Assessment of hydrochemistry and heavy metal contamination in the groundwater around an abandoned Copper Mine area in Klein Aub, Namibia | ||
| Journal of Mining and Environment | ||
| مقاله 2، دوره 16، شماره 5، مهر و آبان 2025، صفحه 1539-1555 اصل مقاله (9.74 M) | ||
| نوع مقاله: Original Research Paper | ||
| شناسه دیجیتال (DOI): 10.22044/jme.2025.15598.2991 | ||
| نویسندگان | ||
| Shoopala Uugulu* 1؛ Nazlene Poulton1؛ Akaha Tse1؛ Martin Harris2؛ Taiwo Bolaji2 | ||
| 1Geo-Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Namibia, Gordon Street, Keetmanshoop, Namibia | ||
| 2Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, 371010, Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria | ||
| چکیده | ||
| The long mining history in Namibia has resulted in numerous abandoned mining sites scattered throughout the country. Past research around the Klein Aub abandoned Copper mine highlighted environmental concerns related to past mining. Considering that residents of Klein Aub depend solely on groundwater for their domestic, irrigation and other uses, there is a need to thoroughly investigate groundwater quality in the area to ascertain the extent of the contamination. This study characterises groundwater quality using a comprehensive quality assessment approach. On-site parameters reveal that pH ranges between 6.82-7.8, electrical conductivity ranges between 678 - 2270 μS/cm, and dissolved oxygen ranges between 1.4 -5.77 mg/L. With the exception of two samples, the onsite parameters indicate that water is of excellent quality according to the Namibian guidelines. The stable isotopic composition ranges from -7.26 to -5.82‰ and -45.1 to -35.9‰ for δ18O and δ2H, respectively. The groundwater plots on and above the Global Meteoric Water Line, and the best-fit line is characterised by a slope of 4.9, implying the evaporation effect. Hydrochemical analyses indicate bicarbonate and chloride as dominant anions, while calcium and sodium are dominant cations, indicating groundwater dissolving halite and mixing with water from a recharge zone. The Heavy Metal Pollution Index suggested that the water samples are free from heavy metal pollution. The Heavy Metal Evaluation Index clustered around 3, implying that heavy metals moderately affect groundwater. The groundwater quality is suitable for irrigation purposes. The findings offer valuable insights into the area's hydrochemistry and highlight potential environmental risks; hence, groundwater monitoring is recommended. | ||
| کلیدواژهها | ||
| Klein Aub؛ groundwater؛ hydrochemistry, heavy metal | ||
| مراجع | ||
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