1 Département de Géologie et Matériaux, Université de Man, Côte d’Ivoire.
2 Département de Mines et Réservoir, Université de Man, Côte d’Ivoire.
3 Laboratoire Géosciences et Environnement, Université NANGUI ABROGOUA, Côte d’Ivoire.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 20(03), 774-779
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2023.20.3.2420
Received on 19 October 2023; revised on 04 December 2023; accepted on 06 December 2023
Artisanal small-scale gold mining activities grow in different regions of Côte d’Ivoire, causing enormous soil and environmental damages. This study was conducted in the vicinity of illegal artisanal small-scale gold mining zones to investigate soil quality using environmental assessment tools, mainly pollution and geochemical accumulation indexes. The mining spoil from artisanal pits was sampled directly between 0 and 20 cm, collecting 500 g of soil per sampling point. Sub-samples of soil were analyzed for multi-element using X-ray fluorescence technique. The results of the XRF analysis revealed higher trace element levels at some sampling points than the recommended levels. High arsenic concentrations were identified at three sampling sites: cavally sites with 7.09 and 16.08 mg kg-1 and Zérégbo with 9.57 mg kg-1. Moreover, significant concentrations of Cu and Pb were found at the Cavally site whilst Singouiné and Zérégbo showed high concentrations of Co and Cr. The study, globally, revealed the environmental hazards caused by the organized artisanal mining.
Trace elements; Contaminants; Artisanal illicit mining; pXRF
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Odon Clément N’CHO, Ismaïla OUATTARA, Zié OUATTARA, Soungari Jean-Paul YEO and Bamory KAMAGATE. Soil and environment quality in artisanal small-scale mining areas in western Côte d’Ivoire. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 20(3), 774-779. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2023.20.3.2420