Geochemical and Advanced Electron Microscopical Characterisations of Artisanal Gold Mining Rejects in Colombia

Artisanal gold mining causes widespread health problems due to illegal exposure hazardous inorganic compounds, such as arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg). The sources prevalence of pollution are strongly influenced by topography, stream dynamics, soil type, land use. In the present study, potential elements (PHEs), absorption abilities nanoparticles (NPs), ultrafine particles (UFPs) were analysed from clandestine soils in Colombia. proportions PHEs including As, Hg, Cu, Cr, Pb carbonates, sulfides, clays, oxides, hydroxides, sulfates determined field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission (HR-TEM), selected area diffraction (SAED)/micro-beam (MBD)/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). results revealed that concentrations Zn significantly higher clay when compared other samples. Furthermore, Al Fe manifested excellent sorption artisanal soils. presented will be useful for future mitigation measures areas.