Mining and smelting activities and transport of particulates constitute an important source of pollution of soils, surface and ground water and subsequently a risk for biota (plants, animals, humans). Mines and nonferrous metal smelters produce waste material with toxic properties, especially in the form of suspended particulates transported from slag disposals and mine tailing impoundments. Source tracing and investigation of related processes using non-traditional metal isotopes is extremely useful in this context to understand mixing of different reservoirs of contaminants and the role of individual contributions to the dispersion of contamination can be evaluated. Depicting the individual biogeochemical processes and the role of industrial processes in these contaminated areas is based on the assumption that geochemical reactions may shift isotopic signatures. Non-traditional metal stable isotope geochemistry is a rapidly evolving research area due to development and methodological improvements of high precision isotopic techniques.The project will be focused on coupling mineralogical investigation of anthropogenic geomaterials (including particulate matter) and metal isotope fractionation (Cu, Zn, Ag) during ore mining, ore processing and environmental transformations related mainly to weathering. The research will focus on a large range of environmental samples (mine and processing wastes and contaminated geomaterials) collected at abandoned and active mining/smelting areas of Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. The applicant will use various mineralogical techniques (XRD, SEM/EDS, EPMA, HRTEM, FIB-TEM) and develop precise methods Cu, Zn and Ag isotope systems measurements using MC-ICP-MS.Based on the determination of mineralogy, major and trace element chemistry and δ65Cu, δ66Zn and δ109Ag values in geochemical samples, the applicant will be able to apply these results to modelling of the behaviour of these geomaterials in soil systems and tracing the contaminant dispersion in vicinity of the metal deposits and smelters. The results will provide new insight into systematics of non-traditional metal isotopes in polluted areas and relate their fractionation to changes of mineralogical composition during weathering.
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