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All Journal Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management
Arpa, Maria Carmencita B.
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Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology

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Pollution assessment and mercury speciation of small-scale gold mine (SSGM) tailings, sediments, and ore from Camarines Norte, Philippines Dela Cruz, Kyla Mae T.; Madayag, Juniela Anne T.; Arpa, Maria Carmencita B.; Samaniego, Jessie O.; Peregrino, Fern Rose A.; Quierrez, Rico Neil M.; Tanciongco, Alexandria M.
Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management Vol. 12 No. 4 (2025)
Publisher : Brawijaya University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15243/jdmlm.2025.124.8023

Abstract

The municipalities of Jose Panganiban and Paracale, Camarines Norte, are notable “mining districts,” where small-scale miners use mercury (Hg) to extract gold, despite its being banned under Republic Act 7076 of the People’s Small Scale Mining Act of 1991. In this study, 17 sediment samples from coastal/marine, river, and mine tailings were collected and analyzed for the following: (1) pollution assessment of potentially toxic elements (PTE), (2) total Hg concentration on particle size distribution, and (3) mercury speciation. The results showed that mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) were the most significant pollutants and contaminants. Enrichment levels using Enrichment Factor (EF) ranked as Hg > Cr > Zn > Ni > As > Fe > Cu > V > Mn > Sr > Ca. Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) and Potential Ecological Risk Factor (Er) confirmed that As and Hg posed the highest environmental threats, with Hg likely coming from mining and As naturally occurring but disturbed by mining activities. The mercury concentration patterns varied by location, where river sediments concentrated Hg in medium silt, coastal sediments had scattered Hg levels due to more extended transport, and mine tailings had irregular Hg distribution since they were the source. Moreover, the mercury speciation showed a consistent result of Hg (I) among all the samples and a remarkable peak for Hg0 with the tailings samples, suggesting incomplete oxidation from mining.
Assessment of mercury and natural radioactivity in sediments from a small-scale gold mining legacy tailings pond in Camarines Norte, Philippines De Juan, Airah Sophia J.; Villanueva, Margarette Denise Leine; Arpa, Maria Carmencita B.; Samaniego, Jessie O.; Peregrino, Fern Rose A.
Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)
Publisher : Brawijaya University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15243/jdmlm.2026.133.10809

Abstract

Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, is notable for small-scale gold mining, which produces waste stored in tailings storage facilities such as tailings ponds. These operations potentially pose environmental risks to nearby ecosystems and local communities due to hazardous substances, including mercury (Hg) used in ore processing, and elevated radionuclide concentrations from land disturbance. This study assessed the presence of the abovementioned pollutants in a legacy tailings pond to evaluate human and environmental risks. Sampling points were established around the pond for in-situ gamma-ray spectrometry measurements of radionuclides and for laboratory analysis of mercury. Assessment of radiological risk parameters showed that computed values were well below established global averages. Radiological assessments used NORMALYSA simulation, and results indicated that the absorbed dose rate in the study area remains below the public safety limit of 1 mSv/year. In contrast, mercury analysis revealed that certain sampling points exceeded the global background for soils, indicating localized contamination. Mercury speciation analysis reveals that Hg(I) was the predominant mercury species identified in soil samples. The geoaccumulation index assessment indicated that some sites are strongly to extremely contaminated with mercury, while locations farther from the tailings pond exhibited minimal risk of mercury contamination. Although radiometric analysis did not detect anomalous radionuclide elevation attributable to mine waste, localized mercury contamination remains a significant environmental concern.
Co-Authors De Juan, Airah Sophia J. Dela Cruz, Kyla Mae T. Madayag, Juniela Anne T. Peregrino, Fern Rose A. Quierrez, Rico Neil M. Samaniego, Jessie O. Tanciongco, Alexandria M. Villanueva, Margarette Denise Leine