Six point sources of potential contamination from gold mine tailings were identified along the Kromdraai/Koekemoerspruit drainage basin. The degree of contamination of the tailings, soils, surface water, stream sediments and plants at each point source, as well as the individual contribution of these point sources to the contamination of downstream localities was determined by means of quantitative indices. These indices include availability percentage, threshold exceedance ratio, geoaccumulation index, bioaccumulation index and hyperaccumation threshold exceedance ratio. Both the total concentration pool as well as the available (soluble) fraction thereof were evaluated relative to pH and plant uptake, and as applicable to the sample type, by using the USEPA 3050b and DIN 19730 (NH4NO3) extraction methods, respectively. The results for the eight selected potentially toxic trace elements (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, As and U) were further categorised under current and potential future contamination statuses and discussed according to a source-pathway-receptor model relative to individual localities. Composite sampling was employed to provide a representative average of each locality for an overall contamination profile of the study area. Plant species were classified according to accumulation degree and hyperaccumulation status in order to derive an indication of accumulation efficiency relative to the geochemical status of soils or tailings. A document was compiled in order to be used as a guideline for rehabilitation purposes specific to a geochemically-contaminated drainage system. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Six point sources of potential contamination from gold mine tailings were identified along the Kromdraai/Koekemoerspruit drainage basin. The degree of contamination of the tailings, soils, surface water, stream sediments and plants at each point source, as well as the individual contribution of these point sources to the contamination of downstream localities was determined by means of quantitative indices. These indices include availability percentage, threshold exceedance ratio, geoaccumulation index, bioaccumulation index and hyperaccumation threshold exceedance ratio. Both the total concentration pool as well as the available (soluble) fraction thereof were evaluated relative to pH and plant uptake, and as applicable to the sample type, by using the USEPA 3050b and DIN 19730 (NH4NO3) extraction methods, respectively. The results for the eight selected potentially toxic trace elements (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, As and U) were further categorised under current and potential future contamination statuses and discussed according to a source-pathway-receptor model relative to individual localities. Composite sampling was employed to provide a representative average of each locality for an overall contamination profile of the study area. Plant species were classified according to accumulation degree and hyperaccumulation status in order to derive an indication of accumulation efficiency relative to the geochemical status of soils or tailings. A document was compiled in order to be used as a guideline for rehabilitation purposes specific to a geochemically-contaminated drainage system. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Les sols contaminés par les éléments traces potentiellement toxiques (PTTE) ont souvent des conséquences graves pour les écosystèmes terrestres. Plusieurs options de phytoremediaction ont été développées pour remédier les sols contaminés ; cependantl'efficacité et la capacité de ces techniques à réduire les concentrations excessives des éléments traces ou leur (phyto) disponibilité dans les sols contaminés doivent être évaluées Le présent travail s’est intéressé à étudier l'efficacité de deux options de de phytorémédiation, la phytostabilisation et la phytoextraction assistées par des amendements organiques et minéraux, à remédier les fortes concentrations de PTTE dans un sol naturel et dans un technosol contaminés. Les concentrations totales des éléments traces dissous ont été déterminées dans l'eau interstitielle du sol. L'intensité de l'exposition du sol a été évaluée par des capteurs DGT (gradient de diffusion dans les couches minces). Le phytodisponibilité des PTTE a été caractérisée par des tests de germination avec des haricots nains cultivés sur les sols contaminés pour lesquels les concentrations foliaires en éléments traces ont été déterminées. Ensuite un modèle de réseau de neurones artificiels a été appliqué pour comprendre les facteurs les plus pertinents sur la variabilité de la phytodisponibilité des PTTE. Les deux options ont étécapables de réduire les concentrations ou la phytodisponibilité des PTTE en présence des amendements. Les réseaux de neurones artificiels ont été très efficaces pour prédire les résultats manquants et pour déterminer les paramètres de contrôle de la variabilité de la phytodisponibilité des PTTE à partir des paramètres du sol. / Soils contaminated with potentially toxic trace elements (PTTE) often have serious consequences for terrestrial ecosystems. Several phytoremediaction have been developped to reclaim contaminated soils; however the efficiency and capacity of these techniques to reduce excessive concentrations of trace elements or their (phyto) availability in contaminated soils have to be assessed. The present work is focused on studying the effectiveness of two phyoremediation options such as phytostabilisation and phytoextraction assisted by organic and inorganic amendments to remediatethe high concentrations of PTTE in contaminated natural soils and technosoils. Total PTTE concentrations were determined in soil pore water (SPW) sampled by Rhizon soil moisture samplers. The soil exposure intensity was assessed by DGT (diffusive gradient in thin films) probes. The PTTE phytoavailability was characterized by growing dwarf beans on potted soils and analyzing their foliar PTTE concentrations. Then a model of artificial neural network was applied to understand the factors most relevant for the variability on the phytoavailability of trace elements. Both options were found to be able to reduce the concentrations or phytoavailability of PTTE in the presence of amendments. The artificial neural network has been very effective to predict missing results and to determine the control parameters of the variability of the PTTE phytoavailoability from the soil parameters.