RT Journal Article
T1 A Geochemical and Geophysical Characterization of SulfideMine Ponds at the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Spain)
A1 Martín Crespo, Tomás
A1 Martín Velázquez, Silvia
A1 Gómez Ortiz, David
A1 Ignacio San José, Cristina de
A1 Lillo Ramos, F. Javier
AB This work presents the results of a geochemicaland geophysical characterization of theMonte Romero and La Naya mine ponds, belongingto the Cueva de la Mora and Riotinto mine districts,respectively, based on mineralogical, geochemical andgeophysical techniques. In order to obtain a representativeenvironmental characterization, two depositsshowing different mineralogies, physico-chemicalparameters, chemical compositions of tailings andpond conditions were selected. Monte Romero minetailings showed an upper level mainly composed ofsilicates and a deeper level mainly composed ofsulfides and barite. The toxic metal content wasdifferent in both levels but high enough to exceedthe regional legal concentration limits for agriculturalsoils. An electrical resistivity tomography surveyrevealed a homogeneous upper unit (3 m thickness),which displayed low resistivity values, correspondingto water-saturated silt and clay materials with anabundance of sulfides which was interpreted as thepond infilling. The La Naya mine pond presented ahomogeneous mineralogical composition made up ofquartz as the main mineral and chlorite-smectite andjarosite as accessory phases. The absence of sulfidephases and the low contents of metal elements aredirectly related to the reworking processes of thesludge dumped in this pond. The geophysical surveyrevealed that the pond infilling did not have aconstant thickness, but ranged between 15 and20 m. An inner groundwater flow in the infillingwas recognized. The low resistivity values allowedthe presence of acid waters and related subsurfaceflows to be identified in both mine ponds, but no acidwater drainage occurred across their vessels. Whencompared to the Aznalcóllar tailings spill, the LaNaya pond is large enough to release a similar amountof sludge, but of a very low metal content. The MonteRomero sludge displays a similar, potentially toxicmetal content to the Aznalcóllar sludge, but its size issignificantly smaller.
PB IWA Publishing
SN 0273-1223
YR 2011
FD 2011
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/42559
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/42559
LA eng
NO (The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 19 dic 2025