Nemis Journal of Agricultural Science
Vol. 1(3), pp. 030-048
Full Length Research Article | Accepted Date: 26 MARCH, 2015.

CHARACTERIZATION OF SIX HEAVY METAL FRACTIONS IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS AROUND A MINE AREA OF DRAA LASFAR �MARRAKECH-(MOROCCO).

AUTHOR: Barkouch, Y. , Sedki, A. Khadiri, M.E., Pineau, A.

Abstract

The chemical forms of some heavy metals in soils and mine tailings around a Draa Lasfar mine in north-west of Marrakech city (Morocco) was studied by determining soil Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn species using standard solvent extraction and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric techniques. The Chemical pools of the metals indicated that the metals were distributed into six fractions with most of the metals residing in the non-residual fractions, suggesting how readily the metals are released into the environment. Considering that the metals mostly occur in the most available forms, it is most likely that the metals must have been derived from a variety of human activities involving dredging, processing and use of metals and/or substances containing metal contaminants, specially mining activity that can pose a risk for the environment due to discharge of tailings all around the mine area.

Keywords

Heavy metal speciation, contamination, active mine, sequential extraction, soils and tailings, Marrakech � Morocco.

Citation

Barkouch, Y., Sedki, A., Khadiri, M.E. & Pineau, A. (2015). CHARACTERIZATION OF SIX HEAVY METAL FRACTIONS IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS AROUND A MINE AREA OF DRAA LASFAR�MARRAKECH-(MOROCCO). Nemisjournal of Agricultural Science 1(3): 030-048.