Pedosphere 13(1): 75--80, 2003
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2003 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Heavy metals in a sulfldic minespoil: Fractions and column leaching |
| C. LIN and J. LIN |
| School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW (Australia) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Fractions of various heavy metals in a sulfidic minespoil were investigated. Column leaching experiment was also conducted to simulate "acid mine drainage" (AMD) from the minespoil. The results show that leaching of heavy metals from the minespoil was extremely significant during the initial water flushing. The amounts of heavy metals leached out dramatically reduced after leaching twice. It is worthwhile to note that in this study, Zn, Mn, Fe, As and Ni in the first leachate exceeded the total amount of each corresponding water-extractable (1:5, soil:water) metal contained in the minespoil sample. This appears to suggest that 1:5 water extraction did not allow accurate estimation of water-leachable concentrations of the above heavy metals. This work has implications for the management of sulfidic minespoils. Acid drainage of great environmental concerns is likely to occur only during heavy rainfall events after substantial soluble and readily exchangeable acid and metals are accumulated in the minespoils. The slow-reacting fractions other than water-soluble and readily exchangeable fractions may pose little environmental hazards. This is particularly true for Pb, As and Ni. |
| Key Words: acid mine drainage, heavy metal, leaching, metal sulfides, minespoil |
| Citation: Lin, C. and Lin, J. 2003. Heavy metals in a sulfldic minespoil: Fractions and column leaching. Pedosphere. 13(1): 75-80. |
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