Abstract

The sources and fate of antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) in water resources around antimonite (a.k.a. stibnite) deposits is of great concern due to their adverse effects on the environment and human health. The aim of this study was to determine geochemical compositions of gangue/ore material and water samples collected in and around the antimonite deposits located near Turhal (Tokat, Northern Turkey). Turhal antimonite deposits, recognized as the largest in Turkey, are hosted in pre-Upper Jurassic low-grade metamorphic rocks where the antimonite ore is mainly composed of stibnite and quartz. Quartz is also the dominant gangue mineral, with minor amounts of carbonates. The ore samples contain high concentrations of Sb (27.98 − 60.83 wt.% as Sb₂O₃) and As (3453 − 5010 ppm). The gangue material contains significant amounts of As (529 ppm), Cr (664 ppm), and Ti (256 ppm). Water samples collected from the study area are characterized by slightly alkaline pH (6.48–8.40) and low Eh (–46 to –5 mV) with electrical conductivity values ranging between 571 and 1607 µS cm⁻¹. There is a significant trace element contamination in the aquifer system, especially in water samples collected from the areas hydrologically downgradient of antimonite deposits, where concentrations (in µg L⁻¹) reach up to 271.6 for Sb, 429.4 for As, and 2203 for B. There is a high risk of toxicity for the livestock, as well as the human population consuming their products, since Sb and As contaminated springs in the region are used for watering farm animals.

摘要

由于锑 (Sb) 和砷 (As) 对环境和人类健康的不利影响，锑 (Sb) 和砷 (As) 在锑矿（又名辉锑矿）矿床周围的水资源中的来源和去向备受关注。本研究的目的是确定在 Turhal（土耳其北部托卡特）附近的锑矿矿床及其周围采集的脉石/矿石材料和水样的地球化学成分。Turhal 锑矿床被认为是土耳其最大的矿床，位于上侏罗世前低品位变质岩中，其中锑矿主要由辉锑矿和石英组成。石英也是主要的脉石矿物，含有少量碳酸盐。矿石样品含有高浓度的 Sb (27.98 - 60.83 wt.% 作为 Sb ₂ O ₃) 和 As (3453 - 5010 ppm)。脉石材料含有大量的 As (529 ppm)、Cr (664 ppm) 和 Ti (256 ppm)。从研究区采集的水样具有弱碱性 pH 值 (6.48–8.40) 和低 Eh (–46 至 –5 mV) 的特点，电导率值介于 571 和 1607 µS cm ^-1之间。含水层系统中存在显着的微量元素污染，特别是在从锑矿沉积水文下降区域采集的水样中，其中 Sb 的浓度（以 µg L ^-1为单位）高达 271.6，As 高达 429.4，B 高达 2203 . 由于该地区受 Sb 和 As 污染的泉水被用于给农场动物浇水，因此对牲畜以及食用其产品的人群具有很高的毒性风险。