Transport and Mobilization of Trace Elements from Tailings and Other Mining Waste, in the Arid Environment of the Mojave Desert, California, USA

ABSTRACT

Mining activities can lead to an exacerbated enrichment of metal concentrations. Pollution by metal(loid)s in arid regions has been little elucidated. This study assessed the transport and mobilization of trace elements in an arid environment under two ephemeral wash systems originating from processed tailing materials in the Valley Wells Smelter, California (USA). Overall, enrichment factors evidence a significant increase in trace elements in the South Wash compared to the North Wash. The Principal Component Analysis demonstrates in the South Wash that Cd-Cu is associated with As-Pb-Zn and Ba-Co-Mn primarily. All areas (from South and North wash) indicated extremely high enrichment of Cu due to mining activities. Data showed that in the northern wash area the metals As, Cu and Sr presented concentrations much higher than the background. The geochemical survey indicates deleterious effects on the environmental quality of the investigated areas, requiring reparative and conservative measures.

KEYWORDS:

• Enrichment factor
• copper ore
• metal(loid)s
• sediment transport
• Valley Wells Smelter
• mining
• California

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the support of the College of Southern Nevada for the use and access to equipment which was used to perform the analysis of samples.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially supported by a grant from the State of Nevada Office of Science, Innovation & Technology (OSIT).