Environmental geochemistry of the Gulf Creek copper mine area, north-eastern New South Wales, Australia |
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| Authors: | B G Lottermoser P M Ashley D C Lawie |
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| Institution: | (1) School of Earth Sciences, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia e-mail: Bernd.lottermoser@jcu.edu.au Fax: +61-7-40421284, AU;(2) Division of Earth Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia, AU |
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| Abstract: | Past mining and smelting of sulphide ore (pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite) at the abandoned Gulf Creek mine has resulted in
a stream highly contaminated by acid mine drainage (pH: 2.2–3.4), as well as degradation of local soil and vegetation. Physical
dispersion of secondary metal-bearing minerals from abandoned ore and waste dumps into Gulf Creek and adsorption and coprecipitation
of dissolved metals and metalloids in the stream bed cause elevated Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn values in stream sediments.
The bioavailability of individual heavy metals to freshwater organisms changes downstream, however, selective bioaccumulation
processes in algae reject readily bioavailable Zn and concentrate less bioavailable Cu. Polluted soils in the vicinity of
the mine and smelter sites are subject to continuing soil erosion and either support no vegetation, or a depauperate flora
with certain species showing bioaccumulation of metals and resistance to high metal contents. Rehabilitation of disturbed
areas should involve covering and sealing sulphidic mine waste or removal of ore and waste dumps, installation of a physical
and chemical plant or construction of a wetland environment (plus anoxic lime drains), and import of topsoil and planting
of local, metal-tolerant plant species.
Received: 17 March 1998 / Accepted: 6 October 1998 |
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| Keywords: | Acid mine drainage Heavy metals Contamination Bioavailability Rehabilitation |
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