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Distribution characteristics and causality analysis of soil heavy metals pollution in a metal mining area:a case study of a gold mine
Received:July 17, 2023  
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KeyWord:soil;heavy metal;pollution characteristic;risk assessment;causality
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
FENG Juan Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China
Experimental Center, Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China 
 
AI Hao Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China
Experimental Center, Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China 
aihao0454@126.com 
CHEN Qingmin Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China
Experimental Center, Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China 
 
ZHAO Penghe Shaanxi Academy of Social Sciences, Xi'an 710000, China  
LI Hua Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China
Experimental Center, Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China 
 
WANG Wenbo Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China
Experimental Center, Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China 
 
XUE Zhifeng Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China
Experimental Center, Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi'an 710000, China 
 
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Abstract:
      In order to objectively evaluate the situation of soil heavy metal pollution in mining area and analyze its causal relationship, in this study, a gold mine in Qinba Mountain area of Shaanxi Province was selected as the object. The soil heavy metal pollution degree and ecological risk in the study area were evaluated using the local accumulation index method and potential ecological risk index method. The spatial distribution characteristics and homology of heavy metal pollutants were examined through chemical and correlation analysis, to analyze the causality of soil heavy metal pollution in the study area. The results showed that the pH of surface water in the study area ranged from 2.66 to 8.18, and 62.5% of the surface water was lower than the standard of Class Ⅱ surface water, especially the surface water in industrial sites and gullies was strongly acidic. The soil in the entire study area was mainly acidic, and the variation coefficients of Cd,Hg, and Cu in soil samples were all greater than 1, which indicates strong variation and is significantly affected by human factors. The soil accumulation index method showed that Cd and As were the most obvious heavy metal elements in the soil of mining area, especially in agricultural land and on industrial sites. The pollution behavior of Pb and Cr elements was the least prominent, and the pollution-free point number in three different regions reached 100%. From the perspective of the comprehensive degree of potential ecological risk, the three regions were in the medium ecological risk or above. The industrial site had a high ecological risk grade and the comprehensive risk index was 429.5. The tailings pond and agricultural land were a medium ecological risk grade, and the comprehensive risk indices were 164.1 and 155.3, respectively. Our results indicate that the tailings pond and mine water gushing are the key pollution sources in the study area, and more attention should be paid to the ecological risks of Cd and As in the ecological environment management with monitoring in the later stages.