Origin and mobility of thallium in the Iberian Pyrite Belt
[EN] Thallium (Tl) is a non-essential element for living beings and is a ubiquitous metal in the Earth’s crust, with an average concentration of approximately 0.5 mg/kg. This metal is commonly recovered as a byproduct during the processing of pyrite concentrates and polymetallic sulfides (Cu-Pb-Zn)....
| Autores: | , , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/418675 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418675 https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105027960656 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Massive sulfides Odiel River Ría de Huelva estuary Thallium, acid mine drainage Tinto River Talio, Drenaje ácido de mina Sulfros masivos Estuario Ría de Huelva Río Tinto Río Odiel |
| Sumario: | [EN] Thallium (Tl) is a non-essential element for living beings and is a ubiquitous metal in the Earth’s crust, with an average concentration of approximately 0.5 mg/kg. This metal is commonly recovered as a byproduct during the processing of pyrite concentrates and polymetallic sulfides (Cu-Pb-Zn). Tl may exhibit a high potential for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity to humans in its two major oxidation states (I and III). The Tl content of soils and surface waters is strongly conditioned by the geological substrate. Although surface concentrations of Tl in soils range between 0.1 and 2 mg/ kg, elevated concentrations of Tl found in the Earth’s crust are associated with sulfides or potassium-rich minerals. The weathering of rocks rich in these minerals leads to increasing levels of this metal in soils, waters and sediments. The present study examines the origin, mobility and ultimate fate of Tl in areas affected by acid mine drainage in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, one of the most significant polymetallic massive sulfide districts globally. |
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