Article Selenium and Other Trace Element Mobility in Waste Products and Weathered Sediments at Parys Mountain Copper Mine, Anglesey, UK Liam A. Bullock 1,*, John Parnell 1, Magali Perez 2, Joerg Feldmann 2 and Joseph G. Armstrong 1 1 Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, Meston Building, University of Aberdeen, King’s College, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK;
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[email protected] (J.G.A.) 2 Trace Element Speciation Laboratory (TESLA), Department of Chemistry, Meston Building, University of Aberdeen, King’s College, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK;
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[email protected] (J.F.) * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +44-7789-585959 Received: 16 October 2017; Accepted: 20 November 2017; Published: 22 November 2017 Abstract: The Parys Mountain copper mining district (Anglesey, North Wales) hosts exposed pyritic bedrock, solid mine waste spoil heaps, and acid drainage (ochre sediment) deposits. Both natural and waste deposits show elevated trace element concentrations, including selenium (Se), at abundances of both economic and environmental consideration. Elevated concentrations of semi- metals such as Se in waste smelts highlight the potential for economic reserves in this and similar base metal mining sites. Selenium is sourced from the pyritic bedrock and concentrations are retained in red weathering smelt soils, but lost in bedrock-weathered soils and clays. Selenium correlates with Te, Au, Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb, S, and Sb across bedrock and weathered deposits. Man-made mine waste deposits show enrichment of As, Bi, Cu, Sb, and Te, with Fe oxide-rich smelt materials containing high Pb, up to 1.5 wt %, and Au contents, up to 1.2 ppm.