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Surface water quality and sediment geochemistry in the Gualaxo do Norte basin, eastern Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brazil

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

This paper describes the geochemistry of water and sediment samples downstream from two iron mines in the Gualaxo do Norte River basin, north of Mariana city, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Electric conductivity, total dissolved solids, pH, Eh, Na, K, Ca, Mg and trace elements (Fe, Mn, Al, Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn, As, Pb, Co, Sb, Cu, Mo, Rb, Sr, Ti, V, Y, Zr and Ba) have been analysed in water and sediments. The observed Na anomalies are mainly associated with the iron mine processing plants. Enriched concentrations of iron and manganese were only observed in rudimentary gold exploitation areas (prospectors) and where supergenic alteration of the banded iron formation has occurred. Iron and manganese background values are in some places higher than the limits established by Brazilian legislation. Mn, As, Sb and Ba anomalies have been observed in sediments. Their main source is associated with the sulphide-rich mineral deposits in the spring of the Gualaxo do Norte River and not directly related to the present iron exploitation in the region. Background values are proposed for the studied region.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (Departamento de Geologia and Departamento de Química) for the financial support to the fieldwork and chemical analyses and to the UFZ—Department for Inland Water Research of the Center for Environmental Research (Germany) for the trace metal analysis. The first author is grateful to CNPq for the M.Sc scholarship. The authors also thank FAPEMIG for granting the project CRA 952/01 which allowed the conclusion of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Geologia, Escola de Minas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, CEP 35400–000, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Adivane Teresinha Costa & Hermínio Arias Nalini Jr.

  2. Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, CEP 35400–000, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Jorge Carvalho de Lena

  3. Department for Inland Water Research, UFZ-Centre for Environmental Research, Brückstr. 3a, 39114, Magdeburg, Germany

    Kurt Friese & Margarete Mages

Authors
  1. Adivane Teresinha Costa
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  2. Hermínio Arias Nalini Jr.
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  3. Jorge Carvalho de Lena
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  4. Kurt Friese
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  5. Margarete Mages
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Correspondence to Hermínio Arias Nalini Jr..

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Costa, A.T., Nalini, H.A., de Lena, J.C. et al. Surface water quality and sediment geochemistry in the Gualaxo do Norte basin, eastern Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Env Geol 45, 226–235 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-003-0870-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-003-0870-6

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