6533b873fe1ef96bd12d550b

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Environmental impact of mining activities on the Hermioni area, Greece

S.p. VamavasK.g. KritsotakisA.g. Panagos

subject

chemistry.chemical_classificationSulfideMineralogyHematiteengineering.materialHydrothermal circulationchemistrySeafloor massive sulfide depositsvisual_artIllitevisual_art.visual_art_mediumengineeringQuartzChemical compositionGeologyEnvironmental impact of mining

description

Publisher Summary This chapter investigates the environmental impact of mining activities in the Hermioni area, Greece, including the offshore area. A chemical analysis of sediments associated with diabase lavas in the Hermioni mine area has shown significant enrichments in Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and As relative to normal pelagic clays. Marked geographic compositional variations within the Hermioni area have been observed, the highest metal enrichments found at Baroutospelia. Mineralogically the Fe–Mn sediments contain hematite, quartz, and minor amounts of illite, smectites, and feldspars. A chemical analysis of sulfide ore samples showed that the Hermioni ores are Cu-rich pyrites, always containing greater amounts of Cu than Zn. The Cu concentration levels are high at Roros, intermediate at Kapsospiti, and low at Karakasi ore bodies. The Hermioni sulfide deposits have comparable chemical composition with that of modern sulfide deposits formed on the Galapagos Rift at 86° W. On the basis of their geochemical and geological features, it was implied that they were formed from high temperature submarine hydrothermal exhalations that had resulted from seawater–rock interaction, in a process similar to that giving rise to the formation of modern sulfide deposits on mid-ocean ridges.

https://doi.org/10.1016/s0166-1116(08)70289-9