THE IMPACT OF MINING ACTIVITY ON THE SURROUNDING SOILS NEAR A GOLD MINE IN BLESBOKSPRUIT- EKUHURLENI, SOUTH AFRICA

Since the advent of mining in South Africa, the issue of metals and metalloids in mine tailings contaminated soils, which often result in adverse effects to humans and animals, has been a major environmental challenge. This study was carried out with the principal purpose of investigating the spatial distribution of metals such as manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in an abandoned gold mine tailing dump of over two decades, in the surrounding areas of Blesbokspruit, Ekuhurleni, Gauteng province, South Africa. A total of 20 soil samples were collected from the tailings dump in Blesbokspruit, at different points. Soil parameters such as pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were determined following prescribed procedures, elemental composition was carried out using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) whilst Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) was utilised in determining the concentrations of metals and metalloids. In a bid to determine the anthropogenic contribution of pollutants (metal and metalloid), both Pollution index (PI) and Contamination factors (CF) were calculated. Results of the XRF analysis showed average values of major elements such as Na₂O (0.18%), MgO (0.63%), Al₂O₃ (6.51%), SiO₂ (81.83%), P₂O₅ (0.04%), SO₃ (3.40%), K₂O (1.98%), CaO (0.45%), TiO₂ (0.51%), Cr₂O₃ (0.17%), MnO (0.04%), Fe₂O₃ (3.59%), NiO (0.04%), As₂O₃ (0.02%), with Rb₂O and SrO falling below 0.01%. Human health risk was evaluated using Chronic Hazard Index (CHI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ).

Key words: Pollution, contamination, metalloids, toxicity, environment.