Environmental study on a long history of Cu mining in Hubei, central China

Environmental study on a long history of Cu mining in Hubei, central China

The Tonglushan Cu mine situated in a densely populated, humid temperate ecoregional domain, so called the Birthplace of the Bronze age in the world, has been mined for over three thousand years. However, there is no significant pollution in surrounding area yet. To understand the mechanism controlling the environment the geological controls, including regional geology, deposit type, deposit size, host rocks, mineralogy, texture, alteration, ore controls, were studied by re-evaluating data from mineral exploration and mining activities; the geochemical factors including soils both in rice field and dry land, underground water and rice were investigated in 2003-2004. The results show that the ground water around the mine is not contaminated,