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Geoenvironmental characterization and speciation-driven risk assessment of gold mining tailings.

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Title: Geoenvironmental characterization and speciation-driven risk assessment of gold mining tailings.
Authors: Kumar, Ayush1 (AUTHOR) 24ge06009@iitbbs.ac.in, Somani, Mohit1 (AUTHOR) mohitsomani@iitbbs.ac.in, Benamar, Ahmed2 (AUTHOR) ahmed.benamar@univ-lehavre.fr, Farooq, Syed Hilal3 (AUTHOR) hilalfarooq@iitbbs.ac.in
Source: Environmental Monitoring & Assessment. Jun2026, Vol. 198 Issue 6, p1-18. 18p.
Subject Terms: *Chemical speciation, *Environmental risk assessment, *Environmental geotechnology, *Pollution risk assessment, *Heavy metal toxicology, *Heavy metals, *Mine waste, *Mineralogical chemistry
Geographic Terms: India
Abstract: The present study investigates the geoenvironmental characteristics and mobility of heavy metals in gold mine tailings collected from a mining region in western India. The tailings were subjected to comprehensive physical, mineralogical, and geochemical characterization, including particle size distribution, XRD-based mineralogy, XRF elemental composition, ICP-OES based total heavy metal analysis, and sequential extraction to evaluate metal speciation and environmental risk. Results indicate that the tailings are fine-grained (< 45 μm) with a slightly alkaline nature. Mineralogical analysis revealed quartz, feldspars, gypsum, and pyrite as the dominant phases. Elevated concentrations of potentially toxic elements, particularly As (4330 mg/kg), Pb (3130 mg/kg), Zn (6000 mg/kg), Cu (1900 mg/kg), and Cd (42.5 mg/kg), were observed, exceeding regulatory threshold limits for reuse given in Indian standards (MoEF&CC, 2025). Sequential extraction results showed that despite high total metal concentrations, a substantial fraction of metals especially As and Ni was associated with the residual fraction, suggesting limited immediate mobility. In contrast, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb exhibited notable proportions in labile fractions, indicating higher environmental sensitivity. Risk index (in particular risk assessment code) identified Zn, Cd, and Pb as priority contaminants, while Ni posed the least risk. Overall, the study highlights the importance of metal speciation-based assessment for sustainable management of gold mine tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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  Availability: 0
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 194723300
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Data: Geoenvironmental characterization and speciation-driven risk assessment of gold mining tailings.
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Kumar%2C+Ayush%22&quot;&gt;Kumar, Ayush&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;1&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; 24ge06009@iitbbs.ac.in&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Somani%2C+Mohit%22&quot;&gt;Somani, Mohit&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;1&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; mohitsomani@iitbbs.ac.in&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Benamar%2C+Ahmed%22&quot;&gt;Benamar, Ahmed&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;2&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; ahmed.benamar@univ-lehavre.fr&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Farooq%2C+Syed+Hilal%22&quot;&gt;Farooq, Syed Hilal&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;3&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; hilalfarooq@iitbbs.ac.in&lt;/i&gt;
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;JN&quot; term=&quot;%22Environmental+Monitoring+%26+Assessment%22&quot;&gt;Environmental Monitoring &amp; Assessment&lt;/searchLink&gt;. Jun2026, Vol. 198 Issue 6, p1-18. 18p.
– Name: Subject
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  Data: *&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Chemical+speciation%22&quot;&gt;Chemical speciation&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Environmental+risk+assessment%22&quot;&gt;Environmental risk assessment&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Environmental+geotechnology%22&quot;&gt;Environmental geotechnology&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Pollution+risk+assessment%22&quot;&gt;Pollution risk assessment&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Heavy+metal+toxicology%22&quot;&gt;Heavy metal toxicology&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Heavy+metals%22&quot;&gt;Heavy metals&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Mine+waste%22&quot;&gt;Mine waste&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Mineralogical+chemistry%22&quot;&gt;Mineralogical chemistry&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22India%22&quot;&gt;India&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The present study investigates the geoenvironmental characteristics and mobility of heavy metals in gold mine tailings collected from a mining region in western India. The tailings were subjected to comprehensive physical, mineralogical, and geochemical characterization, including particle size distribution, XRD-based mineralogy, XRF elemental composition, ICP-OES based total heavy metal analysis, and sequential extraction to evaluate metal speciation and environmental risk. Results indicate that the tailings are fine-grained (&lt; 45 μm) with a slightly alkaline nature. Mineralogical analysis revealed quartz, feldspars, gypsum, and pyrite as the dominant phases. Elevated concentrations of potentially toxic elements, particularly As (4330 mg/kg), Pb (3130 mg/kg), Zn (6000 mg/kg), Cu (1900 mg/kg), and Cd (42.5 mg/kg), were observed, exceeding regulatory threshold limits for reuse given in Indian standards (MoEF&amp;CC, 2025). Sequential extraction results showed that despite high total metal concentrations, a substantial fraction of metals especially As and Ni was associated with the residual fraction, suggesting limited immediate mobility. In contrast, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb exhibited notable proportions in labile fractions, indicating higher environmental sensitivity. Risk index (in particular risk assessment code) identified Zn, Cd, and Pb as priority contaminants, while Ni posed the least risk. Overall, the study highlights the importance of metal speciation-based assessment for sustainable management of gold mine tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=194723300
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10661-026-15442-7
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Chemical speciation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Environmental risk assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Environmental geotechnology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pollution risk assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Heavy metal toxicology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Heavy metals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mine waste
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mineralogical chemistry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: India
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Geoenvironmental characterization and speciation-driven risk assessment of gold mining tailings.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Kumar, Ayush
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            NameFull: Somani, Mohit
      – PersonEntity:
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            NameFull: Benamar, Ahmed
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            NameFull: Farooq, Syed Hilal
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 01676369
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              Value: 198
            – Type: issue
              Value: 6
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Environmental Monitoring & Assessment
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