Geochemical characteristics of selenium and its correlation to other elements and minerals in selenium-enriched rocks in Ziyang County, Shaanxi Province, China

Year:

2016

Type of Publication:

Article

Authors:

Tian, Huan; Ma, Zhenzhen; Chen, Xiaolei; Zhang, Hongyu; Bao, Zhengyu; Wei, Changhua; Xie, Shuyun; Wu, Shitou

Journal:

Journal of Earth Science

Volume:

27

Number:

5

Pages:

763-776

ISSN:

1867-111X

BibTex:

@article{Tian2016, author = "Huan Tian and Zhenzhen Ma and Xiaolei Chen and Hongyu Zhang and Zhengyu Bao and Changhua Wei and Shuyun Xie and Shitou Wu", abstract = "Ziyang County, Shaanxi Province, China is a world known selenium (Se)-enriched area, and a severe selenosis incident was reported in Naore Village during the 1990s. This study investigated the geochemical characteristics of Se and its fractions in Se-enriched rocks from Ziyang. Se distribution is uneven, ranging from 0.23 to 57.00 $\mu$g/g (17.29{\textpm}15.52 $\mu$g/g). Se content is higher in slate than chert, and even lower in carbonate rocks. Cd, As and V are enriched but Pb is depleted in Se-enriched strata. Se has different correlations both with TS (total sulfur) (R 2=0.59 for chert) and TC (total carbon) (R 2=0.77 for slate, R 2=0.87 for carbonate). Se has significant positive correlations with V (r=0.65), As (r=0.485), Cd (r=0.459) and Pb (r=0.405). The Se level correlates with mineral content, positively with pyrite, chlorite and illite, negatively with albite. Se associated with sulfide/selenide and elemental Se are the predominant fractions of total recovered Se, suggesting that a reducing environment and the formation of sulfides were significant to Se deposition during its geochemical cycle. Although low concentration of bio-available Se (average 5.62{\%}{\textpm}3.69{\%}) may reduce the risk of Se poisoning in the target area, utilization of Se-rich rock as natural fertilizer should be restricted.", doi = "10.1007/s12583-016-0700-x", issn = "1867-111X", journal = "Journal of Earth Science", number = "5", pages = "763--776", title = "{G}eochemical characteristics of selenium and its correlation to other elements and minerals in selenium-enriched rocks in {Z}iyang {C}ounty, {S}haanxi {P}rovince, {C}hina", url = "http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12583-016-0700-x", volume = "27", year = "2016", }

Abstract:

Ziyang County, Shaanxi Province, China is a world known selenium (Se)-enriched area, and a severe selenosis incident was reported in Naore Village during the 1990s. This study investigated the geochemical characteristics of Se and its fractions in Se-enriched rocks from Ziyang. Se distribution is uneven, ranging from 0.23 to 57.00 $\mu$g/g (17.29{\textpm}15.52 $\mu$g/g). Se content is higher in slate than chert, and even lower in carbonate rocks. Cd, As and V are enriched but Pb is depleted in Se-enriched strata. Se has different correlations both with TS (total sulfur) (R 2=0.59 for chert) and TC (total carbon) (R 2=0.77 for slate, R 2=0.87 for carbonate). Se has significant positive correlations with V (r=0.65), As (r=0.485), Cd (r=0.459) and Pb (r=0.405). The Se level correlates with mineral content, positively with pyrite, chlorite and illite, negatively with albite. Se associated with sulfide/selenide and elemental Se are the predominant fractions of total recovered Se, suggesting that a reducing environment and the formation of sulfides were significant to Se deposition during its geochemical cycle. Although low concentration of bio-available Se (average 5.62{\%}{\textpm}3.69{\%}) may reduce the risk of Se poisoning in the target area, utilization of Se-rich rock as natural fertilizer should be restricted.