Trace metals dispersion from 1000 years of mining activity in the northern French Alps

This paper investigates the long-term dispersal of trace metals and their impact on environment long after mine closure in French Alps. Three statistical methods derived from modern mining (Exploratory Data Analysis, fractals Sediment Quality Index) were applied to geochemical analyses streambed sediments produce mineral prospectivity maps. About 5% samples have a poor or marginal quality may an effect biota. Positive anomalies are either related geological background (lithology, major tectonic contacts) ancient sites. The local former was investigated medieval Pb–Ag district (Brandes; Pbmax ~8 000 mg kg−1), small mined during 17th–19th c. (Peisey-Nancroix; = 583 (Macôt-La Plagne; ~ 3 200 kg−1).The heritage is still traceable northern observed at scale volume extracted ore rather than timing duration mining, suggesting that old sites release over centuries up thousand years. used provide strong tool for archaeological prospection environmental studies.