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Mining is very important economic activity. However, mining and related industries presents the main threat for environment. Pollution with heavy metals is a significant problem in Eastern Republic of Macedonia. In year 2003 great environmental disaster happened near small town Makedonska Kamenica, when the Sasa tailings dam collapsed and caused an intensive flow of mining waste material through Kamenica River valley and was discharged into Lake Klaimanci. Water from lake is used for irrigation, thus, the pollution assessment of the Lake Kalimanci sediments was made. The major, trace and rare earth element contamination in surficial lake sediments was studied to assess the effects of metalliferous mining activities. The mean concentrations of major elements [wt %] Si 23.5, Al 7.9, Fe 6.6, Mg 1.3, Ca 3.8, Na 1.1, K 2.3, Ti 0.4, P 0.2, Mn 0.6 and trace elements ranged within: Mo 1.0-4.6 mg kg-1, Cu 144.4-1162 mg kg-1, Pb 1874-16300 mg kg-1, Zn 2944-20900 mg kg-1, Ni 21.7-79.3 mg kg-1, Cd 16.5-136 mg kg-1, Sb 0.6-3.6 mg kg-1, Bi 3.0-24,3 mg kg-1 and Ag 1.4-17.3 mg kg-1. Results of rare earth elements (REE) in surficial lake sediments indicated that are tightly related to the catchment geology. The results of the sequential extraction procedure revealed the majority (Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu and Cd) of investigated toxic metals and all REEs to be strongly bonded to the exchangeable fraction and the rest (As and Mo) to the oxidizable fraction. Regarding to results is evident that heavy metals and REEs are highly bioavailable for living organisms and can seriously affect human health.

The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of several potentially toxic elements (PTE) in the recent marine sediment of Makirina bay (central Adriatic), which could according to its organoleptic properties be used as a virgin material for medical treatment, wellness and relax purposes. Sediment samples were collected in June and July 2010 from six different sites in the central part of the bay. The range of measured elemental concentrations in analysed surficial sediment were: As (11-15,8 ppm), Cr (61,6 -109,5 ppm), Cu (19,4-54,2 ppm), Pb (16,8-29,6 ppm) and Zn (37-52 ppm). Sediment PTE pollution assessment was performed using contamination factor (CF), contamination degree (Cdeg) and pollution load index (PLI). The calculated environmental index values show a low to moderate contamination status of sediment. Future geochemical investigation on these sediments are necessary prior actual use in various therapeutic treatment.

This study deals with the mineralogical and chemical characterization of archaeometallurgical material from the Roman archaeological site of Castra ( Ajdovščina, western Slovenia). Samples were initially analysed via optical microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction, with the composition of individual phases then determined using scanning electron microscopy coupled with electron-dispersive spectroscopy, and Raman microspectroscopy. Chemical investigation was carried out by using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy to measure the major element content. The results showed that the slag originated from iron smithing operations, with calcium-rich olivines, as well as wuestite and leucite, the most abundant phases. The investigated slags were also found to be characterized by significantly high lime levels, which probably promoted the formation of the calcium-rich olivines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]