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An application of electrical resistivity tomography to investigate heavy metals pathways

Abstract

The abandoned lead mine of Zeida is located at the center of the High Moulouya watershed between the Middle and the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Zeida has produced a total of 640,000 tons of concentrated lead during the 14 years of its activity (1972-1985). Three large tailings were left at the center of the mine on both sides of Moulouya River without any risk reduction measures or monitoring and there is a concern regarding heavy metal contamination of local groundwater. Samples taken from and around the tailings were found to contain average lead and zinc concentrations of 3,000 ppm and 140 ppm, respectively, primarily in the form of galena and barite. Prior studies have also found high concentrations of lead and zinc in both local wells near the town of Zeida and along the banks of Moulouya River. In this study, five electrical resistivity imaging surveys were performed to identify the risk of pollution and trace the pathways of mine-based contaminants to groundwater and to the Moulouya River. The analysis of electrical resistivity data has provided new insights showing: 1) an average tailings thickness of 15 m; 2) rounded structures with high resistivity values at the center and gradually decreasing toward their edges that are assumed to be granite, with fractures and a weathered zone; and 3) the potential pathways of heavy metal occur predominantly along these fractures and in the thick layers of the sandstone overlaying granitic bedrock.


ISSN: 1083-1363
EISSN: 1943-2658
Serial Title: Journal of Environmental & Engineering Geophysics
Serial Volume: 22
Serial Issue: 4
Title: An application of electrical resistivity tomography to investigate heavy metals pathways
Affiliation: Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Sciences, Meknes, Morocco
Pages: 315-324
Published: 201712
Text Language: English
Publisher: Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society, Englewood, CO, United States
References: 40
Accession Number: 2018-018712
Categories: Environmental geologyApplied geophysics
Document Type: Serial
Bibliographic Level: Analytic
Illustration Description: illus. incl. geol. sketch maps
N32°49'08" - N32°49'08", W04°57'43" - W04°57'43"
Secondary Affiliation: Susquehanna University, USA, United StatesEuropole Mediterraneen de l'Arbois, FRA, France
Country of Publication: United States
Secondary Affiliation: GeoRef, Copyright 2019, American Geosciences Institute.
Update Code: 201810
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