Showing papers by "Farid Moore published in 2011"

Heavy metal enrichment of soil in Sarcheshmeh copper complex, Kerman, Iran

Abstract: Copper smelting and toxic emissions in Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex have resulted in soil pollution especially in the vicinity of the smelting plant. Calculated geoaccumulation index, contamination factor (Cf), and contamination degree (Cdeg) indicate surface soil enrichment in potentially toxic metals (As, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mo, and Cd). The results also indicate that most contaminated areas are located in the prevailing wind directions (N and NE). However, continuous copper smelting can result in extensive pollution in the study area. This is especially alarming for adjacent townships. Since, the sampled sites are also used as grazing land, the soils are likely to become phytotoxic and provide a potential pathway for the toxic elements to enter the food chain. Cf based on distance and direction give more reasonable results; that is, the decrease of contamination degree with distance. This is in agreement with Igeo and also statistical analysis, which show a decreasing trend of metal loadings of soil with distance from the smelter. Statistical analysis reaffirms the polluting role of the smelting plant.

The Source of Natural Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater, West of Iran

Abstract: Geochemical characteristics and arsenic content of groundwater in the Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan provinces (west of Iran) were analyzed. Groundwater is the local source of drinking water and travertine springs are mainly used for bathing and balneological purposes. The results indicate that total arsenic in travertine springs and groundwater range between 212 to 986.9 and 0.4 to 688.9 μg/L, respectively. Speciation of arsenic suggests arsenite the dominant arsenic species in travertine spring (68.2 to 98.9%). The variations of Br/Cl and B/Cl ratio, negative ORP (Oxygen Redox Potential) and high concentrations of Cl, Na, Cs, Li, Rb, Sr, B, Br and Rb in travertine spring samples confirm deep groundwater circulation in the volcanic basement. The results of saturation indices show that groundwater samples are supersaturated with respect to iron oxides, calcite, dolomite and aragonite and undersaturated with respect to gypsum and halite. In spite of gold mineralization, dissolution of arsenic-containing sulfide minerals is not the main source of arsenic contamination in groundwater. Spatial coincidence between the arsenic anomaly in groundwater and the travertine springs distribution illustrates they are the main source of arsenic in groundwater. The present study is useful in addressing future measures in groundwater resource management, in the volcanic regions in the west of Iran.

Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Stream Water and Sediments Affected by the Sungun Porphyry Copper Deposit, East Azerbaijan Province, Northwest Iran

Abstract: In recent decades, people attention to preservation of environment has increased which affected the mining plans and activities. Sungun Porphyry Copper Deposit is located Northwest of Iran. In this study, environmental impact of copper mining in the Sungun region was assessed using physicochemical, hydrochemical and geochemical properties of water and sediment. In May 2009, 87 samples including water and sediment were collected from the 44 sampling stations along the Sungunchay, Ilginechay, Zarnekabchay and Khuinerud Streams near the deposit. The degree of heavy metal contamination in water and sediment samples was calculated by the ratio of the metal concentration to the local background and global standards. Also, the relation between the elements in water and sediment samples was investigated using correlation coefficients analysis and factor analysis. The results show that concentration of selected heavy metals (copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc and nickel) exceeds the maximum allowable concentrations in both water and sediment. However, among the analyzed heavy metals, Cu and Mo have more enrichment in water and sediments rather than the others. Mean values of the pollution load indices of heavy metals in the sediment samples decrease in the following order: Sungunchay, Ilginechay, Zarnekabchay and Khuinerud Streams. The results of multivariate analyses indicate that heavy metals in the water samples have similar behavior (except for Mo) during transportation in the riverine environment. Also in the sediment samples, Cu and Mo are associated with Fe, whereas Pb, Zn and Ni correlated with Mn. These results are also in agreement with the calculated pollution indices.

The Kharapeh orogenic gold deposit: geological, structural, and geochemical controls on epizonal ore formation in West Azerbaijan Province, Northwestern Iran

Abstract: The Kharapeh gold deposit is located along the northwestern margin of the Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone (SSZ) in the West Azerbaijan province, Iran. It is an epizonal orogenic gold deposit formed within the deformed zone between central Iran and the Arabian plate during the Cretaceous–Tertiary Zagros orogeny. The deposit area is underlain by Cretaceous schist and marble, as well as altered andesite and dacite dikes. Structural analysis indicates that the rocks underwent tight to isoclinal recumbent folding and were subsequently co-axially refolded to upright open folds during a second deformation. Late- to post-tectonic Cenozoic granites and granodiorites occur northeast of the deposit area. Mineralization mainly is recognized within NW-trending extensional structures as veins and breccia zones. Normal faults, intermediate dikes, and quartz veins, oriented subparallel to the axial surface of the Kharapeh antiform, indicate synchronous extension perpendicular to the fold axis during the second folding event. The gold-bearing quartz veins are >1 km in length and average about 6 m in width; breccia zones are 10–50 m in length and ≤1 m in width. Hydrothermal alteration mainly consists of silicification, sulfidation, chloritization, sericitization, and carbonatization. Paragenetic relationships indicate three distinct stages—replacement and silicification, brecciation and fracture filling, and cataclastic brecciation—with the latter two being gold-rich. Fluid inclusion data suggest mineral deposition at temperatures of at least 220–255°C and depths of at least 1.4–1.8 km, from a H2O–CO2±CH4 fluid of relatively high salinity (12–14 wt.% NaCl equiv.), which may reflect metamorphism of passive margin carbonate sequences. Ore fluid δ18O values between about 7‰ and 9‰ suggest no significant meteoric water input, despite gold deposition in a relatively shallow epizonal environment. Similarities to other deposits in the SSZ suggest that the deposit formed as part of a diachronous gold event during the middle to late Tertiary throughout the SSZ and during the final stages of the Zagros orogeny. The proximity of Kharapeh to the main tectonic suture of the orogen, well-developed regional fold systems with superimposed complex fracture geometries, and recognition of nearby volcanogenic massive sulfide systems that suggest a region characterized by sulfur- and metal-rich crustal rocks, collectively indicate an area of the SSZ with high favorability for undiscovered gold resources.

Lime Treatment of Mine Drainage at the Sarcheshmeh Porphyry Copper Mine, Iran

Abstract: Laboratory and field treatment tests were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of lime treatment for mitigation of environmental effects of acid mine drainage (AMD) at the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper mine. AMD associated with the rock waste dumps is contaminated with Al (>36,215 μg/L), Cd (>105 μg/L), Co (>522 μg/L), Cu (>53,250 μg/L), Mn (>42,365 μg/L), Ni (>629 μg/L), and Zn (>12,470 μg/L). The concentrations of other metals (Fe, Mo, Pb, and Se) are low or below detection limits (As, Cr, and Sb). Due to the very high Al and Mn content and the low concentration of Fe, a two-stage lime treatment method was chosen for the laboratory tests. In the first stage, the AMD was treated at four pH set points: 7.5, 8.9, 9, and 10. In the second stage, after removing the sludge at pH 9, treatment was continued at pH 10 and 11. The results indicated that a two-stage treatment method was not necessary because elements such as Al, Cu, Co, and Zn were easily treated at pH 7.5, while complete removal of Cd, Mn, and Ni only required a pH of 10. Increasing pH during the treatment process only caused a slight increase in Al. Field treatment tests support the laboratory results. Lime treatment of highly contaminated AMD from dump 11, using simple low density sludge pilot scale equipment, show that contaminant metals are treatable using this method. The mean treatment efficiency for contaminant metals was 99.4% for Al, % for Cd, 99.6% for Co, 99.7% for Cu, 98.5% for Mn, 99.7% for Ni, 99% for U, and 99.5% for Zn. The optimum pH for AMD treatment by lime was in the range of 9–10. The produced sludge in the treatment process was highly enriched in the contaminant metals, especially Cu (>7.34%), Al (>4.76%), Mn (>2.94%), and Zn (>1.25%). A correlation coefficient matrix indicates that the distribution pattern of the contaminant metals between soluble and precipitated phases is consistent with the hydrochemical behavior of the metals during the lime treatment process.

Rainwater and the resulting runoff chemistry in Shiraz city, southwest Iran

Abstract: Samples were collected from rainwater, the resulting runoff in urban drainage channels and the Khoshk River (a seasonal river which passes through the city and receives urban drainage channels runoff) Major elements and selected heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) concentrations were investigated for rainwater samples Marine and non-marine sources of the elements in rainwater were investigated by calculation of Sea salt fraction, Non sea salt fraction and application of factor analysis pH and mean concentrations of major ions and heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) were compared to the results of similar studies in other countries GIS interpolation maps indicated the impact of traffic pollution and Shiraz industrial complex on spatial distribution of Cu, Pb and Zn in rainwater Major ions and Cu, Pb and Zn mean concentrations in runoff samples were also studied and compared to the rainwater results Since the Khoshk River is the main runoff drainage channel in the city and is used for irrigation, its water quality

The application of ASTER imageries and mathematical evaluation method in detecting cyanobacteria in biological soil crust, Chadormalu area, central Iran

Abstract: Soil surfaces in arid and semi-arid lands often lack photoautotrophic life but are covered by communities of soil surface covering organisms able to tolerate dehydration, and thus adapted to aridity. One important objective of multi-spectral remote sensing instruments is the detection of the optical characteristics of the Earth’s surface using high spectral resolution bands. In this study ASTER imagery and reflected radiation in VNIR bands were used to investigate biological Soil Crusts (BSCs) in the field. By applying IARR (Internal Average Relative Reflectance), FCC (False Color Composite), MNF (Minimum Noise Fraction Transform), and MEM (Mathematical Evaluation Method) techniques, BSCs are successfully detected in the Chadormalu desert area of central Iran. This study clearly shows the capability of ASTER data (VNIR bands) to detect BSC or cyanobacteria soil crusts. The proposed MEM method, despite being approximative is suitable for detecting microorganisms in inaccessible areas such as other planet surfaces or remote areas on earth.