The Legacy of Potential Environmental Soil Contamination in an Antimony Mining Heritage Area

In the Valongo Belt, with an extension of about 90 km, located very close to Porto, northern Portugal, dozens ore deposits various metallic minerals and coal were exploited in 19th 20th centuries. One metals most intensely was antimony, or without associated gold mineralization. This research intends verify extent current environmental legacy ancient antimony mining. A typical old mine selected. The main objectives whether still manifests today, how natural processes contributed dispersion mining footprint absorbed by developments a new landscape modified anthropic activities. topography area captured using Light Detection Ranging (LIDAR) based drone system. regional background characterized geo-referenced chemical analysis 157 soil samples, collected 35 × m grid. former 58 supplementary samples. is distinct from higher zinc levels, constituting two populations, as confirmed statistical tests. samples industrial zone, six elements considered contaminants: As, Cu, Mo, Sb, Sn Zn. concentrations these statistically examined multivariate analyses (principal component correspondence analysis). conclusions are: (a) heritage discernible highly mineralized background; (b) it possible distinguish processing waste rock storage; (c) little relevance; (d) smoothed mostly incorporated into post-industrial created