title: Combining microscopy with spectroscopic and chemical methods for tracing the origin of atmospheric fallouts from mining sites.
abstract: Populations living close to mining sites are often exposed to important heavy metal concentrations, especially through atmospheric fallouts. Identifying the main sources of metal-rich particles remains a challenge because of the similarity of the particle signatures from the polluted sites. This work provides an original combination of physical and chemical methods to determine the main sources of airborne particles impacting inhabited zones. Raman microspectrometry (RMS), X-ray diffraction (DRX), morphology analyses by microscopy and chemical composition were assessed. Geochemical analysis allowed the identification of target and source areas; XRD and RMS analysis identified the main mineral phases in association with their metal content and speciation. The characterization of the dominant minerals was combined with particle morphology analysis to identify fallout sources. The complete description of dust morphologies permitted the successful determination of a fingerprint of each source site. The analysis of these chemical and morphological fingerprints allowed identification of the mine area as the main contributor of metal-rich particles impacting the inhabited zone. In addition to the identification of the main sources of airborne particles, this study will also permit to better define the extent of polluted zones requiring remediation or protection from eolian erosion inducing metal-rich atmospheric fallouts.
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes - LTHE UMR 5564-CNRS-INSU/UGA/INPG/IRD, 1025 rue de la Piscine, DU BP53 - 38041 Grenoble CEDEX 9, France.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navel
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes - LTHE UMR 5564-CNRS-INSU/UGA/INPG/IRD, 1025 rue de la Piscine, DU BP53 - 38041 Grenoble CEDEX 9, France.
authors.forename: Gaëlle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uzu
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes - LTHE UMR 5564-CNRS-INSU/UGA/INPG/IRD, 1025 rue de la Piscine, DU BP53 - 38041 Grenoble CEDEX 9, France.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spadini
authors.affiliation: LASIR, (UMR CNRS 8516), Université de Lille 1, Bât. C5, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq CEDEX, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sobanska
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes - LTHE UMR 5564-CNRS-INSU/UGA/INPG/IRD, 1025 rue de la Piscine, DU BP53 - 38041 Grenoble CEDEX 9, France. Electronic address: jean.martins@yujf-grenoble.fr.
authors.forename: Jean M F
authors.initials: JMF
authors.lastname: Martins
keywords: Atmospheric fallout; Metal-rich particle; Mining; Pollution source identification