Physicochemical and geochemical characteristics of Bouaazza’s mine embankments and river sediments (Taza province, Morocco)

Abstract

Mining production industry generates high quantities of mine tailings often placed on the surface. They evoke sources of contamination generally mine drainage, to all environmental compartments according to their physicochemical and geochemical characteristics that show their richness in residual metals and sulphide mineral dust such as pyrite and galena. Bouaazza’s mine (NE Morocco) lead and sulfides exploitation generated the exposure of large superficies of acid discharges in the surface. To evaluate the impact caused by acid mine drainage in the area, samples were collected from the river sediments near the mine and from the embankments. According to the physicochemical and geochemical analyzes, it was possible to discern a pollution by acid mine drainage, with pH values of sediments reaching 5, and concentrations of Pb in some sediments samples higher than 900 ppm extending the international standards. These results indicate the big negative influence caused by the absence of environmental monitoring of the mining operations which threaten the environment.

Keywords

• acid mine drainage
• bouaazza’s mine
• mining discharges
• pollution