Aplicación de técnicas geofísicas y geoquímicas para la caracterización del riesgo ambiental en distritos mineros

Abstract

This thesis is a compendium of three articles. These works are based on the multidisciplinary analysis of the impact of mining, mineralurgy and metallurgy activities in the Linares La Carolina mining district. This region had for decades an important industrial and economic activity intended to obtaining, treating and selling non-ferrous metals, mainly Pb. Although all the mines and metallurgical plants are currently closed, the district continues to host a large amount of waste derived from this activity. Therefore, it is an area that allows studying the impact that this sector has on the environment even decades after its closure. In the same way, it allows to study the different mechanisms that influence the distribution of pollutants, mainly metal(oid)s, in the vicinities, allowing to identify patterns and processes that can be extrapolated to other mining districts and therefore, contribute to the environmental safety of this areas.