Characterization of a locally deposited material on Arnela Beach (Galicia Coast, Spain)

The main objective of this paper is to identify and evaluate risks to Arnela beach coastal resources from hazardous waste sites and to develop remediation strategies to minimize those risks, using wastes as a secondary raw material. Research has been conducted on a material located on Arnela Beach, Muxía (A Coruña province, northwest Spain) due to its unknown nature not previously described or related to the geological context. This material can be seen mixed with sand and gravel, and its total chemical composition has been determined and mineralogically analyzed under XRF and XRD, respectively. The microstructure of this deposit on Arnela Beach has been investigated with optical and electron microscopy (SEM/EDS). After determining that it contains high proportions of silica (SiO2) and manganese, a complementary study has been carried out in order to evaluate its capability for the production of glasses and glass-ceramics. For this purpose, thermal transformations at high temperature have been followed by DTA/TG, as well as HSM. First results indicate that it is a metallurgical slag material with a vitreous character and unknown origin. Finally, this deposit is anthropogenic in origin with possible applications as a secondary raw material in the ceramic, glaze, and glass industries.