Assessment of Water Quality in the Artisanal Gold Mining in Arba’at Region, Eastern Sudan

Abstract

Artisanal gold mining is a major threat to water resources in most mining communities across Sudan. This research assessed the water in the Arba’at market, which is located in the eastern region of Sudan where the artisanal gold mining take place and focused mainly on the quality of the surface water that comes from the Arba’at Dam, as well as on the groundwater in the study area.

observed in smell and color, either for surface or ground water. Mercury analysis was performed based on atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS or AA) for all samples and showed the purity of the surface water from any presence of mercury. In contrast, groundwater analysis showed the appearance of a trace amount of mercury at a level well below the Sudanese Standards Organization limit for drinking water.