Characterisation of soils and establishment of
heavy metal and radionuclide concentrations prior to
mining disturbance provides an essential benchmark for
post-mining reclamation. Land disturbance from uranium
mining could result in metal contamination of surface soils
with subsequent negative impacts on soil quality and
human and ecosystem health. This soil characterization
study was conducted because there is no background data
of soil trace metals and radionuclide for this region. These
benchmark data are essential for post-mining monitoring
and possible future remediation. The planned conventional
open pit mine will produce 15,000 and 50,000 tonnes (ore
and waste rock) per day. The envisaged overburden and
waste dumps are likely to enhance potential for heavy
metal contamination of soils. To establish the baseline data
and pre-mining site environmental conditions, (1) the
physico-chemical properties of soils and (2) potential
heavy metal and radionuclide pollutants in identified different
sites were determined. The sampling sites were
selected based on the variation in soil classes in the study
area. The physico-chemical properties were measured
using the standard methods while heavy metals were analysed
using a Finnigan MAT Element 2 high resolution
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer. The following
heavy metals and radionuclides were determined:
Th, U, Sr, Ba, Be, Cd, Pb, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Co. Most
soils are predominately sandy clay ([17.2 %) suggesting
their suitability for agricultural use. The results also indicate
that most heavy metals were at or below expected
ranges for non-contaminated soils and there was no evidence
of any geochemical anomalies.