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Environmental mineralogy and geochemistry of Pb–Zn mine wastes, Northern Tunisia

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Abstract

Fine-grained waste materials in the former Pb–Zn mining district of Northern Tunisia contain environmentally significant amounts of potentially toxic elements (PTE), such as Zn (6.9–13.7 g kg−1), Pb (2.9–9.6 g kg−1), Cd (31–106 mg kg−1), As (180–837 mg kg−1), and Sb (1–102 mg kg−1). Mineralogical studies identified as PTE carriers’ primary sulfides (galena, sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and arsenopyrite) and sulfosalts (jordanite), and secondary oxidized minerals (cerussite and smithsonite), accompanied by sulfates (gypsum and barite), calcite, and minor clay minerals. Leaching tests with deionized water indicate a near-neutral reaction, accompanied by a comparatively high release of PTE (As 16–58.5 µg L−1 and Sb 1.5–60 µg L−1), (Pb 222–1130 µg L−1, Zn 4865–15,665 µg L−1, and Cd 4–25 µg L−1), and sulfate (3690–22,070 mg L−1). These values are well above the recommended WHO limits for drinking waters. Therefore, these wastes represent a potential threat for the environment, and should be adequately monitored/ reclaimed.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partly carried out during two visits of the first author in the laboratories of Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Dipartimento di Scienze chimiche e geologiche, Università di Cagliari. Her visits were supported by Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique, Tunisia. The laboratories in Cagliari are partly supported by grants to RC and PL (Università di Cagliari and Regione Sardegna). Other analytical work was carried out in the laboratories of INRAP. We acknowledge the constructive criticism of two anonymous reviewers.

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Correspondence to Radhia Souissi.

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Tlil, H., Souissi, R., Souissi, F. et al. Environmental mineralogy and geochemistry of Pb–Zn mine wastes, Northern Tunisia. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 28, 133–141 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-016-0585-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-016-0585-8

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