Abstract
The Parys Mountain copper mining district (Anglesey, North Wales) hosts exposed pyritic bedrock, solid mine waste spoil heaps and acid drainage (ochre sediment) deposits. Both natural and waste deposits show elevated trace element concentrations, including selenium (Se), at abundances of both economic and environmental consideration. Elevated concentrations of semi- metals such as Se in waste smelts highlight the potential for economic reserves in this and similar base metal mining sites. Selenium is sourced from the pyritic bedrock and concentrations are retained in red weathering smelt soils, but lost in bedrock-weathered soils and clays. Selenium correlates with Te, Au, Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb, S and Sb across bedrock and weathered deposits. Man-made mine waste deposits show enrichment of As, Bi, Cu, Sb and Te, with Fe oxide-rich smelt materials containing high Pb, up to 1.5 wt%, and Au contents, up to 1.2 ppm. The trace elements As, Co, Cu and Pb are retained from bedrock to all sediments, including high Cu content in Fe oxide-rich ochre sediments. The high abundance and mobility of trace elements in sediments and waters should be considered as potential pollutants to the area, and also as a source for economic reserves of previously extracted and new strategic commodities.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 229 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-19 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Minerals |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 22 Nov 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Acknowledgments: The authors wish to thank the Parys Underground Group for their support in access and sampling. This research was supported by a grant from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) (NE/M010953/1). The manuscript was improved by the helpful comments of three reviewers.Keywords
- Parys Mountain
- ochre
- selenium
- pyrite
- gold
- copper