RT Journal Article
T1 Physicochemical assessment of atmospheric particulate matter emissions during open-pit mining operations in a massive sulphide ore exploitation
A1 Boente López, Carlos
A1 Millán Martínez, María
A1 Sánchez de la Campa Verdona, Ana María
A1 Sánchez-Rodas Navarro, Daniel Alejandro
A1 Rosa Díaz, Jesús de la
AB Mining operations are critical emission sources of atmospheric particulate matter (APM). This study constitutes a physicochemical characterisation of the main geochemical anomalies associated with APM by mining operations in the renowned Riotinto Mine (Iberian Pyrite Belt, Southwest Spain). The operations studied were traffic in the mining tracks, drilling, blasting, dry and wet loading of ore/waste, and stockpiling. Chemical analysis of PM10 and PM2.5 comprised 46 potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and rare earth elements (REEs). The geochemical fingerprint of the operations in nearby populations was studied via environmental ratios after a comprehensive one-year sampling campaign at three monitoring stations. The results revealed that a notable amount of PM10 and PM2.5 is released for the mining tracks, drilling, and dry loading. Moreover, enrichments of typical elements associated with sulphide ores (e.g. Cu, Ba, Zn, As, and Pb) were found, although some of them are also present in the APM geochemical background. These results are of substantial interest to air quality managers aiming to abate the main emission sources of APM and hazardous elements associated with mining processes.
PB Elsevier
SN 1309-1042 (electrónico)
YR 2022
FD 2022-03
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/23156
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/23156
LA eng
NO Boente, C., Millán-Martínez, M., Sánchez de la Campa, A. M., Sánchez-Rodas, D., & de la Rosa, J. D. (2022). Physicochemical assessment of atmospheric particulate matter emissions during open-pit mining operations in a massive sulphide ore exploitation. In Atmospheric Pollution Research (Vol. 13, Issue 4, p. 101391). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2022.101391
NO Authors are grateful to Atalaya Mining Company for its permission to carry out this research on their facilities and to its active support. Carlos Boente obtained a post-doctoral contract within the program PAIDI 2020 (Ref 707 DOC 01097) and PY18-2332 Project, co-financed by the Junta de Andalucía (Andalusian Government) and the EU. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUA.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 31 may 2026