Author(s)

D. M. Bonotto & E. G. de Oliveira

Abstract

This investigation reports the results of a study realized in an area related to the development of sand mining activities, which belongs to Sibelco Mineração Ltd. The site is located around Analândia municipality, nearly in the center of São Paulo State, Brazil. Hydrochemical analyses of groundwater were realized under different periods of time, with the aim of evaluating the possibility of release of several constituents to the liquid phase, which may be a source of pollution of the surface hydrological resources and of the deeper Guarani aquifer. This is because the site is located at the recharge area of Guarani aquifer and some tributaries from Corumbataí river may also be suffering contamination, implying on the impoverishment of the water quality that are very important resources in the region, as they are extensively used for drinking purposes, among others. Keywords: sand mining activities, water quality, groundwater, elemental concentrations, trace and heavy metals, São Paulo State. 1 Introduction The São Paulo State in Brazil, due to its advanced stage of agricultural and industrial growth, has a great diversity of problems related to the interaction between the society and the environment. The sand mining activities in Depressão Periférica geomorphological province are presently very important, because potentially they can be a source of anthropogenic impacts, since several

Keywords

sand mining activities, water quality, groundwater, elemental concentrations, trace and heavy metals, São Paulo State