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The Distribution of Mercury in Mine Tailings and Stream Sediments: A Case

Study of an Abandoned New Union Gold Mine, South Africa

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 Int'l Conf. on Advances in Science, Engineering, Technology & Natural Resources (ICASETNR-16) Nov. 24-25, 2016 Parys (South Africa)
The Distribution of Mercury in Mine Tailings and Stream
Sediments: A Case Study of an Abandoned New Union
Gold Mine, South Africa
LD Nembilwi, C Mitileni, JR Gumbo, C Muzerengi and FA Dacosta
 covered with mercury. After squeezing and burning the
Abstract— Environmental hazards arising from active and
abandoned mines and mine tailings is on the increase worldwide. The
disposal of gold (Au) ore processing wastes that include mercury (Hg)
at New Union Gold Mine creates environmental hazards to Mandzoro
River and streams that drain the mine tailings. Here we report on the
levels and distribution of Hg in mine tailings, stream sediments at New
Union Gold Mine, South Africa. The stream sediment samples were
collected in the profiles (0-3 cm and 20-25 cm) of the streams and then
approximately at every 500 m sample points towards Mandzoro River.
The results show that the total Hg in the mine tailings A and B was in
the range of 161.8 to 1999.1 µg/g dry weight. The pH of top soil
profile (0- 3cm) ranged from 3.25 ± 0.01 to 6.28 ± 0.02, whereas the
bottom soil profile (20-25 cm) ranged from 3.75 ± 0.01 to 6.45 ± 0.03.
The electrical conductivity of top layer sediments in the stream and the
Mandzoro River ranged from 8.5 ± 0.20 to 16.3 ± 0.1 mS/cm and the
bottom layer ranged from 8.4 ± 0.20 to 15.3 ± 0.23 mS/cm. The
dispersion (horizontal and vertical) of total Hg in the stream sediments
showed an erratic behaviour, though with gradual decrease from mine
tailings, 2.60 µg/g dry weight, to the streams (0.94 µg/g dry weight)
and an increase in the stream sediments (2.40 µg/g dry weight). The
results indicate that there is a general upward trend in Hg movements
from the surface (0-3cm) to the bottom (20-25 cm) profiles which is
made worse by low acidity. The increase of mercury in the stream
sediments has the potential to contaminate water sources and may be
detrimental to aquatic organisms and contaminate drinking water
supplies.
Index Terms— Environmental Hazards, Mine Tailings, Mercury,
Stream Sediments, Gold Mining
I. INTRODUCTION
The number of abandoned and inactive mine tailings dumps
are on the increase worldwide and present an environmental
hazards. Abandoned mines and mine tailings pose a hazard to
the environment, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem that lives
around the sites [1]. Water quality indicators which are reported
or highlighted in South Africa Environmental Outlook Report
among others include acidification and salinity [2].
The impact of gold mining activity on the environment is due
to water that gets contaminated by chemicals utilised during the
mining process. The miners crush gold ore primarily with wet
stamp mills, creating slurry, which passes over copper plates
Manuscript received August 18, 2016. This work was supported by the
University of Venda, project (I431).
LD Nembilwi & C Mitileni are Honours students (completed and graduated)
(e-mail: condrymitileni@gmail.com; Nembilwi.david@gmail.com).
C Muzerengi and Dr FA Dacosta are staff member from Department of
Mining & Environmental Geology (confidence.muzerengi@univen.ac.za;
dacostafa@yahoo.com)
JR Gumbo is Associate Professor with University of Venda. (e-mail:
Jabulani.gumbo@univen.ac.za; Jabulani_gumbo@yahoo.co.uk).
158
amalgam, the mercury contaminated tailings are usually treated
with cyanide for additional gold recovery, leading to the
creation of additional mercury-cyanide complexes [3]. When
the water is released from the mine it always finds its way to the
nearest surface water resources, provided there is no water
pollution infrastructures to prevent contaminated water flowing
to the streams. Water pollution from mining can persist for a
very long time even after mine closure. This normally has a
great impact on health and safety of downstream water users.
According to [4-5] uncontrolled water discharge of polluted
water, known as acid mine drainage (AMD) from both existing
and abandoned gold mines is a major environmental problem. In
the study area of New Union Gold mine, the gold was associated
with sulphur rich arsenopyrite bands which are the precursor of
sulphuric acid, a component of AMD [6]. AMD could be easily
associated with general environmental and socio-economic
impacts of our society. In 1987 the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) concluded that the release of mine waste to the
environment results in the irreversible destruction of the
ecosystem [7]. The polluted site may be difficult to restore due
to the persistence of the pollution and general unavailability of
remedial strategies or mitigation procedures.
Water is a scarce resource in South Africa. The availability
and quality of water is very important, since water is necessary
for living organisms including humans. It is also vital in
supporting the increasing growth of population and economic
development. Mercury and cyanide chemicals are used during
the processing of gold ores [8]. Once the gold has been
recovered, slurry wastes are disposed of on surface dams called
tailings dams, where the water evaporates leaving behind drier
tailings. The mine tailings are often rich in heavy metals which
are a byproduct of gold ore processing [9-11].
During windy seasons, the dumps are blown off by wind
dispersing dust to the neighbouring communities and impacting
on the air which people breathe, causing health problems [10].
In addition, during dry seasons when heavy rains fall, water
runoff water erosion) from the tailing gets washed into the
nearest streams, polluting the surface water with AMD causing
surface water pollution [12]. This does not only impact on
surface water but also on groundwater through percolation of
contaminated water into the ground.
The area has been a low-level producer of gold, base and
industrial minerals. Some mine and plant infrastructure still
exists in Giyani greenstone belt. It is believed that its geology
and mineralisation are not properly understood, principally due
to remoteness, a lack of exposure and deep weathering
hampering exploration [13]. In 1998 the mine was abandoned
due to mining difficulties and its remote area [13]. It is believed
 Int'l Conf. on Advances in Science, Engineering, Technology & Natural Resources (ICASETNR-16) Nov. 24-25, 2016 Parys (South Africa)

there is still potential for gold in Giyani green stone belt where profile (20-25 cm) per procedure of [15]. For studies on vertical
the mine is located. The general objective was to assess the dispersion of mercury, at each sample site, a sample was
distribution of mercury in mine tailings and stream sediments in collected at a depth of 20-25 cm of the stream sediment. The
the study location of New Union Gold Mine. The specific collected tailings and stream sediment samples were sealed in
objectives were: to determine the levels of mercury at top and plastic sachets, labeled with date of sampling, GPS coordinates
bottom profiles at each sampling site (vertical migration) and and then transported in a cooler box (with ice) to the University
then horizontal migration of mercury from each sampling site of Venda laboratory for further processing.
towards the Mandzoro River. TABLE I
DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLING POINTS AT NEW UNION GOLD MINE AND STUDY
SITE
II. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDY AREA
Sample Site name Description
The New Union Gold Mine is situated in Ka-Madonsi village A1 Mine Tailings dam A Mine Tailings dam A
close to Malamulele town, Limpopo province in South Africa A2 Mine Tailings dam A Mine Tailings dam A
(Fig. 1). The occurrence of gold mineralization is controlled Mine Tailings dam B Mine Tailings dam B
B1
spatially by the presence of folding, which caused gold to Mine Tailings dam B Mine Tailings dam B
B2
concentrate in fold hinges. Gold is texturally associated with a Stream 1 (green colour) The site is upstream and it drains the
sulphur-rich arsenopyrite in garnetiferous, biotite-rich bands S1 mine shaft and gold ore processing
[6]. The banded iron-formation (BIF) unit changed from plant
predominately silicate facies near surface, to sulphide facies S2 Stream 2 (blue colour) The site receives water inflows from the
mine tailings A and B
with depth. Geologically, the study area is formed of Archean
S3 Stream 3 (yellow The site receives water inflows from
granite, which invaded the older highly metamorphosed colour) stream 2 and continuation of stream 1
micaceous quartzite, banded ironstone and amphibolites [6]. S4 Stream 4 (yellow The site is midstream of stream 1
The study area is arid, with a dry season that stretches from colour) flowing towards Mandzoro River
April to October with high temperatures of 40 oC and minimum S5 Mandzoro river (river The site is part of upstream Mandzoro
colour) River before stream 4
or no rain [14]. The wet season is from November to March with
S6 Mandzoro river (river The site is part of downstream
temperature range of 25 to 30oC and the annual precipitation is colour) Mandzoro River
less than 450 mm [14]. The mine tailings samples were
collected from four sites on the tailings dams A and B (Figure 2.2 Sample preparation
1). For horizontal dispersion of mercury, six sampling sites were The mine tailings and sediment samples were air dried in at
selected on the stream (stream 1) that drains the tailings dams the laboratory. The dried samples were then milled by Retsch
and then joins the main stream (stream 2) that flows towards RS 200 grinding mill machine for 2 min to 80% fine or <75 µm
Mandzoro River, a tributary of Shingwedzi River. using ring mill. The milled samples were then weighed (Radwag
BP balance), 5 g of each was then transferred into a 200 ml glass
beaker for acid digestion with 20 ml of nitric acid AR. The
beakers were then placed on a hot plate for about one hour to
allow digestion to occur. The digested solutions were then
transferred to a 100 ml volumetric flasks and de-ionized water
was added to reach the mark. The samples were homogenized
by shaking the flask.
2.3 pH and electrical conductivity measurements of stream
sediments
From each stream sediment sample, 100 g was weighed and
Fig. 1 The location of New Union Gold Mine tailings are drained by then mixed with 100 ml of de-ionized water. After some
streams flowing towards Mandzoro River (www.Google. 2016). The vigorous shaking, the stream sediment samples were left for 30
mine tailings sampling points A1, A2, B1 and B2 and sediment min to settle. The pH and electrical conductivity measurements
sampling sites, S1 to S6 along the streams and Mandzoro the river. The
were carried out as per procedure of [16] on the same aqueous
stream flow is S1 to S4 and river flow is from S5 to S6.
sediment samples. The pH was then determined in triplicate
with a pH meter (HANNA Instrument, Germany) previously
III. MATERIALS AND METHODS
calibrated as per manufacturer’s procedure. The electrical
2.1 Sampling procedure conductivity was determined in triplicate with a conductivity
meter (Multi 340i/SET) which was calibrated using
The tailings and stream sediment samples were collected conductivity standards following the manufacturer’s protocol.
from ten sites along streams, Mandzoro River and New Union
Gold Mine tailings in September 2010. Table 1 below shows the 2.4 The analysis of total mercury
sampling points, a description and GPS coordinates. The mine The acid digested sediment samples were analyzed (in
tailings were collected at the surface, termed top soil profile duplicate) for total mercury (total Hg) at CSIR, Pretoria. The
(0-3 cm) as per procedure of [15]. The stream sediments were analytical method involved stannous chloride in acid solution
collected at the top soil profile (0-3 cm) and at the bottom soil and the procedure was based on NIOSH 6009 method (cold

159
 Int'l Conf. on Advances in Science, Engineering, Technology & Natural Resources (ICASETNR-16) Nov. 24-25, 2016 Parys (South Africa)
vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy) [17]. The total Hg was
determined with a Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 700 and AS 91 auto
sampler.
2.5 Data analysis
The sediment and tailings raw data was expressed in mg/kg
(dry weight) respectfully. The statistical analysis was carried
out with single factor ANOVA with the use of Microsoft Excel
to determine the significance difference between the top (0-3
cm) and bottom (20-25 cm) profile at p < 0.05.
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 The distribution of total mercury in mine tailings
The research findings indicate that mercury was present at the
four selected sites of the New Union Gold Mine tailings and the
concentration of total Hg in the mine tailings was ranging from
161.8 to 1999.1 µg/g dry weight (Table 2). The highest
concentration of total Hg was found at sampling site B2. The
levels of total Hg in mine tailings were above the South African
Sediment Quality Guidelines of 5 µg/g dry soil, Germany
guideline value of 1 µg/g dry soil and Australian guideline value
of 1 µg/g dry soil and United Kingdom guideline value of 1 µg/g
dry soil [18].
The result of the spatial distribution of total Hg at the New
Union Gold Mine tailings concurs with other studies for
contaminated gold mine sites. In the South African
Witwatersrand gold mining district, the level of total Hg was in
the range from 10.0 to 741.5 µg/g dry weight for mine A1
tailings and 10.1 to 190.2 µg/g dry weight for mine A2 tailings,
for the East and Central Rand Goldfield, South Africa [8]. The
recorded total mercury levels are harmful and may enter the
environment as a result of water and wind erosion [10]. Thus,
the exposed New Union Gold Mine tailings are exposed to
rainfall events such that the rain corrodes and transport the
mercury to nearby streams and Mandzoro River.
TABLE II
THE DISTRIBUTION TOTAL MERCURY IN NEW UNION GOLD MINE TAILINGS
Mine tailings site Total Hg (µg/g) dry weight
A1 519.5
A2 579.2
B1 161.8
B2 1999.1
3.2 The electrical conductivity and pH characteristics of the
sediments
The electrical conductivity (EC) and pH levels of the
sediments in the streams that drain New Union Gold mine
tailings show an inverse relationship (Fig. 2). The EC of the
stream sediments (sample points S1 to S4) are generally higher
than those of Mandzoro River (sample points 5 and 6). The
pattern is also the same for the pH, except the pH of the stream
sediments are generally low <5.00. The main reason for the low
pH and high EC values (> 10 mS/cm) of the stream sediments
may be attributed to the presence of heavy metals, a byproduct
of acid mine drainage process that is occurring [10]. The gold
ore in the study area was associated with sulphur rich
arsenopyrite bands which are the precursor of sulphuric acid, a
component of AMD [6]. The study of [19] for the same New
160
Union Gold Mine sediments showed the presence of heavy
metals, Ni, Cu, Mn, Zn, Co and Cd. The pH of the stream
sediment samples at New Union Gold Mine tailings was found
to be acidic and the range from (3.25 to 4.45) for sample points
1 to 4 (Fig. 2). Further from sample point S4, the pH has
increased to >6.00 and the EC has decreased < 8 mS/cm for
sample points S5 and S6 (Mandzoro River).
18.00 7.00
EC_Top EC_bottom pH_Top pH_Bottom
6.50
16.00
6.00
Electrical conductivity (mS/cm)
14.00
5.50
pH
12.00 5.00
10.00
4.50
4.00
8.00
3.50
6.00 3.00
S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6
Fig. 2 The electrical conductivity (mS/cm) and pH characteristics of
the sediments (top and bottom profiles).
The low pH may be explained by the presence of acid mine
drainage (AMD) whereby waste sulphide ores which contained
large quantities of pyrite were discarded onto mine tailings and
produced sulphuric acid when exposed to atmospheric water
and air [10]. Once this chemical reaction has initiated there is
further production of sulphuric acid which will seep into the
mine tailings soil and produce secondary chemical reaction that
results in generation of heavy metals such as iron, aluminum,
manganese, zinc, lead, arsenic and mercury [10]. Mercury is
present in the gold mine tailings as a byproduct of the
processing and recovery of gold. The study of [15] in Zimbabwe
and Tanzania on small scale mining gold operations showed that
approximately 70 to 80% of Hg was lost to the atmosphere
through amalgam roasting at the mine site and goldsmith
trading stores and 20 to 30% of Hg was lost to mine tailings,
soils and water. The recovery ratio of gold to mercury (Au: Hg)
was 1:1.46 [15]. The organic mercury species are soluble in
water and hence are toxic and stable in alkaline conditions as
these are experienced at sample sites S5 and S6 [20]. Therefore,
there is a potential for Hg to move downstream towards the
Mandzoro River and contaminate water sources in the process.
3.3 The distribution of total mercury in the sediments
The results indicate the presence of mercury in the sediments
and an erratic behaviour in mercury levels in the direction of
Mandzoro River (Fig. 3). The concentration of mean total Hg
values at the top profile (0-3 cm) the range was 0.60 to 2.60 µg/g
dry weight. The concentration of mean total Hg values at the
bottom profile (20-25 cm) the range was 0.94 to 3.79 µg/g dry
weight. The total Hg levels in the stream sediments were above
the US EPA guideline value of 0.2 µg/g but were below the
South African guideline value of 5 µg/g dry soil [18][21]. The
highest concentration of mercury was found at sample site S2
and this may be attributed to the water inflows originating from
 Int'l Conf. on Advances in Science, Engineering, Technology & Natural Resources (ICASETNR-16) Nov. 24-25, 2016 Parys (South Africa)
the two mine tailings dams. There was an erratic change in the
concentration of mercury in the sediments from sample point S1
to S4. The ANOVA test showed that the total Hg values
between the upper top profiles (0-3 and 20-25 cm) were
significantly different (p < 0.00) for sample points S2 to S4 with
the exception of sample point S1 (p > 0.30). This may be
attributed to the vertical dispersion of mercury into the lower
layer (20-25 cm) as result of increased water inflows from the
tailings dams. With regards to sample point S1, the high
mercury concentration and evenly distribution (top and bottom
layers) may be attributed to former gold ore processing plant
that was located close to this sampling site.
Fig. 3 The total Hg distribution in the, top 0-3 cm and bottom 20-25 cm profile,
of the stream sediments
The Mandzoro River is approximately 2 km from the New
Union Gold Mine tailings and the stream sediments were
collected during the dry period when there was no water in the
river. The results indicate that there was mercury in the stream
sediments of Mandzoro River (Fig. 3). The ANOVA test
showed that the total Hg values between the upper top profiles
(0-3 and 20-25 cm) were not significantly different (p > 0.15)
for sample point S5. With regard to sample point S5, the high
mercury concentration appears to be evenly distributed between
the top and bottom profiles. The presence and the origin of the
mercury is difficult to ascertain at this stage except to speculate
that it may be due to atmospheric Hg deposition and or seepage
(during wet summer) from the nearby New Union Gold Mine
tailings (Fig. 4). The ANOVA test showed that the total Hg
values between the upper top profiles (0-3 and 20-25 cm) were
significantly different (p < 0.00) for sample point S6. This may
be attributed to the vertical dispersion of mercury into the lower
layer (20-25 cm) as result of increased water inflows from the
tailings dams via streams 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 The capillary action from below ground (during wet summer time) may
cause seepage to evaporate during the dry period forming efflorescent white
crust of metal sulphate (Nsimba, 2009)[8]. This is the sample point 3 located on
161
the main stream 1 draining towards Mandzoro River. The picture was taken in
September, 2010, a dry period.
Our study concurs with the study of [21] about the presence
and high levels of total Hg in stream sediments close to source
of mercury contamination, but differs in the actual total Hg
content. The study of [21] was on former Cato Ridge mercury
processing and recovery plant in Durban, South Africa. Though
New Union Gold mine is now an inactive mine, the Hg
contamination is still occurring as indicated by the present
study. In Ecuador, in Nambija gold mine district, inactive mines
are being reworked by small scale miners such that Hg levels in
some of the streams and Nambija river range from 0.7 to 9.3
µg/g (mean value of 2.70 µg/g dry weight) [22]. The study of
[22] also reported even higher Hg levels, 21.33 µg/g dry weight,
in the stream sediments that were located close to gold ore
processing site.
The presence of Hg in both the top and bottom profile in the
stream sediments is a major cause of concern. A study by [21] of
an abandoned Hg processing plant in Cato Ridge, South Africa,
showed the potential migration of Hg towards groundwater
sources and possible contamination of surface water sources.
According to [10], groundwater water sources are extensively
used by rural communities for drinking water and or irrigating
their agricultural fields. The study of [23] in China,
demonstrated that the majority of total Hg was sedimented in the
Xiaxi river sediments, 2.1 µg/g of total Hg, which concurs with
our study especially for sample site 6.
Mercury is a persistent toxic chemical that has a long
retention period in the stream sediments and thus, may be able
to contaminate the aquatic ecosystem [24-25]. In the aquatic
environment, mercury may bioaccumulate in fish as methyl-Hg
and become biomagnified in the food chain [26]. Thus, humans
are exposed to mercury contamination via a number of routes
such as consumption of contaminated fish, drinking
contaminated water and mine tailings dust inhalation [10][27].
Mercury is toxic to humans as it attacks the central nervous
system and eventually leads to an incurable condition known as
the Minamata disease [28].
V. CONCLUSION
The study showed the presence of high levels of Hg in the
mine tailings ranging from 161.8 to 1999.1 µg/g. The low pH
and high EC as a result of acid mine drainage further enhances
the solubility and transportation total Hg from the mine tailings
towards the river. The dispersion (horizontal and vertical) of
total Hg in the stream sediments showed an erratic behaviour,
though with gradual decrease from mine tailings, 2.60 µg/g dry
weight, to the streams (0.94 µg/g dry weight) and an increase in
the stream sediments (2.40 µg/g dry weight). Hence the
presence of mercury in the environment may impact negatively
on human health and other aquatic organism since mercury is
the most toxic and bioaccumulating pollutant. Thus, mitigatory
measures such as planting indigenous grass on the exposed mine
tailings should be carried to minimize the Hg erosion of the
mine tailings.
 Int'l Conf. on Advances in Science, Engineering, Technology & Natural Resources (ICASETNR-16) Nov. 24-25, 2016 Parys (South Africa)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Chief of Madonsi village, community and Triangle cc for
giving us permission to have access to the New Union Gold
Mine. The University of Venda gave financial support for the
study project (I431) and travel costs (IP60) to attend and present
at the 12th WaterNet/Warfsa/GWP-SA Symposium in Maputo,
Mozambique in 2011 and WISA Biennial conference in Cape
Town, South Africa in 2012.
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Professor Jabulani Ray Gumbo graduated with a PhD in
Water Resources Management from University of Pretoria in
2007. He was awarded the second best student poster price at
the 12th International Conference on Harmful Algae in 2006
and the study was then published in the prestigious conference
proceedings after a rigorous peer review process. This author
became a Member (M) of International Society for the Study of Harmful
Algae; International Mine Water Association; Water Institute of Southern
Africa; Microscopy Society of Southern Africa and South African Council
for Natural Scientific Professions. In 2008, he was appointed as a senior
lecturer at University of Venda and in 2016 he was appointed as Associate
Professor. He is the first or second author of more than 40 peer reviewed
papers and co-authored a chapter in a book. He acts as a reviewer for NRF in
the fields of cyanobacteria and has been invited to be a reviewer for Ohio Sea
Grant Proposal (USA); Journal of Applied Phycology (Australia);
Bioresource Technology Journal (BITE) (USA); Journal of Freshwater
Ecology (Britain); South African Journal of Science (SAJS) (South Africa)
and African Journal of Biotechnology (AJB) (Nigeria). He lectures students
at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the fields of water treatment;
water quality management; water law and institutions; rural water supply
and sanitation; data information systems and water quality principles and he
supervises several Honours, Masters and PhD students in the fields of water
quality management; aquatic ecotoxicology and limnology and water
treatment.