An Application of Electrical Resistivity Tomography to Investigate Heavy Metals Pathways

Author:

Benyassine El Mehdi1,Lachhab Ahmed2,Dekayir Abdelilah1,Parisot Jean C.3,Rouai Mohamed1

Affiliation:

1. Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Sciences, BP. 11201, Zitoune, Meknes, Morocco

2. Susquehanna University, Earth and Environmental Sciences, 514 University Ave, Selinsgrove, PA 17870, USA

3. Europôle Méditerranéen de l'Arbois - Avenue Louis Philibert - BP 80 - 13545 Aix En Provence cedex 04, France

Abstract

The abandoned lead mine of Zeida is located at the center of the High Moulouya watershed between the Middle and the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Zeida has produced a total of 640,000 tons of concentrated lead during the 14 years of its activity (1972–1985). Three large tailings were left at the center of the mine on both sides of Moulouya River without any risk reduction measures or monitoring and there is a concern regarding heavy metal contamination of local groundwater. Samples taken from and around the tailings were found to contain average lead and zinc concentrations of 3,000 ppm and 140 ppm, respectively, primarily in the form of galena and barite. Prior studies have also found high concentrations of lead and zinc in both local wells near the town of Zeida and along the banks of Moulouya River. In this study, five electrical resistivity imaging surveys were performed to identify the risk of pollution and trace the pathways of mine-based contaminants to groundwater and to the Moulouya River. The analysis of electrical resistivity data has provided new insights showing: 1) an average tailings thickness of 15 m; 2) rounded structures with high resistivity values at the center and gradually decreasing toward their edges that are assumed to be granite, with fractures and a weathered zone; and 3) the potential pathways of heavy metal occur predominantly along these fractures and in the thick layers of the sandstone overlaying granitic bedrock.

Publisher

Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society

Subject

Geophysics,Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology,Environmental Engineering

Reference41 articles.

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2. Broyden quasi-Newton method applied to electrical impedance tomography

3. Baghdad, B. Naimi, M. Bouabdli, A. Sonnet, P. Garcia, A.S. Bounakhia, M. and Inigo Inig, A.C. 2009, Evaluation de la contamination et évolution de la qualité des eaux au voisinage d'une mine abandonnée d'extraction de Plomb (Zaida-Haute Moulouya-Maroc) : in 2èmeConférence Inter Régionale Enviro Wat 2009, Marrakech.

4. Benyassine, E.M. 2015, Evaluation de la Contamination par les ETM des Sols, des Sédiments et des Eaux de Lacs de carrières de la Mine Abandonnée de Zeïda (Haute Moulouya, Maroc): Approches géochimique et géophysique : Thèse de doctorat, Université My Ismail, Meknès, Maroc(in French).

5. Benyassine, E.M. Dekayir, A. and Casiot, C. 2013, Contamination by heavy metals of mining dams, steam sediments and pit lake waters in Zeida Abandoned Mine (High Moulouya, Morocco): International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology 2, 3,758–3,766.

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