Mineralogy and trace element relative solubility patterns of shallow marine sediments affected by submarine tailings disposal and artisanal gold mining,Buyat-Ratototok district,North Sulawesi,Indonesia |
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Authors: | George M Blackwood Evan N Edinger |
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Institution: | (1) Environmental Science Program, Memorial University, St John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada;(2) Department of Geography, Memorial University, St John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada |
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Abstract: | Shallow marine sediments of the Buyat-Ratototok district of North Sulawesi, Indonesia, are affected by submarine disposal
of industrial gold mine tailings and small-scale gold mining using mercury amalgamation. Industrial mine tailings contained
590–660 ppm arsenic, 490–580 ppm antimony, and 0.8–5.8 ppm mercury. Electron microprobe survey found both colloidal iron–arsenic-phases
without sulphur and arsenian pyrite in tailings and sites to which tailings had dispersed, but only arsenopyrite in sediments
affected by artisanal mining. Antimony in tailings was present as antimony oxides, colloidal iron–antimony phases, colloidal
iron–antimony phases, and stibnite in sediments affected by both types of mining. A sequential extraction found that 2% of
arsenic held in tailings and tailings-contaminated sediments was exchangeable, 20–30% was labile, including weakly adsorbed,
carbonate- and arsenate bound, 20–30% was metastable, probably incorporated into iron or manganese oxyhydroxides, or strongly
adsorbed to silicate minerals, and 40–48% was relatively insoluble, probably incorporated into sulphides or silicates. Arsenic
in sediments affected by artisanal gold mining was 75–95% relatively insoluble. Antimony in all sediments was >90% relatively
insoluble. Relative solubility patterns of most other metals did not differ between industrial tailings-affected, artisanal-mining
affected areas, and fluvial sediments. Results suggest that submarine tailings disposal is not suitable for refractory Carlin-like
gold deposits because ore processing converts arsenic to forms unstable in anoxic marine sediments.
Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users. |
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Keywords: | Submarine mine tailings Artisanal mining Arsenic Sequential extraction Indonesia |
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