METAL CONTAMINATION FROM OPEN-CAST COPPER AND SULFUR MINING IN SOUTHEAST IRELAND

The metal content was determined in soil and vegetation around the eas tern zone of the disused sulphur and copper mines at Avoca (southeast Ireland). A 250 m x 250 m grid survey was conducted covering a total a rea of 4 km(2). The mining belt was in the centre of the investigated site and was sampled separately. Iron, Zn, Cu and Cd concentrations in soil and plant material were determined, in addition to soil organic matter content and soil pH. Soil samples taken from the spoil showed e levated Cu and Cd concentrations, and low soil pH and organic matter c ontent. At least 50 per cent of the agricultural sites examined around the East Avoca Mine showed elevated soil Cu and Cd concentrations, wh ereas Zn and Fe soil concentrations were within the range for unpollut ed soils. None of the vegetation analysed had elevated Zn, Cd, Fe or C u concentrations. Overall there was no indication of serious metal con tamination in either soils or vegetation surrounding the mine in spite of extensive dust deposition during open-pit mining activity 15-30 ye ars ago. However, a plume of elevated Cu in the soil was identified, w hich originated from a large spoil heap and had been spread for some 2 .0 km by the prevailing wind.