An investigation of mercury distribution in the soils around gold mining area at Dar-Mali locality, river Nile State, Sudan

Authors : Mushtaha ALİ, Abdalla ELHAGWA, Jamal ELFAKİ
Pages : 365-372
Doi:10.18393/ejss.467595
View : 60 | Download : 12
Publication Date : 2018-10-01
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :An artisanal gold mining region located in North of Atbara insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Dar-Mali locality);, River Nile State, Sudan insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(17.82289 to 17.82389N and 33.99974 to 34.02127E); has been studied with the aim to evaluate the soil contamination with mercury insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Hg); using two parameters; insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(i); Comparison of the Hg concentration with the mean concentrations in world soils, insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ii); Enrichment Factor insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(EF);. The results revealed that, the concentrations of the Hg are varying in the studied area and the highest concentrations were obtained inside the mining basins used for gold extraction insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2.62 mg kg -1 soil); it is around 29 times more than mean Hg concentration in world soils, while the lower concentrations are found at recent Nile River terrace insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.10 mg kg -1 soil);. The results also indicated that the soil samples collected from inside mining basins had a highest E.F value insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(352.84); that means, this site must be closed and remediation process should be started immediately. While the E.F value of recent Nile River terrace site was 8.74, means, all studied sites have significant contamination with Hg . The mobility of Hg may have influenced by northeast wind, or water runoff from mining zone to nearest areas at same wind direction or water flow direction.
Keywords : Sudan, River Nile State, Hg concentration, gold mining, enrichment factor, mining basins

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL