Movilización del As a partir del depósito minero abandonado de “El Arteal” en Sierra Almagrera (Cuevas del Almanzora, Almería)

Navarro, A. 2009. As mobilization from “El Arteal” abandoned mining deposit in Sierra Almagrera (Cuevas del Almanzora, Almeria). Ecosistemas 28(3):185-198. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.1780 Field and laboratory studies and mathematical modeling were used in order to assess the long-term mobilization of As from an uncontrolled tailings deposit, located next to the Pb-Ag old mine of Sierra Almagrera (Almeria). Results indicated, in the case of mine wastes, high concentrations of As (200-460 mg/kg), Ba (32000-100000 mg/kg), Cd (5.8-35 mg/kg), Pb (1588-5428 mg/kg), Sb (66-270 mg/kg) and Zn (1520-3000 mg/kg), which exceed European soil quality standards. In relation to soils and sediments, were detected high concentrations of As (18-341 mg/kg), Ba (600-30000 mg/kg), Pb (83-3244 mg/kg), Sb (6.5-330 mg/kg) and Zn (135- 2000 mg/kg). The SWEEP model has been used to calculate the mobilization of mine waste particles by the action of the wind towards the surrounding soils and from specific events lasting 24 hours. The results obtained indicate a total loss of soil for a 1-day event of 1.481 kg / m 2 , a loss by creep of 0.55 kg / m 2 , a loss by suspension of 0.93 kg / m 2 and a loss of particles PM10 of 0.036 kg / m 2 . All this would indicate a possible daily loss for the entire area occupied by waste of the order of 177.7 t