Rock-magnetic parameters and heavy metal distribution of the El Fraile I tailings (Guerrero, Mexico)
Parámetros de magnetismo de roca y distribución de metales pesados de los relaves mineros de la presa El Fraile I (Guerrero, México)
María del Sol Hernández-Bernal1, Nayeli Pérez Rodríguez2, Juan Morales2,*, Avto Goguitchaichvili2
1 Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, México.
2 Laboratorio Universitario de Geofísica Ambiental, Instituto de Geofísica Unidad Michoacán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Col. Ex Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, C.P. 58190 Morelia, Michoacán, México.
Corresponding author: (J. Morales) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
How to cite this article:
Hernández-Bernal, M. S., Pérez Rodríguez,N., Morales, J., Goguitchaichvili, A., 2024, Rock-magnetic parameters and heavy metals distribution of the El Fraile I tailings (Guerrero, Mexico): Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, 76 (3), A230124. http://dx.doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2024v76n3a230124
Manuscript received: January 11, 2023; corrected manuscript received: February 7, 2024; manuscript accepted: February 21, 2024.
ABSTRACT
As a result of the mining activity at Taxco, seven mining waste dams have been generated, which could represent severe health problems for the community and environment. The study’s goal comprises the El Fraile I mining-wastes dam (the oldest of the region), located south of Taxco de Alarcón, in the northern sector of the Guerrero State, Mexico. In this investigation, we present the results of a vertical magnetic-parameters prospecting and chemical characterization of 26 tailing samples from the El Fraile I. Magnetic-method results stand out diverse deposit layers of variable mineral concentration and composition, as easily identified in the stratigraphic column. The old dam’s long evolution period is corroborated by the variable and much lower than 1 S-300 ratio values (high oxidation degree of the magnetic mineralogy) and the mostly acid pH character through the whole dam. Most maximum potential toxic elements concentration values are under the maximum permissible levels for agriculture/residential use, except for those of Pb, Cu, and Zn. An advantageous proxy method for a quick and cost-effective heavy metal evaluation of mining-wastes dams results from simple sample preparation and fast magnetic and elemental concentration estimations, together with a suitable systematic sampling distribution.
Keywords: rock-magnetic parameters, potentially toxic elements, Taxco tailings, Guerrero state.
