The spatial distribution and source of arsenic, copper, tin and zinc within the surface sediments of the Fal Estuary, Cornwall, UK

ABSTRACT Estuarine sediments commonly form major sinks for contaminants released during industrial activity. Many industrial processes lead to the release of metals initially in solution, which can then be adsorbed on to, for example, Fe hydroxides or clay minerals. However, in the mining industry,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sedimentology 2003-06, Vol.50 (3), p.579-595
Main Authors: Pirrie, Duncan, Power, Matthew R., Rollinson, Gavyn, Camm, G. Simon, Hughes, Susan H., Butcher, Alan R., Hughes, Peta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arsenic
Brackish
contamination
copper
Cornwall
estuaries
tin
zinc
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Summary:ABSTRACT Estuarine sediments commonly form major sinks for contaminants released during industrial activity. Many industrial processes lead to the release of metals initially in solution, which can then be adsorbed on to, for example, Fe hydroxides or clay minerals. However, in the mining industry, there are two major contaminant waste streams: (1) metals discharged in solution via mine drainage; and (2) particulate grains of the ore‐forming or related minerals released after ore processing. The release of particulate waste can have a major long‐term impact on environmental geochemistry. In this study, we have mapped the distribution of arsenic, copper, tin and zinc within the surficial sediments of the Fal Estuary, Cornwall, UK, an area that drains a historically important polymetallic mining district. There are clear spatial variations in the contaminants, with the highest levels (> 2800 p.p.m. As, > 5000 p.p.m. Cu, > 3000 p.p.m. Sn and > 6000 p.p.m. Zn) within Restronguet Creek on the western side of the estuary. Mineralogical studies show that small (
ISSN:0037-0746
1365-3091
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-3091.2003.00566.x