Jayanta Guha

Environmental concerns related to high thallium levels in soils and thallium uptake by plants in southwest Guizhou, China

Thallium (Tl) contamination in soils poses a significant threat to human health due to the high toxicity of Tl and its ready assimilation by crops. This study is focused on high concentrations of Tl in soils in the Lanmuchang area of southwest Guizhou, China, which is related to natural processes of Tl-rich sulfide mineralization. Thallium contents range from 40 to 124 mg/kg in soils originating from the mining area, from 20 to 28 mg/kg in slope wash materials, from 14 to 62 mg/kg in alluvial deposits downstream, from 1.5 to 6.9 mg/kg in undisturbed natural soils and <0.2 to 0.5 mg/kg Tl in soils from the background area. These values indicate that both the erosion of natural soils from the Tl mineralized area and the mining activity are responsible for the distribution of high Tl concentrations in soils. Two other important toxic metals of interest, mercury and arsenic, also show high contents in soils, and are generally higher than Tl concentrations. Thallium concentration in plants exhibit species-dependent preferences. Thus, the enrichment of Tl in the edible parts of crop species decreases in the following order: green cabbage>carrot>chili>Chinese cabbage>rice>corn. The highest level of Tl in green cabbage is up to 500 mg/kg as dry wt., surpassing the values of Tl in the soils in which the green cabbages grow. In contrast, Hg and As are relatively less concentrated in local plants. The average daily uptake of Tl by the villagers of the Lanmuchang area through consumption of locally planted crops has been estimated to be 1.9 mg/person, which is 50 times the daily ingestion of individuals from the Tl-free background area. The daily ingestion of As and Hg from the study area are 0.03 and 0.01 mg, respectively. This indicates that Tl in the contaminated soils related to the natural Tl mineralization is being readily transferred to the human body through the food chain, and poses a significant threat to the health of the local villagers. Arsenic may pose a lesser health hazard, but mercury has an insignificant health risk. This study illustrates a real environmental concern related to land use and human health in areas containing high contents of Tl in soils associated with the natural occurrence of Tl-rich sulfides and coals, with or without mining activities. Thallium contamination in soils should be a critical parameter for proper land use and health related environmental planning and regulations.

Groundwater-related thallium transfer processes and their impacts on the ecosystem: southwest Guizhou Province, China

Abstract The small karstic watershed of Lanmuchang, in a Hg–Tl mineralized area in SW Guizhou Province, China, exhibits an enrichment of toxic Tl in groundwater and related stream water. This affords an excellent demonstration of the natural processes of Tl dispersion, and the resultant impact on the local ecosystem. The distribution of Tl in the water system follows a decreasing concentration pattern from deep groundwater to stream water to shallow groundwater. Tl shows high levels (13–1100 μg/L) in deep groundwater within the Tl-mineralized area, decreasing with distance away from the mineralized area to background levels (0.005 μg/L). The distribution of Tl in the water system is constrained by Tl mineralization, water–rock interactions and hydrogeological conditions. Tl concentrations in waters generally correlate with concentrations of total dissolved solids, sulphate, Ca and pH values, suggesting the contribution of water-rock interactions to water geochemistry. Water–rock interactions are driven by weathering of Tl-bearing sulfides which decreases pH values in groundwater, and by dissolution of limestone enhanced by acid fluids. Tl in stream water in both the base-flow and flood-flow regimes shows higher concentrations than it does in shallow groundwater that serves as the streams source (mainly springs, dug-well flows and karstic cave waters). Concentrations of Tl in stream water in the flood-flow regime are generally lower than in the base-flow regime due to dilution effects, but those in the waters of mid-stream are almost the same as in the base-flow regime, probably due to contribution from Tl-rich soil water seepage or from acid mine drainage (AMD). Unexpectedly, Tl concentrations in stream water in both regimes are remarkably higher (2–30 fold) downstream than up- and mid-stream. These pronounced increases of Tl concentration are likely caused by unidentified discharges of deep groundwater through fractured zones to the downstream trace. The groundwater-related Tl transfer processes affect the ecosystem through contamination of water supply and arable soil and ultimately the food chain with undoubted risks to human health. Therefore, the results of this study are important for environmental planning and regulations, and will also serve as baseline data for future research on Tl natural dispersion processes.

High thallium content in rocks associated with Au-As-Hg-Tl and coal mineralization and its adverse environmental potential in SW Guizhou, China

Very few investigations have dealt with the environmental impact of the highly toxic metal thallium (Tl), and its subsequent dispersion through natural processes and human activities such as mining and farming. This study is focused on high concentrations of Tl in rocks in SW Guizhou, China, that are related to several widely scattered disseminated gold–mercury–arsenic and coal deposits, and a primary Tl deposit within an Au–As–Hg–Tl metallogenic belt of the Huijiabao anticline. The Tl, Hg and As in the Lanmuchang Hg–Tl deposit area are associated with the abundant occurrence of sulfide minerals such as lorandite, realgar, orpiment and cinnabar. Concentrations of Tl range from 100 to 35 000 ppm in sulfide ores, and 39–490 ppm in host rocks. The enrichment of Au, Tl, Hg, As, and Sb in the Yanshang gold mineralized area reflects the occurrence of Au mineralization and its mineral assemblage of Tl–Hg–As–Sb sulfides. Thallium ranges from 0.22 to 16 ppm in Au ores and host rocks. Thallium in coals is enriched up to 46 ppm within the Au–As–Hg–Tl metallogenic belt, and is derived from the regional Au–As–Hg–Tl mineralization. Mercury and As show a similar distribution to Tl with high concentrations in sulfide ores, coals and host rocks. Human populations living near and downstream of Tl deposits and Tl-bearing ore deposits are susceptible to Tl contamination because of its high toxicity and high uptake rate by crops. The dispersion of Tl, Hg and As associated with the primary mineralization of Au–As–Hg–Tl can be traced through physical erosion and chemical weathering, producing secondary dispersion into soils, groundwater and surface water and crops. Mining activities compound the natural processes, readily dispersing Tl into the surface environment. The Lanmuchang area illustrates Tl contamination related to a Tl-rich deposit due to both natural processes and the impact of mining. The Yanshang area demonstrates Tl contamination related toa Tl-bearing gold deposit, caused by natural processes in the absence of mining activity.

Alteration patterns related to gold mineralization and their relation to CO2/H2O ratios

SummaryThe pattern of hydrothermal alteration associated with a gold prospect located within a differentiated iron-rich gabbro sill in the Chibougamau region has been investigated in order to establish the alteration mechanism. The gold mineralization, occurring in east-west trending shear zone, shows a close spatial relationship to zones of intense alteration. Ankerite-sericite-pyrite/ankerite-fuchsite-chlorite/ankerite-sericite-chlorite, and chlorite-calcite-magnetite form four distinct alteration facies which extend outward from the mineralized zones. Detailed mineralogical, petrological and chemical studies show that the iron content of chlorite increases whereas the iron content of the carbonate decreases from the mineralized zone outwards. The hydrothermal alteration pattern is shown to be derived from a single fluid with a high initial CO2/H2O ratio. At first, reducing reactions prevailed and, with progressive fluid-rock interaction, the CO2/H2O ratio was lowered and oxidation reactions dominated.ZusammenfassungHydrothermale Alterationen in Zusammenhang mit einer Goldvererzung eines differenzierten eisenreichen gabbroischen Sills im Chibougamaugebiet wurden untersucht, um den Umwandlungsmechanismus zu ermitteln. Die Goldvererzung in der Ost-West verlaufenden Scherzone ist eng mit Zonen intensiver Alteration verbunden. 4 deutlich unterscheidbare Alterationsfazics, die mit zunehmender Entfernung von der Vererzung auftreten, sind: Ankerit - Serizit - Pyrit/Ankerit - Fuchsit - Chlorit/Ankerit -Serizit - Chlorit und Chlorit - Kalzit - Magnetit. Detailierte mineralogische, petrographische und geochemische Untersuchungen zeigen, daß sich von der Vererzung weg der Eisengehalt im Chlorit, erhöht, gleichzeitig aber in Karbonaten verringert. Die hydrothermale Alteration ist auf eine einzige fluide Phase mit ursprünglich hohem CO2/ H2O-Verhältnis zurückzuführen. Vorherrschend waren zunächst reduzierende Reaktionen. Mit zunehmender Wechselwirkung zwischen Fluid und Gestein erniedrigte sich das CO2/H2O-Verhältnis und oxidierende Reaktionen nahmen zu.

Gas composition of fluid inclusions using solid probe mass spectrometry and its application to study of mineralizing processes

Abstract A quadrupole mass spectrometer and a solid probe which can be inserted directly into the ionization chamber have been used to analyze gas compositions of fluid inclusions. The probe holds a solid sample which can be heated continuously or stepwise from 30 to 750°C using variable heating rates. The decrepitated gas is released directly into the spectrometer source, thus reducing contamination. A Single Ion Monitoring mode program is used for the analysis, which is capable of detecting 26 preselected gases separately, and gases at picogram levels have been analyzed with this method. Each single burst of inclusions is detected and analyzed separately using a surface area integrator, and the computer program automatically traces the baseline above the background. Gas ratios are calculated for single bursts, or bursts over different ranges of temperature, as well as the sum of the total range. Routine petrographic and microthermometric analyses are used to determine the different generations of inclusions and their decrepitation temperatures. Then tiny pieces of the doubly polished section containing representative fluid inclusions or inclusions targeted for analysis are cut and introduced into the solid probe and heated accordingly. The principal gas species which have been analyzed are CO2, CON2 (not discriminated), H2O, H2S, and nearly all light hydrocarbons. Fluid inclusions from different host minerals such as quartz, fluorite, barite, and sulfides have also been analyzed. The most important advantage of this method is that analytical results can be correlated with specific inclusion types since a small amount of sample material is required which makes it easier to choose specific areas from doubly polished sections. Another advantage is its capability to match the presence of gases in inclusions in quartz with those in associated sulfides, thereby confirming or denying that similar fluids were trapped by both the minerals. More tests are underway to examine the use of fluid inclusion data from sulfides. Preliminary tests on samples from an Archean gold deposit indicate the potential of this method, not only to detect the presence of different gases in the fluid, but also to determine gas ratios of fluid inclusions rapidly and fairly accurately. It has previously been established through alteration assemblage studies that CO2H2O ratios of the fluid decreased outwards from the gold-bearing zones and the new fluid inclusion data confirm this. This method also detected the presence of other gases such as CO N 2 , CH4, C2H6, and H2S, indicating a multi-component C-O-N-H-S system. This method can be useful for both reconnaissance and detailed investigations where gas compositions of fluid inclusions are important for the understanding of fluid evolution processes.

Gold mineralization patterns in relation to the lithologic and tectonic evolution of the Chibougamau mining district, Quebec, Canada

The Chibougamau mining camp, a major gold producer, has so far produced a total of 1,050 mt of gold at an average grade of 1.85 g/tonne. In contrast to a general tendency to group the deposits as vein type with varying compositions, this paper demonstrates the strong influence of regional lithologic and tectonic evolution of the area on the gold mineralization patterns. A syn-volcanic period of mineralization comprises both the volcanogenic massive sulphide and disseminated mineralization, and the subsequent epithermal mineralization. The latter is also associated with evolving volcanic landforms and syn-volcanic intrusions. The emplacement of the typical Archean lode-gold deposits and later Cu-Au deposits of uncertain origin coincides with the syn-deformational (Kenoran) period. The spatial relationship between the east-west-trending shear zones and a north-east-trending fault system is shown to be a possible mechanism for generating added dilatancy during the gold mineralizing phase. A late-to-post Kenoran shear system controlled the emplacement of the last major phase of gold mineralization within a stratiform intrusion.

Geochemical migration of impurity trace elements and resultant fractal distribution patterns in source rocks

The migration of trace elements from the inner part of solid cells to the weaknesses is the bottleneck in the migration of these elements from their initial positions in the source rock to the final deposition site in ore bodies. Diffusion may play a key role in the reactivation of trace elements. The overall migration pattern of trace elements in source rocks is a fractal structure. There are two general tendencies for trace elements to migrate. One is from within solid cells toward sinks, and the other is from high temperature fields toward low temperature ones. High temperature enhances these two tendencies. Conjugate geochemical anomalies are the inevitable result of a closed geochemical system.

Petrologic and geochemical characteristics and origin of Gusui cherts, Guangdong Province, China

The characteristic structures of the Precambrian cherts from the Gusui section, Guangdong, China, include bedded structure, laminated structure, massive structure and pseudobrecciated structure. The chert is characterized by consistently low abundance of TiO2, Al2O3 and most trace elements. Howevver, it is enriched in Ba, As, Sb, Hg and Se. In Al-Fe-Mn ternary diagrams, it fells into the “hydrothermal field”. Correspondence analysis and factor analysis show that many elements show up in the factor that represents the leaching of country rocks by hydrothermal solutions, and are the very characteristic element association of the geochemically anomalous South China basement. Petrologic and geochemical evidence suggests a hydrothermal origin for the chert. The chert may have been formed in a Precambrian rift or an extension zone developed within the Yunkai marginal geosyncline. with a fault system linking it to an unknown heat source at depth.

Environmental exposure of thallium and potential health risk in the areas of high natural concentrations of thallium: Southwest Guizhou, China

Little is known in the literature about thallium (Tl) exposure from naturally occurring Tl contamination. This paper draws attention to the potential health risk posed by high concentrations of naturally occurring Tl in the environment. The inhabitants of a rural area of southwest Guizhou Province, China, reside within a natural Tl accumulated environment resulting from the Tl-rich sulfide mineralization, and they face a severe Tl exposure in their daily lives. The daily intake 1.9 mg Tl from the consumed food crops was estimated for a local adult inhabitant of Lanmuchang. High Tl concentrations were detected in urines of the local residents. Measured urinary Tl levels are as high as 2.51-2,668 μg/L, surpassing the accepted world urine Tl level <1 mg/L for “non-exposed” humans. However, there is a positive relationship between the extent of Tl exposure from Tl in soil and crops in the immediate environment and the levels of Tl detected in urine. This study has been able to identify that the elevated urinary Tl levels are mainly attributable to Tl accumulation in locally grown vegetables acquiring Tl from natural sources in the local soils. This study indicates clearly that natural sources of high concentrations of Tl poses a potential health risk to the population, and that monitoring the urinary Tl level is a reliable and accurate way of bio-marking Tl exposure.

Hg and As minerals in fluid inclusions from the Williams mine, Hemlo, and their genetic implications

The Hemlo mineralization is enigmatic compared to general Archean lode gold deposits based on the fact that it is characterized by an exotic mineralogy containing elements such as As, Hg, Sb, Ba, V and Mo. The genetic concepts range from syngenetic to epigenetic types of mineralization. This reconnaissance study was designed to examine the relationship of Hg-As minerals with respect to fluid inclusions in the Williams mine (formerly known as the Page Williams mine) covering the A and C ore zones.