Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Mill Tailings Impoundments from the Panasqueira Mine (Portugal): Implications for the Surrounding Environment

Abstract

Selected geochemical results are presented from a study of the Panasqueira mine (Sn–W mineralization), which is one of the Portuguese test sites for the e-EcoRisk project ( http://www.e-ecorisk.info/ ). These data permit a better understanding of the dynamics inherent to leaching, transport, and accumulation of some elements (mainly As, but also Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd) in different sampling media and their environmental relevance. Stream sediment and water samples were found to be contaminated by the stored waste material in the tailing ponds; this effect could be observed for a considerable distance downstream.