Mining sediments are excavated from nickel ore exploitation in New Caledonia. In those sediments, chromium (Cr) occurs as Cr(III), but Cr(III) can be oxidized to the toxic Cr(VI) under oxic conditions, for instance in overlying water. Here, we aimed to determine whether mining sediments could release available Cr(VI) in surface waters. Water samples were collected in a mine and in the village downstream, and then were analysed for Cr. Batch leaching experiments were performed on mining sediments in order to determine their exchangeable and their water-soluble Cr content as a function of pH. Results show that mine waters contain high concentrations of total dissolved Cr, of up to 0.73 mg/L. Moreover, Cr(VI) concentration in village waters increases with the rainfall rate upto 0.34 mg/L. Cr is released from sediments solely as Cr(VI). Desorption of chromate complexes is the main process involved in Cr release. We conclude that drainage of sediments mobilized by opencast Ni mines is a source of toxic Cr(VI) for surface waters.
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This work was supported by the National Centre for Technological Research on “Nickel and its Environment” (Centre National de Recherche Technologique, CNRT “Nickel et son environnement”) within the programme “functioning of small mining catchment areas” (2009–2014).
Author information Authors and AffiliationsPPME Laboratory, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie BPR4, 98851, Nouméa cedex, Nouvelle-Calédonie, France
Peggy Gunkel-Grillon, Christine Laporte-Magoni, Monika Lemestre & Nicolas Bazire
Correspondence to Peggy Gunkel-Grillon.
About this article Cite this articleGunkel-Grillon, P., Laporte-Magoni, C., Lemestre, M. et al. Toxic chromium release from nickel mining sediments in surface waters, New Caledonia. Environ Chem Lett 12, 511–516 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-014-0475-1
Received: 14 May 2014
Accepted: 04 July 2014
Published: 16 July 2014
Issue Date: December 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-014-0475-1
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