Mobilisation and transport of arsenic and antimony in the adjacent environment of Yata gold mine, Guizhou province, China

Arsenic and antimony distribution in water, sediment, soil and plants in the Yata gold mine and surrounding area, southwestern China, was investigated, so as to elucidate the mobilisation, transport, and distribution of As and Sb in mine environments. While oxidation of sulfide minerals mobilises both As and Sb, gold extraction by cyanidation is found to mobilise a large amount of Sb. Strontium concentration in water is proposed as an indicator for the oxidation of sulfide minerals in mine environments rich in carbonate. The partitioning of As, Sb, Fe, Cu, Zn and Sr between suspended particulate matter (SPM) and water shows a particle concentration effect. The partition coefficient (K_d) decreases in the order Fe > Zn > Cu > As = Sb > Sr, consistent with the low affinity of As and Sb to SPM and the significant presence of As and Sb in soluble phase of water. During the transport of metalloids in water downstream of the mine area, As is released from the particulate or sediment to water as a result of the slight increase of pH, whereas Sb is not. The accumulation of As and Sb in soil and prevalent plants is minor with exceptions of rice root and Equisetumarvensel. The As and Sb concentration in the plants appears to be independent of the total As and Sb concentration in soil.