Antimony and arsenic contents in fresh waters and stream sediments of the Monti Romani area (Southern Tuscany, Italy)

A geochemical study of the distribution of antimony and arsenic in stream waters and sediments was carried out in the Monti Romani region (southern Tuscany, Italy) to assess the environmental impact of past mining activities. Significant and widespread Sb-(As) anomalies were detected near the main mining centers of the Monti Romani region. The Tafone and Macchia Casella-Poffio Fuoco mining areas have the highest enrichment levels of Sb and As in stream waters and sediments. In these zones, pollution can be ascribed to drainage and erosion of heavy element-contamined mine dumps. In the upper Chiarone stream (Mt. Capita zone), the anomalous values of antiomny in fresh waters are likely related to the natural circulation of meteoric waters through silicized and stibnite-mineralized carbonitic rocks.