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| Titel |
Mapping of soil-sediment systems contaminations around a metal-ore smelter. The example of Cu in Lubumbashi (RD Congo). |
| VerfasserIn |
M. Mpundu, R. P. Mukobo, D. Kaya, M. P. Faucon, L. Andres, M. Ngongo, P. J. Meerts, G. Colinet |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2009
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 11 (2009) |
| Datensatznummer |
250028185
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The Katanga is famous for its high richness in metal ores, mainly Cu- and Co-minerals. The
ore treatments activities lead to metal spreading in the environment which do endanger the
viability of ecosystems and human health.
The contaminations of soils and sediments around the Gecamines smelter in Lubumbashi
have been evaluated through a multi-scale approach. In the first stage, a reference system
about the natural contents in soils has been implemented. The main units of the detailed
(1:20Â 000) soil map have been characterized through field observations and laboratory
determinations : acido-basic and organic status, particle size distribution, cationic exchange
capacity, total contents in Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Co, Cd, Pb, Zn. An exploratory mapping of soil
contaminations (Cu, Co, Cd, Pb, Zn) centered on the Gecamines cheminey was
then conducted as a second stage of the approach. Detailed investigations were
finally performed in the Gecamines district where signs of soil degradation were the
highest.
The spatial continuity and the differenciation (C : C0+C ratio) of the studied parameters
appeared weak. No clear effect of the dominant wind direction on the spatial distribution of
the contaminants could be identified despite a clear degradation of the ecosystem in the area
under dominant wind. However the detailed approach showed evidences of (i) significant
wind deposits in the Gecamines district, (ii) and local man-made deposits but also (ii)
important processes of redistribution in the landscape through erosion/sedimentation or
anthropic activities.
Our results point out the difficulty to identify the sources of contaminations in an urban
environment and stress the need to have approaches with complementary levels of details. |
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