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Inadequate management of mining tailings represents a major environmental challenge in Latin America, particularly in mining districts where these deposits are often located near communities and water bodies, increasing the risk of environmental contamination. This study assesses the polluting potential of a community tailings dam located in the Zaruma–Portovelo mining district, one of the country’s most important gold-mining areas. Ten tailings samples were collected and subjected to physicochemical and miner...

Camilo Ponce Enriquez is in the southwest coastal zone of Ecuador, and it is surrounded by 4 river basins (Gala, Tenguel, Siete and Pagua) with an area of 1,780 km2. Mining has been the main economic activity since 1980 and is classified as Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Activity. However, since 2000s there is evidence of contamination by heavy metals in water and sediments due to irregular mining practices and inefficiency environmental-s regulations. Despite the evidence, there are not enough scientific studie...