The Environmental Impact of the Traditional Gold Mining in Abu Hamad, Sudan

Abstract

The environmental impact of traditional Gold mining activity has become a concern. The concern is due to the methods that are used in the extraction of the Gold from its co-metals, particularly the use of the Mercury. The purpose of the study to identify the impact of the traditional gold mining in Elcrow in Abo Hamad district. This research was undertaken to determine the concentration of toxic heavy metals that have been used to extract gold such as Mercury or has been released during mining processes such as Lead, Arsenic and Cadmium in the mining area. The analysis results showed that the concentration of these metals was high in water, plant and soil samples that were taken from the mining area especially, Mercury. The concentration of these metals exceeded the international acceptable levels, the concentration of Mercury in some samples of water was 2004 ppb Arsenic was 14.23ppm, lead 1233ppm and Cadmium was 14.67ppm, in soil Hg 3459ppb, As585.4, Pb592.5ppm and Cd 4.439ppm, the results of plants was Hg 3840ppb, As 5.871ppm Pb 79.94ppm and Cd 1.612ppm. The high concentration of these metals in the soil could leach and cause ground water contamination. could also get absorbed by the plant and eaten by human which could cause serious health problems. The presence of these metals in a water sample in River Nile indicates the washout of these metals by rain or superficial water to the Nile basin which is the main source of the potable water for the people in the study area.