TY - JOUR

T1 - Sulfur and Nitrogen Gases in the Vapor Streams from Ore Cyanidation Wastes at a Sharply Continental Climate, Western Siberia, Russia

AU - Yurkevich, Nataliya

AU - Bortnikova, Svetlana

AU - Abrosimova, Natalya

AU - Makas, Alexei

AU - Olenchenko, Vladimir

AU - Yurkevich, Nikolay

AU - Edelev, Alexey

AU - Saeva, Olga

AU - Shevko, Artem

PY - 2019/12/1

Y1 - 2019/12/1

N2 - The article presents the results of the study of the vapor streams from sulfide-containing tailings after gold mining by cyanidation (Ursk waste heaps, Kemerovo region, Russia). The gas survey of sulfur dioxide, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl sulfoxide, carbon disulfide, and N-containing substances concentrations was carried out using a portable device GANK-4 on a series of profiles covering the waste heaps and the surrounding area with simultaneous measurement of temperatures in the air and soil. The concentration maps-schemes of the studied gases in the surface layer were constructed. The high positive correlation of gases between themselves is established, which indicates similar mechanisms of their formation. The electrical resistivity tomography determined the internal structure of the waste heap. Active “breathing” zones were identified in which the maximum fluctuations in the concentrations of sulfur, selenium, and nitrogen-containing compounds in the near-surface air layer were recorded. Such zones are marked with lower resistances in comparison with other areas on the geo-electric profiles. There is an inverse correlation between the resistivity of the tailings and its temperature and a direct correlation between the concentration of gas in the air and the temperature of the soil. High concentrations of CS2, the volatile gas compound of the second hazard class, were found in the concentrations that exceed 6–8 times the daily average norm. Further investigation of the mine tailings seasonal transformation with the production of toxic gases deserves special attention due to high environmental risks and poor knowledge of this problem. The oxidation of ore cyanidation wastes in summer and methylation in winter due to seasonal temperature fluctuation lead to production of gases of great concern including toxic СS2.

AB - The article presents the results of the study of the vapor streams from sulfide-containing tailings after gold mining by cyanidation (Ursk waste heaps, Kemerovo region, Russia). The gas survey of sulfur dioxide, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl sulfoxide, carbon disulfide, and N-containing substances concentrations was carried out using a portable device GANK-4 on a series of profiles covering the waste heaps and the surrounding area with simultaneous measurement of temperatures in the air and soil. The concentration maps-schemes of the studied gases in the surface layer were constructed. The high positive correlation of gases between themselves is established, which indicates similar mechanisms of their formation. The electrical resistivity tomography determined the internal structure of the waste heap. Active “breathing” zones were identified in which the maximum fluctuations in the concentrations of sulfur, selenium, and nitrogen-containing compounds in the near-surface air layer were recorded. Such zones are marked with lower resistances in comparison with other areas on the geo-electric profiles. There is an inverse correlation between the resistivity of the tailings and its temperature and a direct correlation between the concentration of gas in the air and the temperature of the soil. High concentrations of CS2, the volatile gas compound of the second hazard class, were found in the concentrations that exceed 6–8 times the daily average norm. Further investigation of the mine tailings seasonal transformation with the production of toxic gases deserves special attention due to high environmental risks and poor knowledge of this problem. The oxidation of ore cyanidation wastes in summer and methylation in winter due to seasonal temperature fluctuation lead to production of gases of great concern including toxic СS2.

KW - Channels of infiltration

KW - Gas-vapor streams

KW - Micro-electrical resistivity tomography

KW - Organic gases

KW - Waste heap

KW - ELECTRICAL-RESISTIVITY TOMOGRAPHY

KW - MIGRATION

KW - DIMETHYL SULFIDE

KW - EMISSIONS

KW - DMSP

KW - CO2

KW - AQUIFER

KW - ATMOSPHERIC SULFUR

KW - DIMETHYLSULFONIOPROPIONATE

KW - MINERAL-DEPOSITS

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076563762&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11270-019-4363-y

DO - 10.1007/s11270-019-4363-y

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85076563762

VL - 230

JO - Water, Air, and Soil Pollution

JF - Water, Air, and Soil Pollution

SN - 0049-6979

IS - 12

M1 - 307

ER -