Assessment of Metallic Contamination of Water Resources in the Area Around the Abandoned Mining Site of Ouixane (North East Morocco)
Abstract
This study aims to assess the metallic contamination of water resources, and the spatial distribution of metallic trace elements (MTE) in surface and ground water in the area around the abandoned Ouixane mining site in Nador (North East Morocco), the determination of eight trace metal elements (Cd, Ni, Pb, Cu, As, Fe, Cr and Zn) was analysed by ICP-AES, the results obtained reveal heavy metal contamination of surface and ground water, marked by variability in the levels depending on the site studied and the element analysed. The analyses of water sampled from existing wells, galleries and lakes in the study area showed acidic to neutral pH values (2.02 to 7.9) and conductivity values exceeding all potability standards with the exception of one well located south of the study area (EL7), which had a conductivity <1250 μs/cm2, however it remains charged with Fe, Cu and Pb ions, this well is still used as a drinking water supply for the Ichemlalen town (EL7), the other wells are abandoned or used for other purposes except as a drinking water. The calculation of the contamination index (Cd) showed that the study sites have medium contamination level (Cd=2.2 to 2.4) to high contamination level (Cd=6 to 5700) with significant concentrations of metals including Fe, Cd, Ni, Cu and Pb. Surface water quality is very degraded compared to deep water, the risk of degradation of the quality of water resources in the vicinity of this mine site remains perennial, in the absence of good…
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