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Purpose <p>This study aims to elucidate the pollution characteristics, spatial distribution, and sources of heavy metals (HMs) in farmland soils surrounding a typical Pb–Zn mining area in Guangxi, China, with a specific focus on distinguishing historical legacy from ongoing mining activities.</p> Methods <p>An integrated approach combining geospatial analysis, multivariate statistics, and dual receptor models (APCS-MLR and PMF) was applied to soil, tailings, and sediment samples. Pollution levels and ecological risks were evaluated via the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and potential ecological risk index (RI).</p> Results and discussion <p>The results demonstrated significant enrichment of HMs downstream of the tailings ponds, with deep soil layers displaying HMs concentrations comparable to those observed in tailings and sediments. Both receptor models consistently identified four primary sources: historical tailings legacy (contributing 30.9–38.5% to Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu), natural sources (22.4–26.4% to Cr and Ni), agricultural practice (20.7–21.8% to Hg), and ongoing mining activities (17.4–22.1% to As). The integrated approach reduced model-specific uncertainties and effectively differentiated contributions from historical tailings and ongoing mining activities.</p> Conclusion <p>This study demonstrates that historical tailings, mobilized and redeposited by flood events, remain a dominant and lingering source of heavy metal pollution in mining-affected farmland. The integrated approach combining dual receptor models with geospatial analysis offered a robust framework for reliable source apportionment in complex environmental settings. Findings highlight the need for remediation strategies prioritizing legacy tailings management and active mining emission control to mitigate long-term ecological and health risks.</p>

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Pollution characteristics and source apportionment of heavy metals in farmland soils affected by historical and ongoing mining activities through an integrated approach

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月20日

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  • Xianming Li,
  • Yu Di,
  • Hao Wu,
  • Haixia Wu,
  • Wenfu Liu,
  • Jianqiao Luo,
  • Linjuan Li,
  • Bolun Fan,
  • Lingling Zhang,
  • Yang Li

摘要

Purpose

This study aims to elucidate the pollution characteristics, spatial distribution, and sources of heavy metals (HMs) in farmland soils surrounding a typical Pb–Zn mining area in Guangxi, China, with a specific focus on distinguishing historical legacy from ongoing mining activities.

Methods

An integrated approach combining geospatial analysis, multivariate statistics, and dual receptor models (APCS-MLR and PMF) was applied to soil, tailings, and sediment samples. Pollution levels and ecological risks were evaluated via the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and potential ecological risk index (RI).

Results and discussion

The results demonstrated significant enrichment of HMs downstream of the tailings ponds, with deep soil layers displaying HMs concentrations comparable to those observed in tailings and sediments. Both receptor models consistently identified four primary sources: historical tailings legacy (contributing 30.9–38.5% to Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu), natural sources (22.4–26.4% to Cr and Ni), agricultural practice (20.7–21.8% to Hg), and ongoing mining activities (17.4–22.1% to As). The integrated approach reduced model-specific uncertainties and effectively differentiated contributions from historical tailings and ongoing mining activities.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that historical tailings, mobilized and redeposited by flood events, remain a dominant and lingering source of heavy metal pollution in mining-affected farmland. The integrated approach combining dual receptor models with geospatial analysis offered a robust framework for reliable source apportionment in complex environmental settings. Findings highlight the need for remediation strategies prioritizing legacy tailings management and active mining emission control to mitigate long-term ecological and health risks.