Water quality in pit lakes in disseminated gold deposits compared to two natural, terminal lakes in Nevada

 Within the next 10–15 years, over 35 mines in Nevada will have a lake in their open pit mines after dewatering and cessation of mining. Of the ten past or existing pit lakes at eight different gold mines for which temporal data are available, most had near neutral pH, yet most had at least one constituent (e.g., As, SO₄, TDS) that exceeded drinking water standards for at least one sampling event. Most samples from pit lakes had TDS exceeding drinking water standards, but lower than that in the natural Pyramid (TDS≈5,500 mg/l) and Walker (TDS≈14,000 mg/l) Lakes. In the past century, salinity increased in both natural, terminal lakes, in part due to irrigation withdrawals and evapoconcentration. The salinity in the pit lakes may also increase through time via evapoconcentration. However, water balance models indicate that up to 132% (Walker Lake) of the total yearly inflow evaporates from the terminal lakes, whereas steady-state may be reached in the pit lakes modelled, where evaporative losses account for only ≈6% of the total pit lake volume annually and ≈100% of the net inflow (groundwater inflow minus outflow, precipitation and runoff into the lake). The effects of evapoconcentration are expected to be less significant at most pit lakes than at the natural, terminal lakes because (1) evaporation rates are lower at many pit lakes because they are located at higher elevations than the terminal lakes, and (2) the surface area to depth ratio of the pit lakes is >1000 times smaller than that of the terminal lakes. Received: 1 March 1999 · Accepted: 13 April 1999     

Environmental pollution impact on water and sediments of Kumaun lakes, Lesser Himalaya, India: a comparative study

A study of the water and sediment chemistry of the Nainital, Bhimtal, Naukuchiyatal and Sattal Lakes of Kumaun, has shown that the water of these lakes are alkaline and that electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid and bicarbonate HCO ₃ ⁻ are much higher in Nainital than in the other three lakes. The weathering of limestone lithology and anthropogenic pollution, the latter due to the very high density of population in the Nainital valley, are the primary sources of enhanced parameters. The low pH of Nainital Lake water is due to low photosynthesis and enhanced respiration, increasing CO₂ in the water and the consequent enhancement of Ca²⁺ and HCO ₃ ⁻ . The dissolved oxygen in Nainital Lake is less compared to other lakes, indicating anoxic conditions developing at the mud–water interface at depth. The PO ₄ ³⁻ content in Nainital is higher (124 μg/l), showing an increasing trend over time leading to eutrophic conditions. The trace metals (Cu, Co, Zn, Ni, Mn, and Sr) are present in greater amounts in the water of Nainital Lake than in the other three lakes, though Fe and Cr are high in Bhimtal and Fe in Naukuchiyatal. The higher abundance is derived from the leaching of Fe–Mg from metavolcanic and metabasic rocks. Most of the heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn, Fe, Sr, and Zn) significantly enrich the suspended sediments of the lakes compared to the bed sediments which due to their adsorption on finer particles and owing to multiple hydroxide coating and organic content, except for Fe, which is enriched in the bed sediments. The high rate of sedimentation, 11.5 mm/year in Nainital, compared to Bhimtal with 4.70 mm/year, Naukuchiyatal with 3.72 mm/year, and Sattal with 2.99 mm/year, has resulted in shorter residence time, poor sorting of grains, and lesser adsorption of heavy metals, leading consequently, their depletion in the bed sediments of Nainital Lake.     

Dissolved and particulate trace metals and their partitioning in a hypoxic estuary: The Tanshui Estuary in Northern Taiwan

The distribution and partitioning of trace metals (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn) between dissolved and particulate phases were studied in the Tanshui Estuary. The upper reach of the estuary is hypoxic and heavily polluted due to domestic and industrial discharges. The concentration ranges of dissolved and leachable particulate trace metals in the Tanshui Estuary were: Co: 0.3–6.1 nM, 1.8–18.6 mg kg⁻¹; Cu: 5–53 nM, 22–500 mg kg⁻¹; Fe: 388–3,364 nM, 1.08–6.67%; Mn: 57–2,914 nM, 209–1,169 mg kg⁻¹; Ni: 7–310 nM, 6–108 mg kg⁻¹; and Zn: 12–176 nM, 62–1,316 mg kg⁻¹; respectively. The dissolved concentrations of the metals were 2–35 times higher than the average values of the world river water. The distributions of dissolved and particulate studied metals, except Mn, in the estuary showed scattering, which could be attributed to the discharges from many industrial wastewater disposal works located in the upper tributaries. The daily input of dissolved metals from the disposal works to the Tanshui Estuary ranged from 0.1–0.4 tons. Dissolved Mn was nearly conservative in the region with salinity higher than 10 psu, while particulate Mn decreased in the region with salinity of 10–15 psu. The concentration increased significantly seawards, corresponding with the distribution of dissolved oxygen. The distribution coefficient (K_D) for Mn in the lower estuary was nearly three orders of magnitude higher than in the upper estuary. This phenomenon may be attributed to the diffusion of Mn from the anoxic sediment in the upper estuary and gradual oxidation into particulate Mn in the middle and lower estuary as the estuarine water became more oxygenated. The distribution coefficient for Cu decreased with increasing salinity. The percentages of trace metals bound by suspended particulate matter decreased in the following order: Fe>Zn, Cu>Co>Mn>Ni.     

Contamination of two Oregon reservoirs by cinnabar mining and mercury amalgamation

 Two reservoirs in western Oregon contain mercury-contaminated sediment and fish as a result of historic mercury mining in the Cottage Grove Lake watershed and mercury amalgamation used in gold mining in the Dorena Lake watershed. On average, sediment in Cottage Grove Lake contains ten times as much mercury as sediment from Dorena Lake (2.720 versus 0.242 ppm). Mercury content in Cottage Grove Lake sediment shows a sharp initial decrease and leveling off with time that reflects the end of the major cinnabar mining phase; deposition of other heavy metals appears to be linked to the clay content of sediment. Mercury input to Dorena Lake has remained fairly constant with time, but small increases in mercury are associated with the deposits of large floods. Copper, lead, and zinc input to Dorena Lake exhibits a marked decrease and leveling off related to the end of commercial mining for these metals. Received: 12 October 1999 · Accepted: 22 March 2000     

Environmental geochemistry of Damodar River basin, east coast of India

 Water and bed sediment samples collected from the Damodar River and its tributaries were analysed to study elemental chemistry and suspended load characteristics of the river basin. Na and Ca are the dominant cations and HCO₃ is the dominant anion. The water chemistry of the Damodar River basin strongly reflects the dominance of continental weathering aided by atmospheric and anthropogenic activities in the catchment area. High concentrations of SO₄ and PO₄ at some sites indicate the mining and anthropogenic impact on water quality. The high concentration of dissolved silica, relatively high (Na+K)/TZ⁺ ratio (0.2–0.4) and low equivalent ratio of (Ca+Mg)/(Na+K) indicate that dissolved ions contribute significantly to the weathering of aluminosilicate minerals of crystalline rocks. The seasonal data show a minimum ionic concentration in the monsoon season, reflecting the influence of atmospheric precipitation on total dissolved solids contents. The suspended sediments show a positive correlation with discharge and both discharge and suspended load reach their maximum value during the monsoon season. Kaolinite is the mineral that is possibly in equilibrium with the water. This implies that the chemistry of the Damodar River water favours kaolinite formation. The concentration of heavy metals in the finer size fraction (<37 μ m) is significantly higher than the bulk composition. The geoaccumulation index values calculated for Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni and Cr are well below zero, suggesting that there is no pollution from these metals in Damodar River sediments. Received: 21 January 1998 · Accepted: 4 May 1998     

Impact of erosion-transported overburden dump materials on water quality in Lake Cospuden evolved from a former open cast lignite mine south of Leipzig, Germany

 Acidification is the most common water quality problem in lakes created from previous open cast lignite mines. Aeration of aquifers and dump materials from mining activities causes pyrite oxidation. Pyrite oxidation products are stored in pore water, minerals and at the exchange complexes of the aquifers and dump sediments. Rainfall runoff transports sediments on the dump slope into the lakes. Elutriation of these sediments whithin the lakes releases either acid-producing or acid-neutralizing agents. At a test site south of Leipzig, the annual erosion rates were quantified by water erosion models (RUSLE, EROSION 2D, PEPP) and field measurements. They ranged from 300 up to 900 tons per hectare. Hydrogen ion equivalent release or binding at the sediment elutriation was computed from laboratory analysis of the pore-water quality, ion exchange complex and mineral composition of the sediment. Two of the three investigated sediments contained 3 mmol (eq) acidity per 100 g dry sediment and revealed saturation with respect to jarosite, jurbanite and gypsum. In the third sediment, 6 mmol (eq) alkalinity per 100 g dry sediment was obtained. The annual net acidity influx was calculated to be about 0.5 million mol (eq) for the lake of the test site. Received: 2 November 1998 · Accepted: 26 January 1999     

Water contamination and remedial measures at the Troya abandoned Pb-Zn mine (The Basque Country, Northern Spain)

 This article describes a case of contamination of a karstic aquifer by abandoning an underground mine exploiting sulphide ore body. To exploit the ore, the aquifer was drained and the water level declined about 230 m, drying up the spring that had drained the aquifer up to that moment. When the mining activity ceased, the piezometric level recovered and contaminated water began to flow out from a mine adit. The water is high in sulphates and dissolved Fe, although the pH is neutral. When this water reached the nearby creek, the fish population was eliminated, principally due to the presence of toxic metals and the precipitation of Fe hydroxides. The contamination originated in an area of the partially flooded mine rooms where the ore is in contact with both air and water. The acidity generated by pyrite oxidation is neutralized by calcite dissolution. Presently, the mine water is diverted to the old tailings pond which functions as an aerobic wetland. This action has allowed the fish population in the creek to be restored. Received: 20 January 1999 · Accepted: 15 March 1999     

Toxic metal contamination in the lateral lakes of the Coeur d'Alene River valley, Idaho

 The 11 lateral lakes of Coeur d'Alene River valley in northern Idaho have received heavy metal contamination from over a century of upstream mining. The lateral lakes lie within the flood plain of the Coeur d'Alene River, and in their bottom sediments is preserved a stratigraphic record of the upstream mining operations. To characterize the contaminated sediments in the lateral lakes, sampling techniques, including the Livingston piston corer and the Huttenen freeze box, have been developed by Quaternary geologists to preserve the vertical stratigraphy in the samples. From 26 cm to over 55 cm of undisturbed tailing sediments, commonly with “varve-like” features, have been found in each of the lateral lakes, with maximum concentrations by weight of lead at 3.8%, zinc at 3.4%, arsenic at 340 mg/kg, cadmium at 120 mg/kg and mercury at 7 mg/kg. The contamination in the lakes appears to be restricted to the shallow subsurface and heavy metal concentrations generally drop to background levels within a meter of depth. Received: 22 May 1998 · Accepted: 21 September 1998     

Arsenic in mine waters: an international study

 Hydrochemical data are presented for arsenic (As) in the mine waters of 34 gold and base-metal mining localities in seven countries of south-east Asia, Africa and Latin America, encompassing contrasting climatic settings and at least eight discrete styles of primary mineralization. Peak dissolved As concentrations at these sites range from 0.005–72 mg/l, with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) potable water threshold of 50 μg/l exceeded in 25 cases. Arsenate (As⁵⁺) constitutes the dominant species at over 80% of sites. Very high dissolved As concentrations (>1 mg/l) show no systematic between-site relationship with mine water pH/Eh regime. Important determinants of mine water As fluxes include iron hydrochemistry, the presence of cyanic ore processing effluents, site geology, the paragenetic sequence that follows sulphide oxidation, climate and mine management. Human toxicological impacts of As contamination have been recognized at only one case-study site, with a further four considered to warrant more detailed risk assessment. Received: 2 November 1999 · Accepted: 21 March 2000     

Model studies of an open-pit mine bottom loaded by artesian water pressure

 Experimental modelling methods are used for prediction of deformation and groundwater outflows at the bottom of an open-pit mine during the excavation of brown coal. Thermal gas-bearing artesian water exerts an uplift pressure on the impervious subsoil of the coal seam and threatens the stability of the mine bottom. The breakthrough of the mine bottom would seriously affect the groundwater regime and may endanger mining activities. The mining is carried out within the protection zones of the Carlsbad spa springs. Results of model studies are used to determine protective hydrogeological and mining measures for providing the maximum protection for the open-pit mine and the spa springs. Received: 16 August 1996 · Accepted: 9 June 1997     

Reactive solute-transport simulation of pre-mining metal concentrations in mine-impacted catchments: Redwell Basin,Colorado, USA

With the increased importance of water resources in the western United States and many areas worldwide, the remediation of impacts from historical mining becomes ever more important. A possible process of making decisions about remediation for a catchment might include identification of principal sources of metals in the catchment, classification of the sources as natural or anthropogenic, and simulations to evaluate different options for removal of anthropogenic sources. The application of this process is based on understanding the pre-mining conditions in the catchment, so that remediation goals appropriately correct for the impacts of mining. A field experiment in Redwell Basin, Colorado, provided a setting to demonstrate this process and to evaluate pre-mining concentrations through reactive solute-transport modeling. The field experiment provided spatially detailed stream and inflow samples that were the basis for model calibration. Only two inflows along the study reach were affected by mining or mine exploration. To simulate pre-mining conditions, these inflows were removed from the model calibration; the result was a simulation of the stream with all the non-mining inputs. At a point downstream from the two mining inflows, the simulated pre-mining pH would have been 5.1, up from the measured 3.8. At the higher pH, the streambed likely would have been coated with Al precipitate. Simulated pre-mining Zn and Cu would have been 1300 µg/L and 18 µg/L, lower than the measured concentrations of 3340 and 93 µg/L. Despite these changes, the pre-mining conditions would not have met aquatic-life standards.     

Precipitation of iron in microbial mats of the spring waters of Borra Caves,Vishakapatnam, India: some geomicrobiological aspects

The Borra caves, Vishakapatnam, India, can be described as a speleothem cave with significant amounts of unexplored microbial mats in spring waters. Here, we present the first observations and hypotheses on the possible impact of the microorganisms in these mats on the cave formation, focusing on their role on iron mineral precipitation. The spring waters (pH neutral 7.5–7.7) contained dissolved metals like iron and the organic mat sludge (pH 7.0–7.3) had a TOC content of approximately 5.4 wt%. Geochemically, the spring waters deep below the microbial mats contained Fe 369 ppb, Sr 198 ppb; and the organic mat sludge contained Mg 9 ppm, Fe 427 ppb, Zn 149 ppb, Sr 190 ppb. XRD observations displayed Fe minerals (dominantly hematite), minor amounts of zinc gallium sulfide and nitrofuryl compounds. At least four groups of bacteria identified by direct microscopy and SEM-EDX on the basis of morphology could be observed in all samples: Leptothrix-like organisms, entombed bacterial mineral sheaths, a few stalks of Gallionella-like organisms and some additional bacteria that could not be further identified. Leptothrix-like organisms contained 43.22–60.08 wt % Fe and the mineral precipitated near and around these bacteria (in the actual unaltered samples on site) contained 30.76–45.22 wt% Fe as identified and quantified by SEM-EDX. This study indicates that the precipitation of these iron-rich mats in the spring waters could be linked to the presence of abundant active communities of iron precipitating bacteria at Borra caves, Vishakapatanam.     

Determination of Free Cd,Cu and Zn Concentrations in Lake Waters by In Situ Diffusion Followed by Column Equilibration Ion-exchange

Combining in situ diffusion and column ion-exchange equilibration, we measured free metal ion concentrations (Cd, Cu and Zn) in water samples collected from the epilimnion of 14 lakes in the Rouyn-Noranda area (600 km north-west of Montreal, QC, Canada). Lakes were selected to represent a wide range of physico-chemical characteristics (hardness, pH, dissolved organic matter—DOM, degree of metal contamination), to determine the influence of these parameters on metal speciation. Total dissolved metal concentrations, as determined within the diffusion cells, varied over one to two orders of magnitude: [Cd] 0.19–2.9 nM; [Cu] 36–190 nM; [Zn] 7–2,800 nM. The proportion of total dissolved metal present as free Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ was relatively constant for the 14 selected lakes, despite the wide pH (4.5–8) and DOM (3–23 mg C/L) ranges, probably reflecting the inverse relationship observed between pH and DOM; this proportion did, however, vary with DOM and pH for Cu. Our experimental free metal ion concentrations were compared with those calculated with the thermodynamic models WHAM (Windermere Humic Aqueous Model VI) and ECOSAT 4.7 (incorporating the NICA-Donnan model). Measured and calculated values were in reasonable agreement for both Cd and Zn although measured values were generally slightly higher, i.e. less than one order of magnitude. For several lakes, measured free Cu concentrations were, however, much higher than the calculated values, suggesting that these models overestimate Cu complexation. The gap between measured and calculated free metal ion concentration becomes more important as the total metal concentration decreases and as pH increases.     

The environmental state of freshwater resources in Greece (rivers and lakes)

 The dominant factor regulating Greek riverine dissolved inorganic solid concentrations is chemical weathering, which depends on catchment climate and petrography. The majority of Greek rivers are moderately polluted and only a few of them show significant human impact and an increase in pollutant concentrations over time. Due to droughts in recent years and anthropogenic influence, the mean annual riverine dissolved solid concentrations exhibit a general interannual increase and significant long-term variations in their intra-annual hydrochemical fluctuations. The shallow Greek lakes are eutrophic, while the deep ones are oligo-mesotrophic. The majority of the lakes are monomictic and show summer thermal stratification, while the shallow ones are characterized by anoxic hypolimnetic conditions. Catchment petrography is not a dominant factor in the composition of lake waters since biochemical processes prevail. The majority of Greek lakes are also moderately polluted and are characterized by phosphorous-limited photosynthesis. Received: 17 March 1997 · Accepted: 16 January 1998     

Elemental chemistry and geochemical partitioning of heavy metals in road dust from Dhanbad and Bokaro regions,India

Road dust collected from India’s richest and oldest coal mining belt of Dhanbad and Bokaro regions was analysed for particle size characteristics and elemental composition. The particle size distribution pattern shows dominance of 500–250 μm and 250–125 μm size fractions, constituting 45–58% of the mass size spectrum. Si is the most dominant element and its concentration varied between 29.3 and 36.4% with the average value 34.3%. Fe, Ti and Mn are the dominant heavy metals followed by Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni and Co. No significant differences concentration of metals between sampling sites was apparent; however, some sites tend to accommodate relatively higher metals due to its proximity to industrial and mining sites. In general, finer fraction (<63 μm) tend to contain 1–3 times higher metals as compared with the bulk composition. Except Pb and Mn all the measured metals are generally lie below grade zero, suggesting that there is no pollution threat with respect to these metals in roadway dust from the studied sites. Geochemical speciation study shows that the lithogenic phase is the major sink for heavy metals. Fe–Mn oxide and organic are the major non-lithogenic phases and Pb and Zn are the major elements of the non-lithogenic phase.     

Trace metals in porewater of surface sediments and their bioavailability in Jiaozhou Bay,Qingdao, China

Samples of porewater and the edible tissue of mottled clams, Ruditapes variegatus, were collected simultaneously at each of 12 stations from Jiaozhou Bay near Qingdao, China, in June of 2003. Chemical analysis focused on trace metals and major elements. Porewater concentrations of Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn were distributed in a bimodal fashion among the 12 stations, with mean concentrations at six of the stations being 8–32 times mean values at the other six stations. The concentrations of the same metals in clams were remarkably similar among stations, the coefficients of variation being only 12–37%. Calculations performed with the computer program PHREEQC indicated that Pb and Cr in porewater were present only in the +2 and +3 states, respectively, and because dissolved Cd and Zn exist only in the +2 state, the bimodal distribution of these four metals likely reflects secondary effects associated with their scavenging by Fe and/or Mn under oxidizing conditions and subsequent dissolution in the reducing environment of the porewaters. Consistent with this hypothesis is the fact that the distribution of high and low metal concentrations was closely correlated with the granularity of the sediment, with lower metal concentrations associated with relatively coarse sediment. Comparison of published biological concentration factors with the ratios of metal concentrations in the clams to porewater metal concentrations indicated that the porewaters were not the primary sources of the metals in the clams. Mixing processes in the bay likely account for the rather uniform concentrations of metals in clam tissue.     

Sediment–water interaction, acidity and other water quality parameters in a subtropical setting, Pimpama River, southeast Queensland

 The geological setting and landuse activities of the Pimpama River catchment are typical for many drainage systems in southeast Queensland. The river originates in coastal ranges of Late Paleozoic age, crosses a floodplain developed during the Late Pleistocene-Holocene sea-level fluctuations and flows into the southern part of the Moreton Bay. The formation of sedimentary pyrite associated with the mid-Holocene transgression is an important feature of this coastal setting. The oxidation and hydrolysis of pyrite and the consequent production of sulfuric acid are controlled by the amount and seasonality of rainfall and influenced locally by landuse activities. The acid production and the leaching of dissolved metals from river alluvium and estuarine sediments impact substantially on land and aquatic habitats. The water quality of the Pimpama River and its tributaries reflects the lithology of the bedrock and can vary largely depending on season, tidal regimes, sediment lithology, local topography and agricultural activities. Monitoring of river water for several seasons revealed four types of events, each with a different response in terms of water quality: (a) occasional showers during the dry season cause low pH and high amounts of dissolved metals in the water, (b) the first heavy rain of the wet season can produce very toxic conditions (low pH and high concentrations of metals) that can result in a fish kill, (c) towards the end of the wet season, prolonged flushing of pyrite oxidation products leads to short-term recovery of the aquatic system (neutral pH and lower amounts of dissolved metals in the water) and (d) a flood event can produce low pH, salinity and high concentrations of metals, which can represent lethal conditions for aquatic life. Assessment of saturation indexes for representative weathering and oxidation products such as clays, goethite, gibbsite and jarosite shows that these mineral phases can precipitate only when the water reaches neutral pH. Received: 21 September 1998 · Accepted: 1 December 1998     

Environmental impact of mining waste disposal on a tropical lowland river system: a case study on the Ok Tedi Mine, Papua New Guinea

The 1000 km long Ok Tedi/Fly River system receives about 66 Mt/year of mining waste from the Ok Tedi copper-gold porphyry mine. Mine input has increased the suspended sediment load of the Middle Fly River about 5–10 times over the natural background. A significant yet unknown amount of copper-rich material deposits unevenly in the extensive tropical lowland floodplain. Recent alluvial sediments of the Fly River floodplain have copper contents of 620 mg/kg (±1σ: 430–900), whereas the regional background is 40 mg/kg (±σ: 25–60). This pattern is mirrored and enhanced by the gold dispersal pattern with a 7 ppb Au background versus a 140–275 ppb population in mine-derived material. Very high deposition rates (around 4 cm/y) of mine-derived sediment were determined in locations close to the creeks and channels which link the Fly River with the outer floodplain. A thin layer of 1–5 cm of copper-rich material (400–900 mg/kg Cu) was usually found on the bottom of drowned (tributary) valley lakes. Average dissolved copper content in waters of the inner floodplain is around 9 μg/l (±1σ: 5–14) as compared to unpolluted water from the outer floodplain with < 2 μg/l Cu. The present Fly River water, about 600 km downstream of the mine site, has concentrations of 17 ± 3 μg/l dissolved Cu. Received: 30 June 1996 / Accepted: 9 January 1997     

Controls on the nature and distribution of an alga in coal mine-waste environments and its potential impact on water quality

 A dominant non-bacterial microorganism that may strongly impact environmental conditions in acid mine drainage at several Indiana coal mine sites is a single-celled protozoan, Euglena mutabilis. Field data suggest E. mutabilis has high tolerance for elevated total dissolved solids (TDS), to 18 g/l, and acid conditions to pH 1.7. Distribution is restricted to unmixed effluent pH<4.6, with prolific growth between pH 3.0 and 3.5. Additional factors influencing E. mutabilis include preference for areas with lower mineral/colloidal precipitation rates and a stable substrate of iron-rich precipitates. Initial studies indicate that in areas of prolific growth it contributes to oversaturation of dissolved oxygen by up to 200%. The presence of small orange intracellular crystalline-like structures, similar in color to iron oxyhydroxides, suggests that E. mutabilis may be sequestering iron, and possibly other metals. Further work is needed to determine if E. mutabilis contributes to natural mitigation of poor water quality at these and other coal mine sites. Received: 13 January 2000 · Accepted: 2 May 2000