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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]

In this study, we introduce a novel approach using correlative analysis techniques to unravel detailed insights into the environmental influences on crystal growth. Tabular and bipyramidal wulfenite samples from the Mežica mine in north-eastern Slovenia were analysed to combine the morphological aspects of crystal growth with the atomic-resolution reconstruction of the positions of lead (Pb) and molybdenum (Mo) atoms in the parent crystal lattice. These combined data also allow us to present the formation mechanism that enables the development of bipyramidal or tabular morphologies in wulfenite. The bipyramidal and tabular crystals are chemically pure wulfenite (PbMoO 4 ), as confirmed by various advanced diffraction and spectroscopy techniques. However, each habit includes multiple inclusions, mostly consisting of carbonates, Pb-Fe oxides, Pb oxides and, more rarely, Pb vanadate (descloizite). The differences in the morphologies can be attributed to compositional changes during precipitation from a meteoric solution and thus, we propose a growth mechanism consisting of three different phases of growth. This innovative approach emphasises the importance of understanding the origin of crystal habits, as can help to decipher how external influences can affect the crystal structure and its surface, leading to the dissolution of preferred surfaces and the selective release of Pb and Mo., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this research, sediments from the Sečovlje Salina (northern Adriatic, Slovenia) were geochemically investigated in order to decode the mobility of metal(oid)s in the hypersaline environment. The results demonstrated that the concentrations of As, Co, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn and Zn were comparable to those detected in various similar coastal background areas, as well as in the Sečovlje salt marsh core sample. The estimated mobility potential of metal(oid)s in sediment decreases in the following order: Mo > As > Cu > Sb > Sn > Co > Pb > Ni > Zn. Since the hypersaline sediment (e.g. healing mud) is used as a healing factor (it can be applied directly on human skin), the study of metal(oid) bioavailability in an interaction between the hypersaline sediments and the artificial sweat was also performed. It is significant that the metal(oid) contents are leached in very low concentrations and are treated as nontoxic for humans according to international norms for cosmetic products. The study provides information in order to assess the role of metal mobility on the potential health impact of the application of natural healing mud., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)