title: Surprisingly contrasting metal distribution and fractionation patterns in copper smelter-affected tropical soils in forested and grassland areas (Mufulira, Zambian Copperbelt).
abstract: Six soil profiles located near Mufulira (Zambian Copperbelt) were studied to evaluate and compare the extent of environmental pollution of Cu-ore mining and smelting in both forested and grassland areas. The highest metal concentrations were detected in the uppermost soil layers with the following maxima: Co 45.8 mg kg(-1), Cu 8,980 mg kg(-1), Pb 41.6 mg kg(-1), and Zn 97.0 mg kg(-1). Numerous anthropogenic metal-bearing particles were detected in the most polluted soil layers. The spherical smelter-derived particles were mainly composed of covellite (CuS) and chalcocite (Cu2S), while the angular mining-derived particles were mostly composed of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). Additionally, Fe-Cu oxide particles predominantly corresponding to tenorite (CuO) and delafossite (Cu(1+)Fe(3+)O2), along with hydrated Fe-oxides corresponding to secondary weathering products, were detected. In contrast to smelter-affected soils in temperate climates, where forest soils are significantly more enriched in metals than tilled soils due to high canopy interception, our data indicate a higher proportion of metal-bearing anthropogenic particles and higher metal concentrations in soils from unforested sites. This phenomenon is probably related to the more frequent and intense bushfires in forested areas, leading to the mobilization of pollutants contained in the biomass-rich surface soils back into the atmosphere.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, 128 43 Praha 2, Czech Republic. Electronic address: ettler@natur.cuni.cz.
authors.forename: Vojtěch
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ettler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, 128 43 Praha 2, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Konečný
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, 128 43 Praha 2, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovářová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, 128 43 Praha 2, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihaljevič
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of the Geological Institutes, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, 128 43 Praha 2, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ondřej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sebek
authors.affiliation: Czech Geological Survey, Geologická 6, 152 00 Praha 5, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Bohdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kříbek
authors.affiliation: Czech Geological Survey, Geologická 6, 152 00 Praha 5, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Majer
authors.affiliation: Czech Geological Survey, Geologická 6, 152 00 Praha 5, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: František
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veselovský
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Praha 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vít
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Penížek
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Praha 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Aleš
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaněk
authors.affiliation: University of Zambia, School of Mines, P.O. Box 32 379, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Imasiku
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nyambe
mesh_terms: D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D008906:Mining; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014197:Trees; D015024:Zambia
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Bushfire; Cu smelting; Metals; Mufulira; Soil; Zambian Copperbelt