RT Journal Article
T1 Assessment of Cu, As, Pb, Zn and Fe Enrichment in Intertidal Sediments Along the Atacama Coast, Northern Chile
A1 Bonnail, Estefanía
A1 Cruces, Edgardo
A1 Santibáñez, John
A1 Muñoz Pichardo, Juan Manuel
A1 Prudencio, María Isabel
A1 Dias, María Isabel
A1 Marques, Rosa
A1 Abad de los Santos, Manuel
A1 Izquierdo, Tatiana
A1 Ruiz Muñoz, Francisco
AB Textural and geochemical analysis of intertidal sediments in the southern Atacama region makes it possible to identify sites primarily affected by mining-related pollution, based on a multivariate statistical analysis of the concentrations of five elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Pb) and their geoaccumulation indices. These concentrations are not correlated with grain size, which is dominated by the sandy fractions. Spearman’s matrix and principal component analysis make it possible to distinguish between two groups of elements (group A: Fe-Cu-As; group B: Zn-Pb), with a strong correlation between them (ρ ≥ 0.51; p < 0.01) and the first two components explain 96.3% of the variance. Three heavily polluted sites (Playa Blanca, Bahía Sarco and Chañaral de Aceituno; Igeo Cu > 8) have been identified linked to waste from the washing of tailings, a copper smelter and frequent boat trips. In addition, four moderately polluted sites (Playa Grande, Balneario Caldera, the mouth of the Copiapó River and Carrizal Bajo; 1.7 < Igeo Cu < 8; 1.2 < Igeo Pb < 2.6), mainly due to activities associated with mining and oil refineries, have been identified.
PB MDPI
SN 2075-163X (electrónico)
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/28675
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/28675
LA eng
NO Bonnail, E., Cruces, E., Santibáñez, J., Muñoz, J. M., Prudencio, M. I., Dias, M. I., Marques, R., Abad, M., Izquierdo, T., & Ruiz, F. (2026). Assessment of Cu, As, Pb, Zn and Fe Enrichment in Intertidal Sediments Along the Atacama Coast, Northern Chile. Minerals, 16(6), 643. https://doi.org/10.3390/min16060643
NO This work is a contribution to the ANID/CONICYT/FONDECYT 11180015 project and the TRAMPA/PID2021-127268NB-100 project funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER, UE. Other funds were provided by the Andalusian Government (project RNM-238). This is a contribution to the Research Center for Historical, Cultural, and Natural Heritage (CIPHCN) at the University of Huelva.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 13 jul 2026