The extent of the Aznalcóllar pyritic sludge spill and its effects on soils

Abstract This paper presents some initial results from the Instituto Tecnologico Geominero de Espana’s (ITGE) study of the Aznalcollar mine spill. The spatial distribution of the pyritic sludge released was surveyed by using remote sensing data, aerial photography, and more than 700 field measurements on the sludge thickness. Initial estimation of the extent of the sludge was provided by radar data. Maps at 1:10 000 scale, drawn on the basis of field data and interpretation of aerial photos, show the distribution of the sludge, divided into 168 subsections on the basis of average thickness. GIS analysis provided estimates of the area and volume of the sludge. Three approaches were followed in order to survey the effects of the spill on the Guadiamar river alluvial soils: (1) Mineralogical and chemical characterization of the sludge and its evolution until its removal. Alteration products of the pyritic sludge were also analyzed. (2) Determination of geochemical background of soils in the Guadiamar river basin, in order to establish the content of heavy metals and other elements in the soil before the spill. (3) Assessment of the sludge effect on soils caused by the acid water and the deposited sludge, by comparison of the heavy metal content of soil under the sludge layer with that of background soil. Finally, an airborne multispectral survey was carried out over the Aznalcollar–Donana area to evaluate its efficiency for monitoring soil condition during and after sludge removal.