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Physicochemical composition of wastes and co-located landscape designations at legacy 1 mine sites in south west England and Wales: Implications on resource potential

Crane, Richard, Sinnett, D. E., Cleall, Peter John ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4005-5319 and Sapsford, Devin James ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6763-7909 2017. Physicochemical composition of wastes and co-located landscape designations at legacy 1 mine sites in south west England and Wales: Implications on resource potential. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 123 , pp. 117-134. 10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.08.009

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Abstract

This work examines the potential for resource recovery and/or remediation of metalliferous mine wastes in the south west of England and Wales. It does this through an assessment of the physicochemical composition of several key metalliferous legacy mine waste piles and an analysis of their co-location with cultural, geological and ecological designations. Mine waste samples were taken from 14 different sites and analysed for metal content, mineralogy, paste pH, particle size distribution, total organic carbon and total inorganic carbon. The majority of sites contain relatively high concentrations (in some cases up to several % by mass) of metals and metalloids, including Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Ag and Sn, many of which exceed ecological and/or human health risk guideline concentrations. However, the economic value of metals in the waste could be used to offset rehabilitation costs. Spatial analysis of all metalliferous mine sites in the south west of England and Wales found that around 70% are co-located with at least one cultural, geological and ecological designation. All 14 sites investigated are co-located with designations related to their mining activities, either due to their historical significance, rare species assemblages or geological characteristics. This demonstrates the need to consider the cultural and environmental impacts of rehabilitation and/or resource recovery on such sites. Further work is required to identify appropriate non-invasive methodologies to allow sites to be rehabilitated at minimal cost and disturbance.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Engineering
Publisher: Elsevier
ISSN: 0921-3449
Funders: NERC
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 12 September 2016
Date of Acceptance: 8 August 2016
Last Modified: 10 Nov 2023 16:20
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/94469

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