Knowledge Resource Center for Ecological Environment in Arid Area
| DOI | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141654 |
| Integrated studies to identify site-specific parameters for environmentally benign mining operations: A case study from the Sukari Gold Mine, Egypt | |
| Abdelaal, Ahmed; Sultan, Mohamed; Elhebiry, Mohamed; Krishnamurthy, R., V; Sturchio, Neil | |
| Corresponding Author | Sultan, M |
| Journal | SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
 |
| ISSN | 0048-9697 |
| EISSN | 1879-1026 |
| Year Published | 2021 |
| Volume | 750 |
| Abstract in English | This study integrates observations fromfield and remote sensing data, along with geochemical and isotopic analyses, to assess the environmental impacts of cyanidation and mining activities in the Sukari gold mine (SGM), Eastern Desert, Egypt, in particular, and the orogenic gold deposits of the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS) in general. Our findings indicate: (1) groundwater flows south to north in the highly fractured basement aquifer related to the brittle deformation associatedwith the Najd Fault System; (2) massive gabbroic bodies separate the fractured basement aquifer into east andwest conduits; (3) the tailings storage facility (TSF) pond and leach pad were constructed over the west conduit; and (4) cyanide-richwastewater has leaked downward through tears and cuts in the lining of the TSF pond into the fractured aquifer and cyanide contaminants have migrated northward along the west conduit. Evidence for the latter includes: (1) toxic concentrations of cyanide (total: 0.018-9.4 mg/L; free weak-acid dissociable: 0.003-0.7 mg/L) were observed in groundwater samples north of the TSF pond; (2) similarities in electrical conductivity (EC) values and chloride/bromide (Cl-/Br-) ratios between groundwater north of the pond (EC: 88.8 mS/cm; Cl-/Br-: 346 to 363) and those of the TSF pond water (mean EC: 99 mS/cm; Cl-/Br-: 242 to 383) were observed; (3) the geochemical (e.g., sodium [Na+], Cl-) and isotopic compositions (delta O-18 and delta H-2 values) of groundwater are consistent with mixing of groundwater upgradient from the SGM with isotopically enriched pond water; and (4) cyanide contamination could not have resulted from an overflow of the TSF pond during flash flood events, given that rainfall is negligible and effective flood control systems are in place. Our findings show that the international codes/regulations do not fully address site-specific characteristics and highlight the importance of considering these parameters in mining of orogenic gold deposits in the ANS. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. |
| Keyword in English | Cyanide contamination Groundwater Eastern Desert of Egypt Sukari gold mine |
| Subtype | Article |
| Language | 英语 |
| OA Type | hybrid |
| Indexed By | SCI-E |
| WOS ID | WOS:000585694600075 |
| WOS Keyword | CENTRAL EASTERN DESERT ; ARABIAN-NUBIAN SHIELD ; NAJD SHEAR SYSTEM ; CYANIDE COMPLEXES ; STABLE-ISOTOPES ; AFRICAN OROGEN ; SAUDI-ARABIA ; RED-SEA ; GROUNDWATER ; AQUIFERS |
| WOS Subject | Environmental Sciences |
| WOS Research Area | Environmental Sciences & Ecology |
| Document Type | 期刊论文 |
| Identifier | http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/327966 |
| Affiliation | [Abdelaal, Ahmed] Port Said Univ, Fac Sci, Environm Sci Dept, Port Said 42526, Egypt; [Abdelaal, Ahmed; Sultan, Mohamed; Elhebiry, Mohamed; Krishnamurthy, R., V] Western Michigan Univ, Dept Geol & Environm Sci, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 USA; [Elhebiry, Mohamed] Al Azhar Univ, Fac Sci, Geol Dept, Cairo 11884, Egypt; [Sturchio, Neil] Univ Delaware, Dept Geol Sci, Newark, DE 19716 USA |
| Recommended Citation GB/T 7714 | Abdelaal, Ahmed,Sultan, Mohamed,Elhebiry, Mohamed,et al. Integrated studies to identify site-specific parameters for environmentally benign mining operations: A case study from the Sukari Gold Mine, Egypt[J],2021,750. |
| APA | Abdelaal, Ahmed,Sultan, Mohamed,Elhebiry, Mohamed,Krishnamurthy, R., V,&Sturchio, Neil.(2021).Integrated studies to identify site-specific parameters for environmentally benign mining operations: A case study from the Sukari Gold Mine, Egypt.SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT,750. |
| MLA | Abdelaal, Ahmed,et al."Integrated studies to identify site-specific parameters for environmentally benign mining operations: A case study from the Sukari Gold Mine, Egypt".SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 750(2021). |
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