Determination of Potentially Harmful Element (PHE) Distribution in Water Bodies in Krugersdorp, a Mining City in the West Rand, Gauteng Province, South Africa

Minerals

Emmanuel Chirenje¹  Mpumelelo Dube¹  Maryam Amra Jordaan²  Theophilus Clavell Davies²  Andile Truelove Mbambo²  Michael Shapi² 

[1] Council for Geoscience, Tshwane 0184, South Africa;Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, 511 Mangosuthu Highway, Durban 4031, South Africa;

关键词: potentially harmful elements (PHEs);    Krugersdorp Game Reserve (KGR);    South Africa;    acid mine drainage (AMD);    remediation measures;   

DOI  :  10.3390/min11101133

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The town of Krugersdorp in South Africa is the locus of an important wildlife game reserve, the Krugersdorp Game Reserve (KGR), which is juxtaposed by the (<1000 m) down-gradient of the large-scale gold mining outfits of Mintails Mogale Gold (MMG) and Rand Uranium (RU). The aim of the study was to determine the concentration levels of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) that have accumulated due to post-mining activities in the local water bodies in Krugersdorp and to use these data as a prerequisite and basis for formulation of the most appropriate remediation measures. Thirty water samples were collected and analysed in situ for: water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (mgl⁻¹), dissolved oxygen (%), total dissolved solids (TDS), oxidation/reduction potential (ORP), and electrical conductivity (EC). This was later followed by laboratory analyses of aliquots of the water samples by ICP-MS for twelve PHEs whose concentration ranges were: As (0.70–32.20), Ag (0.16–105.00), Al (1.00–41.00), Co (0.07–6.16), Cr (1.60–5.00), Cu (0.80–8.00), Fe (23.00–117.00), Mn (0.14–12 255.00), Ni (0.20–7.00), Pb (0.80–6.30), V (1.90–55.20), and Zn (2.20–783.00). Areas of the town where excessive concentration levels of these elements have negatively impacted the health of its wildlife population and surrounding ecosystems are identified, and credible mitigation measures proffered.

【 授权许可】

Unknown