ◽  
Element Geochemistry ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Surface Sample ◽  
Plant Matter ◽  
Groundwater Samples ◽  
High Concentrations

In this study, we compared traditional lithochemical sample media (soil) with hydrochemical (groundwater), biogeochemical (plant matter of mulga and spinifex), and other near-surface sample media (ferro-manganese crust), in a case study applied to mineral exploration in weathered terrain, through the critical zone at the fault-hosted Prairie and Wolf Zn–Pb (Ag) deposits in Western Australia. We used multi-element geochemistry analyses to spatially identify geochemical anomalies in samples over known mineralization, and investigated metal dispersion processes. In all near-surface sample media, high concentrations of the metals of interest (Zn, Pb, Ag) coincided with samples proximal to the mineralization at depth. However, the lateral dispersion of these elements differed from regional (several km; groundwater) to local (several 100′s of meters; solid sample media) scales. Zinc in spinifex leaves over the Prairie and Wolf deposits exceeded the total concentrations in all other sample media, while the metal concentrations in mulga phyllodes were not as pronounced, except for Ag, which exceeded the concentrations in all other sample media. These observations indicate potential preferential metal-specific uptake by different media. Pathfinder elements in vegetation and groundwater samples also indicated the Prairie Downs fault zone at the regional (groundwater) and local (vegetation) scale, and are, therefore, potentially useful tools to trace fault systems that host structurally controlled, hydrothermal Zn–Pb mineralization.

scholarly journals Hydrogeochemical Processes and Natural Background Levels of Chromium in an Ultramafic Environment. The Case Study of Vermio Mountain, Western Macedonia, Greece

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 2809
Author(s):  
Eleni Vasileiou ◽  
Panagiotis Papazotos ◽  
Dimitrios Dimitrakopoulos ◽  
Maria Perraki
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogeochemical Processes ◽  
Natural Background ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Background Levels ◽  
Groundwater Samples ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Natural Spring ◽  
Physical And Chemical

The hydrogeochemical processes and natural background levels (NBLs) of chromium in the ultramafic environment of Vermio Mountain, Western Macedonia, Greece, were studied. Seventy groundwater samples were collected from 15 natural springs between 2014‒2020, and an extensive set of physical and chemical parameters were determined. The ultramafic-dominated environment of western Vermio Mt. favors elevated groundwater concentrations of dissolved magnesium (Mg2+), silicon (Si), nickel (Ni), and Cr in natural spring waters. Chromium was the principal environmental parameter that exhibited a wide range of concentrations, from 0.5 to 131.5 μg/L, systematically exceeding the permissible limit of 50 μg/L for drinking water. Statistical evaluation of hydrogeological, hydrochemical, and hydrological data highlighted the water-ultramafic rock process as the predominant contributor of Cr in groundwater. The NBL assessment for Cr and Cr(VI) was successfully applied to the typical ultramafic-dominated spring “Potistis” that satisfied all the methodology criteria. The NBLs of Cr and Cr(VI) were defined at 130 μg/L and 100 μg/L, respectively, revealing that a natural ultramafic-dominated environment exhibits the geochemical potential to contribute very high concentrations of geogenic Cr to groundwater. The holistic methodology, proposed herein, could be implemented in any catchment scale to assess geogenic and anthropogenic Cr-sources that degrade groundwater quality.

Emissions of porewater compounds and gases from the subaquatic sediment disposal site “rodewischhafen”, hamburg harbour

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 87-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kussmaul ◽  
A. Groengroeft ◽  
H. Koethe
Keyword(s):  
Water Surface ◽  
Disposal Site ◽  
Dredged Material ◽  
Water Fluxes ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Deposit Surface ◽  
Groundwater Samples ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Mud Deposit

In the year 1993 a confined and unused harbour basin was used to store 290,000 m3 of fine-grained dredged material from Hamburg harbour. About 70% of the deposit surface was water covered. The edge areas were above the water table and covered with reed. Emissions of dissolved compounds into the groundwater, as well as surface gas emissions were measured from 1994 to 1996. As indicators for water fluxes from the deposit we used NH4+ and HCO3− because of their high concentrations in mud porewater in comparison to groundwater. The average concentrations of NH4+ and HCO3− in the porewater increased during 2 years from 85 to 250 mg NH4+ 1−1 and from 2.0 to 3.1 g HCO3− 1−1, while the groundwater samples showed constant values of 8 mg NH4+ 1−1 and 0.7 g HCO3− 1−1. Furthermore, the average gas emissions over the water surface were 3.2 g CH4 m−2 d−1 and 0.8 g CO2 m−2 d−1. In contrast, no methane and 3.0 g CO2 m−2 d−1 were emitted from land areas. The results indicated, that there were no significant emissions of mud porewater compounds into the groundwater but high CH4-emissions over the water covered surface of the mud deposit.

A hydrochemical and isotopic case study around a near surface radioactive waste disposal

2007 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zs. Szántó ◽  
É. Svingor ◽  
I. Futó ◽  
L. Palcsu ◽  
M. Molnár ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Radioactive Waste Disposal ◽  
Ion Chemistry ◽  
Continuous Transition ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Disposal Facility ◽  
Treatment And Disposal ◽  
Site Characterisation

As part of the site characterisation program for the near surface radioactive waste treatment and disposal facility (RWTDF) at Püspökszilágy, Hungary, water quality and environmental isotope investigations have been carried out. Water samples for major ion chemistry, tritium,The chemical composition of groundwaters presented a continuous transition from waters situated on one side to waters on the top and on the other slope of the disposal suggesting the mixing of the three hydrochemical “endmembers”.Most of δ

Overburden geochemical signature of the Lac des Iles platinum group element deposit, northwestern Ontario, Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 1151-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J Barnett
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Soil System ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Rock Fragments ◽  
The North ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Airborne Contamination ◽  
The Many ◽  
Lac Des Iles

Many previously published studies of the behaviour of Pt and Pd in till and soils have been done in areas of complex stratigraphy or very thin overburden cover, making the interpretation of soil results difficult because of the many variables associated with these settings. At the Lac des Iles mine site in northwestern Ontario, there are excellent exposures of the overburden in a series of exploration trenches. Glacial dispersal trains can be observed in till (C horizon) geochemistry (e.g., Ni, Cr, Cu, and Co). Regional geochemical dispersal trains of elements, such as Ni, Cr, Mg, and Co associated with the North Lac des Iles intrusion, can be detected for about 4 km beyond the western margin of the Mine Block intrusion. Entire dispersal trains range from 5 to 7 km in length and about 1 to 2 km in width. The dispersal of North Lac des Iles intrusion rock fragments tends to mask the response of the Mine Block intrusion. Dispersal trains of Pt and Pd are not well defined and tend to be very short, <1 km in length, due to the initial low concentrations of these elements in C-horizon till samples from the Lac Des Iles area. An exception to this is the Pd dispersal train originating from the high-grade zone that is up to 3 km long. Pd, Pt, Ni, and Cu appear to be moving both within and out of the soil system downslope into surface and shallow groundwater. It is suggested that these elements, to varying degrees, are moving in solution. Airborne contamination from mine operations of the humus has adversely affected the ability to determine the effectiveness of humus sampling for mineral exploration at Lac des Iles. The airborne contamination likely influences the geochemical results from surface water, shallow groundwater, and near-surface organic bog samples, particularly for the elements Pd and Pt.

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