Evaluation of Acid Leachable Trace Metals in Soils Around a Five Centuries Old Mining District in Hidalgo, Central Mexico

Jonathan, M. P.; Jayaprakash, M.; Srinivasalu, S.; Roy, P. D.; Thangadurai, N.; Muthuraj, S.; Stephen-Pitchaimani, V.

Evaluation of Acid Leachable Trace Metals in Soils Around a Five Centuries Old Mining District in Hidalgo, Central Mexico

2010

We present the concentrations and distribution patterns of nine acid leachable trace metals (ALTMs) Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, and Cd in the soil samples from the five century old Pachuca-Mineral de Monte mining district of the Central Mexico. The ALTMs do not show any significant correlation with pH, EC, CaCO₃, and organic carbon. The metal concentration indicates three distinct distribution patterns. Fe, Mn, Cr, Pb, and Zn show enrichment in the high altitude region of the northern and central part of the study area. Likewise, Cu and Cd are enriched in the northern mountainous terrains. Both these groups show strong positive correlation with Mn indicating that they are associated with Mn-bearing minerals. However, we relate the first group of metals to excessive vehicular transportation and second group to mining waste dumps. The third group of ALTMs Co and Ni indicates its direct relationship to ore processing activities. Comparison of ALTMs concentrations from this study and various other studies throughout the world suggests the need to take precautionary measures of surface soil in high altitude areas to avoid metal enrichments and its subsequent environmental problems.

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