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Cartography of anthropogenic materials, Sierra de Cartagena-La Unión, Spain

Poster · July 2021

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.22697.93288

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García-García Cristóbal Roberto Lorenzo Rodríguez Pacheco

Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena Instituto Geológico y Minero de España
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Cartografía de los materiales antropogénicos,

194
Results and discussion Table 3. Phase minerals detected by X-ray powder diffraction in the different types of mine and metal-
lurgical wastes
Table 7.46. Phase analyzed. Abundances
minerals detected by X-ray powder (wt.%) are insemiquantitative
diffraction estimates
the different types of mine over the
and metallurgical wastescrystalline frac-
analyzed. Abundances

Results
tion of
(wt.%) are the sample, estimates
semiquantitative on the over
basisthe of the relative
crystalline fraction ofintensity ratio
the sample, on (RIR)
the basis method.
of the Wastes
relative intensity are
ratio compared
(RIR) to aare
method. Wastes

D
The anthropogenic cartography illustrates the existence of 12 open-pits, 1,902 mining soil devoted to farming activities.

Sierra de Cartagena-La Unión, España

compared to a soil devoted to farming activities.
wells, 2,351 waste deposits, including 89 tailing dams and waste rock derived from mining Open-pit Post-flot. Post-flot. Gravity- Gossan Pre-conc. Molten slag Agricultural
Mineral General formula
spoils (land) (sea) conc. spoils wastes soil
processes (Fig. 2). Of the nine types of waste mapped, six represent the largest volumes. The Silicates 51 83 67 33 31 50 82 24

E
Chlorite (Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·(Mg,Fe)3(OH)6 34 61 30 13 46 9

Cartography of anthropogenic materials,

most significant is open pit spoils with 135 Mm3 (Table 2). Muscovite KAl2(AlSi3O10(OH,F)2 16 6 17 16 2 6 12
Talc Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 6 4 21
Kaolinite Al2Si2O5(OH)4 16 10 2

Sierra de Cartagena-La Unión, Spain

Montmorillonite (Na,Ca)0.3(Al,Mg)2Si4O10(OH)2·nH2O 6 3

T
Greenalite (Fe2+,Fe3+)2–3Si2O5(OH)4 1 4 4
Fayalite Fe2SiO4 76
Oxides 49 11 18 62 49 49 47
Quartz SiO2 48 11 12 56 30 48 47
Goethite FeO(OH) 1 2 3 15 1

C
Fig. 2 a Study-area location, b Magnetite Fe3O4 <1 <1 2 2 <1

C. García-García1, V. Robles-Arenas1, A.V. Caparrós2, A. Alcolea2 y R. Rodríguez-Pacheco3

affected area by mining activi- Hematite Fe2O3 1 1 4
ties, c mining and metallurgical Rutile TiO2 1
wastes distribution, d stream Carbonates 11 29
Fig. 2 a Study-area location, b sediments and soil-sampling Calcite CaCO3 5 24

E
affected area by mining activi- sites (Garcı́a 2004), and e Dolomite CaMg(CO3)2 2 5
detailed scheme of Beal creek Siderite FeCO3 4
Resumen Abstract
ties, c mining and metallurgical
Sulfates 0 6 1 5 20 1 12
wastes distribution, d stream
Gypsum CaSO4·2(H2O) <1 5 1 1 9 <1
sediments and soil-sampling

OF
Fig. 2 a Study-area location, b Anglesite PbSO4 6 5

RR
sites (Garcı́a 2004), and e
En este artículo se presenta una metodología para cartografiar materiales antropo- This article presents a methodology for mapping anthropogenic materials.
affected area This
by mining activi-
detailed scheme of Beal creek
Plumbojarosite PbFe6(SO4)4(OH)12
Jarosite KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6 <1 1
4 5
1
7
ties, c mining and metallurgical
. 2004; Marguı́ et génicos.
al. 2004).Esta
Thesegeochemical
aplica a una zona
tionsafectada por actividades
in the Iberian Peninsula mineras e industriales.
(Fig. 1). This region has is93
applied to an area affected by mining and industrial activities. Thewastes
Sierra de
distribution, d stream Sulfides
Sphalerite ZnS
3
2
0 0
<1
6
sediments and soil-sampling

F
hich a metal exists La Sierra de Cartagena–La
strongly conditions itsUnión
been (SEexploited
España), esforunAg,
distrito
Pb, minero
Zn, Cude 2.500
and Fe años
from the Cartagena–La
94 Unión (SE Spain), a 2,500-year-old mining district extending over
sites (Garcı́a 2004), and e Pyrite FeS2 1
Pyrrhotite Fe(1–x) S <1
d its effect on the environment. Dissolved Phoenician 2and Carthaginian times (Oén et al. 1975) 95

RO
detailed scheme of Beal creek
de antigüedad. Ocupa un área de 100 km . La cartografía antropogénica ilustra la an area of 100 km2. The anthropogenic cartography illustrates the existence of Galena PbS 6

O
ls (e.g. Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, Ni, Co) and until 1991. During these 2,500 years, the area suffered 96 Computed amorphousness (%) 17 15 25 26 40 22 20 22
(e.g. As, Sb) areexistencia
mobilised de by
12 cortas
runoffmineras, 1.902 pozos
to important mineros, 2.351
environmental depósitos
stresses. de residuos, in
The sedimentation 1297open-pits, 1,902 mining wells, 2,351 waste deposits, including 89 tailing dams

CO ED F
streams, soils andincluidas
seas,89allowing
presas de their
relaves.Portman
Los materiales
Bay ofantropogénicos predominantes
post-flotation wastes (sludges) son
was one and
98 waste rock derived from mining processes. Mine wastes occupy an area of 9

CO

O
o the trophic chain in aquatic and terrestrial of ethe worst environmental catastrophes
de 9 km2 y related with It is worth emphasizing the presence of Pb, Zn, and Mn in the 0.1–10% fraction of wastes,

O
residuos mineros, metalúrgicos industriales. Ocupan un área tienen un 99 and have an approximate volume of 200 Mm3. Mineralogical, physical and
km2

DP
(Auernheimer et al. 1984; De León et al. mining activities in Mediterranean countries. The sedi-
OF
100
volumen aproximado de 200 Mm 3
. De acuerdo a los between
datos mineralógicos, físicos y chemical data distinguish nine different types of mine and metallurgical wastes: just as the occurrence of As, Cu, Sb, Ag, Cd, Sn, Cr, Co, Ni, and Ga in the 1–1000 ppm

PR
y et al. 2004). mentation took place 1957 and 1990. Pipelines 101

O
ny studies have beenquímicos se distinguen
conducted nueve pumped
on mining tipos de the
residuos:
sludgeestériles de corta, lodos
to the Mediterranean deand
Sea flota-
marine open
102 pit spoils, post-flotation wastes, gravity concentration spoils, gossan, molten fraction. Wastes are usually unconsolidated materials with high porosity and thus sensitive
iarid climates (Rösner 1998).mineros), rechazo currents
ción (lodos transported
de concentración approximately
gravimétrica, 57 million
gossan, estériles de tons 103 pre-concentration wastes, mine spoils, well borings, post-flotation sludge in
slag, to weathering processes, which causes a dispersion of noxious metals, being a source of
Cartagena–La Unión is situated at the most inside the bay.

R
104
rn part of Spain preconcentración,
(Cartagena, Murcia). estériles
The de mina, escoria de
Nowadays, fundición
this area ismetalúrgica,
undergoingestériles de
an important Portman and Gorguel Bay. atmospheric and hydrologic pollution.
RO

105

UN
ained one of thepozos mineros,
Pb–Zn lodos de flotación depositados en las bahías
boom.deAs Portman y Gorguel. an Fig. 2. Map show the distribution of the different types of mine and metallurgical wastes.

TE
largest accumula- tourist and economic a consequence, 106
Key words: mine wastes, tailings dam, environmental risk

P
Palabras clave: residuos mineros, lodos de flotación, presas de relaves, riesgo ambiental.
Table 4. Enrichment factors for metals compared to agricultural soil from the Campo de Cartagena.
Table 7.47. Enrichment factors for metals compared to agricultural soil from the Campo de Cartagena. Heavy metal concentrations are expressed in
Heavy metal concentrations are expressed in ppm (μg per gram dry weight).
Fig. 3 show the seven types of mine and metallurgical wastes—responsible for the heavy-

CO ED
ppm (μg per gram dry weight).

EC
ogical map,
DP

lock diagram of Sample Cr EF Co EF Ni EF Cu EF Zn EF As EF Cd EF Sb EF Pb EF

metal pollution extended across the hydrogeological system of the Sierra de Cartagena –

UN CT
tagena-La Unión
Study area
Open-pit spoils 25 1 8 1 n.d. — 18 1 993 24 n.d. — n.d. — n.d. — 75 8
Marconnet 1994), La Unión—were characterized in this section (García 2004; Robles-Arenas et al., 2006 and Post-flot. (land) 80 2 n.d. — 22 1 257 20 5997 146 392 56 n.d. — n.d. — 15200 1689
tho-structural Post-flot. (sea) 41 1 42 5 26 1 123 9 10540 257 817 117 n.d. — 110 138 7431 826
rra de Cartagena- Alcolea 2015). They consisted of open-pit spoils, post-flotation wastes (on land and sea),

UN CT

RR
tral zone The Sierra Minera comprises a coastal mountain range with an approximate Gravity-conc. spoils 36 1 45 5 n.d. — 240 18 13220 322 616 88 60 200 100 125 24280 2698
Sampling methods 59 gravity-concentration spoils, gossan, pre-concentration wastes, and molten slag. An additional Gossan 69 2 51 6 35 2 181 14 7045 172 1930 276 n.d. — 220 275 27780 3087

E
Ovejero 1982) E–W trend, located in the SE of the Region of Murcia (Spain). It is limited by Pre-conc. wastes 72 2 33 4 36 2 53 4 4818 118 190 27 n.d. — n.d. — 1260 140
agricultural soil was also studied, to compare it with the usual Spolic Technosol in which these
TE

Molten slag 140 4 36 4 n.d. — 268 21 14720 359 683 98 65 217 110 138 27400 3044
the Mediterranean Sea to the South and the East, and by the Campo de

RR
Furthermore, the leaching test DIN 38414-S4 was performed over the samples to mine and metallurgical wastes develop (Figs. 2 and 3). Local soil 40 — 9 — 22 — 13 — 41 — 7 — 0.3 — 0.8 — 9 —
Cartagena plain to the North. It extends over an approximate area of 100

E
appreciate the hazard and potential mobility of the different analytes. pH, electrical
conductivity (EC), ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, NO3–, and SO42–), and the metals of km2, with a length of 23 km and a width of 4 km. Sierra Minera is included On average, the enrichment of trace metals in mine and metallurgical wastes—compared

related to any mineral in particular.

degree of environmental risk was not
waste (on sea) > open-pit spoils. The
concentration wastes > post-flotation
waste (on land) > gossan > pre-
spoils > molten slag > post-flotation
nature as follows: gravity-concentration
wastes could be listed by its hazardous
water (WHO, 2011) for each sample,
Organization guidelines for drinking
with that of the World Health
ratios of every individual parameter
waste sites. Considering the sum of the
hazardous waste to non-hazardous
was outside the acceptance range of
Cd contents, and only the average pH
for the opposite situation were pH and
to be landfilled. Parameters responsible
gossan met the waste acceptance criteria
flotation wastes (on land and sea) and

is taken from Marguí et al (2006).

Perera et al. (2005). Limit value for EC
pH appeared in Marguí et al. (2006) and
DIN 38414-S4). Regulatory levels for
10 l/kg; leachates extracted according to
acceptance of waste at landfills (L/S =
criteria and procedures for the
Decision, 2003), which establishes
2003/33/EC
(LLV) according to Council Decision
includes the leaching limit values
wastes and agricultural soil. It also
of the leaching tests performed on the

ion chromatography.
ICP–MS and ion data were acquired by
Metal contents were determined by
metals from the extract were measured.
concentrations of certain ions and heavy
(EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and
the pH values, electrical conductivities
RR
interest (Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, and Pb), were measured in the leachate samples. in the municipalities of Cartagena and La Unión, and the main municipal Table 2. Types of mine and metallurgical wastes, number of deposits, area and volume.
to soil—showed a strong enrichment for Pb, Cd, Zn, Sb, and As; a moderate enrichment
EC

It was observed that only post-

Table 7.48 summarizes the results

The area occupied by the different types of mine and metallurgical wastes is districts, in an East–West direction, are Cabo de Palos, Los Belones, Campo Nº Area Volume was reckoned for Cu; and a poor
Types of mine and metallurgical deposits
approximately 9 km2, totalizing a volume of 175 Mm3 on land and other 25 Mm3 on sea de Golf, El Estrecho de San Ginés, Llano del Beal, Portmán, La Unión, 2 5 4 3 0 3 Deposits No.(Km
2
) 18 (Mm3) enrichment factor was achieved

B
Dispatch: 27.4.06 Journal: 254 of pages:

(European
(mainly in Portman bay, El Gorguel bay, and La Galera beach). Open-pit spoils 32 4.21 135.99

CO
Alumbres, Escombreras, Vista Alegre, and Cartagena. Journal No. Manuscript No. Author’s disk received 4 Used 4 Corrupted 4 Mismatch 4 Keyed 4 for Co, Cr, and Ni, in descending
Post-flotation wastes 89 2.18 22.89
RR

order. It is clear that mine

5.6.1. Sampling design Post-flotation sludge in Portman and Gorguel Bay 2 0.83 25.00
and metallurgical wastes bear

Results
Council
All the specimens were sampled on the period May 2003 – February 2005. Gravity concentration spoils 119 0.65 3.73
Fig. 1. Geological map of Sierra de Cartagena – La Unión (Robles-Arenas et al., 2006). important concentrations of trace
Sampling sequence started with the selection of the product to be evaluated (usually,

UN
Mine spoils 176 0.48 3.01
tons in a heap or dump). Primary sampling consisted of taking 5 kg of each material, by metals into their crystal lattice

195
CO

gathering several small amounts from different locations. Secondary sampling was Gossan 11 0.26 6.93
structure.
performed in laboratory, by crushing the lithified granules—in case gravel particle size Pre-concentration wastes 1 0.06 0.59
Materials
was present (2–64 mm)—and quartering in a chute riffler until 500 g of sample Methods Molten slag 19 0.13 0.66 Open-pit spoils, gravity-
reduction was achieved. Tertiary sampling was performed by grinding with a mill disc Well borings 2 5 1902
4 0.023 0 0.51
3 concentration spoils,
No. of pages:pre-
B
Dispatch: 27.4.06 Journal: 254 18
Sampling sequence started with the selection of the product to be evaluated The methodology used includes: 1) the mapping of the different deposits of
and riffling with a rotary divider, getting a final sample size of 100 g. Finally, the Journal No. Manuscript No. concentration wastes, and molten
UN

Author’s disk received 4 Used 4 Corrupted 4 Mismatch 4 Keyed 4

(usually, tons in ainheap
sample prepared or dump).
this way Primary
was entered sampling
in the differentconsisted of taking
instruments, 5 kg size
in a typical mining and metallurgical wastes considering 100 parameters (García, 2004). Totals 2351 8.83 199.30
ofrange
eachofmaterial, byg.gathering several small amounts from different locations.
10 mg – 10 Physical, mineralogical and geochemical characterization of the different types of 2 5 4 3 0 3 slag presented parameters (pH
B
Dispatch: 27.4.06 Journal: 254 No. of pages: 18
Secondary sampling
Although was performed
the specimens are sampledin with
laboratory, by acrushing
great care, the lithifiedcan not
true representativity metallurgical wastes and mine carried out according to Alcolea (2015). Journal No. Manuscript No. Author’s disk received 4 Used 4 Corrupted 4 Mismatch 4 Keyed 4 in all of them, and Cd in the case
be guaranteed
granules—in in gravel
case the final sample.
particle sizeThe
was initial
presentproduct commonly behaves
(2–64 mm)—and as a
quartering The main categories of crystalline compounds found in wastes were silicates (31–83%, of gravity-concentration spoils)
insegregated mixture because, among other mechanisms,
was smaller particles cansampling
percolate Enrichment of metals in mine and metallurgical 2 5 4 3 0 3
B
Dispatch: 27.4.06 Journal: 254 No. of pages: 18
a chute riffler until 500 g of sample reduction achieved. Tertiary with an average of 57%), oxides (≤ 62%, averaging 34%), sulfates (≤ 20%, with an average outside the leaching limit values
through the small voids between the larger particles.
wastes
Journal No. Manuscript No. Author’s disk received 4 Used 4 Corrupted 4 Mismatch 4 Keyed 4
was performed by grinding with a mill disc and riffling with a rotary divider, of 6%), carbonates (≤ 11%, averaging 2%), and sulfides (up to 6%, with a mean of 1%) to be landfilled. Only post-
gettingListed in sample
a final Table 5.9 is of
size summarized somethe
100 g. Finally, relevant information
sample preparedabout
in thisthe context
way was flotation wastes (on land and
The enrichment of metals in mine and metallurgical wastes compared to soil was (Table 3). Computed amorphousness ranged 15–40%, with an average of 24%. Conversely,
where these wastes were found. Figure 5.12 displays the different materials in situ, the
entered
date theyinwere
the sampled.
different instruments, in a typical size range of 10 mg – 10 g. estimated using an enrichment factor (EF) (Carmona et al., 2009) given by: agricultural soil was based on oxides (47%), carbonates (29%), and silicates (24%). According sea) and gossan met the waste
to the Nickel-Strunz classification, quartz was categorized as an oxide (04.DA.05 class, with acceptance criteria to be landfilled.
Tabla EF = [metal in wastes, mg/kg] / [metal in soils, mg/kg]
Table 1. Sampling
5.9. Samplingpositions of the
positions of thedifferent
different types
types of metallurgical
of mine wastes,
and metallurgical andcompared
wastes, mine Leachability studies revealed that
compared with a distant location
metal/oxygen ratio 1:2 and small cation; which does not exclude its categorization by Dana
with a distant location of a soil in the of a soildeinCartagena.
Campo the Campo de Cartagena
2 5 4 3 0 3 1 litre of leachate could averagely
B
Dispatch: 27.4.06 Journal: 254 No. of pages: 18
as a tectosilicate, because of its silicon tetrahedral framework).
Journal No. Type of wasteManuscript
ContextNo. X (m) 4
Author’s disk received 4 Used 4 Corrupted Y (m)4 KeyedDs4
Mismatch (km) pollute up to 107 litres of drinking
Open-pit spoils Waste dumps from San José open-pit mine. 688390 4163320 1.48 It is worth mentioning that sulfides, sulfates (present in all types of wastes), and hydroxides
water. On average, mobility of
Portmán wadi. share a common space in these mine and metallurgical wastes, with different concentrations
Post-flot. (land) Tailings dam in El Descargador site 691800 4165700 0.97 the trace metals could be listed
Post-flot. (sea) Portmán Bay beach 689971 4161627 3.34
References depending on the degree of weathering of the mineral deposits exploited and the products
as follows: Pb > Cd > Zn > Ni >
Gravity-conc. spoils Waste heaps in Segunda Paz mine, near 690677 4165596 2.08 Alcolea, A. (2015). Tesis doctoral Univ. Politécnica de Cartagena, 351 pp. rejected in every waste dump.
Llano del Beal village. Cu ≈ As ≈ Sb. According to the
Carmona, D.M., Faz Cano, Á., Arocena, J. M., 2009. Cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in secondary
Gossan Iron-cap dumps in Erizo mining concession, 689710 4166090 1.63 Table 4 gives the EF values for the different types of wastes. Local background concentrations results, only mobilization of Pb,
sulfate minerals in soils of mined areas in Southeast Spain. Geoderma, 150(1), 150-157. Fig. 3. Pictures of the different types of mine and metallurgical
near Emilia open-pit mine.
Pre-conc. wastes Waste heaps in Coto Ponce, near Llano del 691487 4166197 3.07 García, C. (2004). Impacto y riesgo ambiental de los residuos minero-metalúrgicos de la Sierra Minera de averaged at the top 60 cm of soils were taken from Martínez-Sánchez and Pérez-Sirvent Cd, and Zn represented a minor wastes (a–g), and the sampling location of the agricultural soil
Beal village. Cartagena la Unión. Tesis doctoral Univ. Politécnica de Cartagena, 423 pp. environmental threat during short- (h), taken on the period May 2003 – February 2005: (a) open-
(2007). Analyses with EF<10 (Ni, Cr, and Co) were considered to be poorly enriched,
Molten slag Slag dump near Cuevas de Roma, in El 688165 4166230 1.61 Martínez-Sánchez, M.J., Pérez-Sirvent, C., 2007. Niveles de fondo y niveles genéricos de referencia pit spoils, (b) post-flotation wastes (on land), (c) post-flotation
Descargador site. 10<EF<100 (Cu) indicated moderate enrichment, whereas a strong enrichment was reckoned term leaching of any type of the wastes (on sea), (d) gravity-concentration spoils (e) gossan, (f)
de metales pesados en suelos de la Región de Murcia. Murcia, Spain.
Agricultural soil By a citrus grove in northern Pozo Estrecho 677044 4176033 16.29 for species with EF>100 (As, Sb, Zn, Cd, and Pb, in increasing order). All this proves that mining mine and metallurgical wastes pre-concentration wastes, (g) molten slag, and (h) agricultural
Robles-Arenas, V.M., Rodríguez. R., García, C., Manteca, J.I. Candela, L. (2006). 51, 47-64.
village soil.
Datum: ETRS89. Projection: UTM-30. Ds Distance to “Sancti Spiritus 3”. residues still incorporate into their structure important concentrations of heavy metals. found in the Sierra Minera

1
Departamento de Ingeniería Minera y Civil, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 52, 30203 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. cristobal.garcia@upct.es
2
Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena. SAIT. Edificio I+D+i, 30202 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain ana.caparros@sait.upct.es; alberto.Alcolea@upct.es
3
Área de Geoquímica y Sostenibilidad Minera. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España. La Calera 1, Tres Canto. 28760 Madrid, Spain. roberto.roriguez@igme.es

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