Exploratory geochemical assessment of stream water and sediment contamination in Gatumba tin and tantalum mining district, Rwanda.
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Date
2009
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Abstract
Stream waters are not contaminated with dangerous inorganic elements.
According to WHO guidelines, these waters are acceptable for lifelong consumption
without risk to health. Note, however, that microbial waterborne disease vectors were not
investigated. Stream sediments generally have relatively low contents of most elements
that may be derived from pegmatites. Of mine-related contaminants, only uranium and
arsenic exceed their respective average crustal abundance. Both appear to be higher near
former mine sites but this is probably not caused by mining. Causes are rather primary
hydrothermal and secondary supergene dispersion, and recent mobilisation because of
intensive agricultural use. Yet at present, the welfare of the local population is not
threatened. The most serious hazard is human interference with groundwater by
abstracting drinking water either from wells in valley fill or from deeper horizons of the
regolith. Overall, our work suggests that past mining at Gatumba caused little dispersion
of deleterious elements.
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Flügge, J., Muwanga, A., Trümper, K., Zachmann, D., & Pohl, W. (2009). Exploratory geochemical assessment of stream water and sediment contamination in Gatumba tin and tantalum mining district, Rwanda. Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie, 233, 246.