Antimony and arsenic contamination in water from antimonite mineralization: a case study from Turhal (Tokat, Northern Turkey)

Abstract

The sources and fate of antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) in water resources around antimonite (a.k.a. stibnite) deposits is of great concern due to their adverse effects on the environment and human health. The aim of this study was to determine geochemical compositions of gangue/ore material and water samples collected in and around the antimonite deposits located near Turhal (Tokat, Northern Turkey). Turhal antimonite deposits, recognized as the largest in Turkey, are hosted in pre-Upper Jurassic low-grade metamorphic rocks where the antimonite ore is mainly composed of stibnite and quartz. Quartz is also the dominant gangue mineral, with minor amounts of carbonates. The ore samples contain high concentrations of Sb (27.98 − 60.83 wt.% as Sb₂O₃) and As (3453 − 5010 ppm). The gangue material contains significant amounts of As (529 ppm), Cr (664 ppm), and Ti (256 ppm). Water samples collected from the study area are characterized by slightly alkaline pH (6.48–8.40) and low Eh (–46 to –5 mV) with electrical conductivity values ranging between 571 and 1607 µS cm⁻¹. There is a significant trace element contamination in the aquifer system, especially in water samples collected from the areas hydrologically downgradient of antimonite deposits, where concentrations (in µg L⁻¹) reach up to 271.6 for Sb, 429.4 for As, and 2203 for B. There is a high risk of toxicity for the livestock, as well as the human population consuming their products, since Sb and As contaminated springs in the region are used for watering farm animals.

Keywords:

• Stibnite
• antimony
• arsenic
• boron
• trace elements
• water quality

Acknowledgments

This manuscript in draft was presented at the 67th Geological Congress of Turkey held by Mineral Research & Exploration General Directorate (MTA), Ankara, Turkey (April 14–18, 2014). The authors would like to acknowledge the participants who made insightful comments and suggestions at the presentation. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Disclosure statement

None.