Phytoremediation ability of Helichrysum arenarium plant for Au and Ag: case study at Demirören village (Gümüşhane, Turkey)

It was investigated ability of Helichrysum arenarium plant, in phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and phytoremediation in this study. Soil and plant samples were collected from the Demirören alteration site which has the potential of gold mineralization and analyzed for gold and silver. When the results of the analysis were evaluated, it was determined that the gold and silver contents in the soil did not show compatibility with the gold and silver contents of the plants grown at the same point. It was concluded that the high gold and silver concentrations in the plants are related to the hydrothermal alteration and weathering at the point where the plants grow. For investigation of phytoremediation ability of the plant, translocation factor (TF), bio-concentration factor (BCF), and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) were calculated. The values of TF, BAF, and BCF for Ag are equal 0.33, 0.043, and 0.13 and for Au are equal 2.04, 0.59, and 0.29, respectively. So, obtained data show that Helichrysum arenarium is not appropriate for phytoextraction and phytostabilization of gold and silver in this case, but H. arenarium can be used in phyto-mining and for biogeochemical exploration of gold. Considering that the gold and silver concentrations in the developed soil in the study area are low concentrations, it is predicted that a similar study will yield satisfactory-interesting results when it is made in plants grown on the gold mineralization/enrichment areas.