Taxco de Alarcon is localized in Guerrero, southwest of Mexico. This region has been one of the most important mining areas in this country, since prehispanic times. The mineral deposits of the region are hydrothermal veins with Pb/Zn and considerable amounts of Au y Ag on limestone, shale and sandstone. In Taxco we can find lead, silver, cooper, iron and zinc ores like pyrite (FeS2), esphalerite, (ZnS), galena (PbS), calcopyrite (CuFeS2), argentite (Ag2S), native silver (Ag), polibasite ((AgCu)16Sb2S11), proustite (Ag3AsS2), y pyrargirite (Ag3SbS3). The gangue is formed by quartz (SiO2), calcite (CaCO3), magnetite (Fe3O4), barite (BaSO4), hematite (Fe3O4) and rodhocrosite (MnCO3). Is well know that acid drainage is produced by geogenic and anthropogenic sources, and is consequence of chemical and biological oxidation of sulfated minerals like pyrite, pyrolite and arsenopyrite, in presence of water and oxygen. Mining activities produces wastes in large amounts, such as tailings, which have a toxic potential risk and may cause acid mine drainage (AMD).The AMD is characterized for having acid pH (&lt;4) and high concentrations of Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Hg, Cd and Ni. These metals are capable of forming insoluble compounds with anions such as hydroxides, carbonates and sulfides presented on limestone, shale and/or sandstone from the area. In this study the geochemical and mineralogical characteristics are determinate, to find the origin of these heavy metals that contribute to the high concentrations in AMD. With this information we can describe and mitigate the mobility of heavy metals from both geogenic and anthropogenic acid drainage.

Study of heavy metals mobility in acid drainage and its geological interaction in Taxco, Mexico

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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