Evaluation of Contamination Rate and Heavy Metals Distribution in the Sediments of Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine Using Geochemical Data and Statistical Studies

The tailing dam of the Sarcheshmeh copper mine (Kerman, Iran) contains elevated concentrations the heavy metals. Therefore, the sediments of the Sarcheshmeh copper mine were analyzed in order to determine the contamination of heavy metals and the contamination intensity. In fact, the aim of this research was to evaluate the rate of heavy metals contamination (Co, Mo, Zn, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti and Fe) in the sediments of Sarcheshmeh copper mine, which conduce to the tailing dam. In this paper, the contamination indices comprising contamination factor, pollution load index, enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index were used to evaluate the heavy metals distribution in the sediments of the area. The amounts of Enrichment Factor (Cobalt: 0.95, Copper: 16.63, Molybdenum: 3.84, Zinc: 1.95, Chrome: 0.87, Manganese: 1.27, Nickel: 0.36, Lead: 1.62, Titanium: 0.83 and Iron: 10.01) and the concentrations of heavy metals were evaluated by considerable number of samples. With respect to the calculation of Geoaccumulation Index for the heavy metals, the metals like Cu, Zn and Fe (Zn>Cu>Fe>Mo>Pb>Mn>Cr) stood in the pollutant limit. Correlation coefficient and hierarchical analysis were used to determine the source of sediments, dispersion pattern of metals and the environmental evaluation for the present situation. The results obtained from the geochemical studies, correct multivariate statistical analysis and calculation of contamination indices, enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index, contamination factor and the pollution load index verified the high concentrations of these metals. The results of the factor analysis and hierarchical analysis (rate of heavy metals limit) on the sediment samples of the study area are completely consistent with the results of the calculation of the Contamination Factor for the sampling stations.