engleski

Geochemical study of surface water and sediment at the abandoned Pb-Zn mining site at Gyöngyösoroszi, Hungary

A geochemical and mineralogical study of surface water and sediment was performed at an abandoned Pb-Zn mining site containing neutralised acidic mine drainage at Gyöngyösoroszi in Hungary to estimate the risk of the remobilisation of potentially toxic elements along the Toka Stream from the sediment as a secondary source of contamination. The study was performed in the dry season. The sediment of the discharge at the neutralised mine drainage contains primarily amorphous iron hydroxide ; however, despite neutralisation, the concentrations of Zn, Cd, As and Pb are still above levels that could potentially cause environmental risk. In addition, the further presence of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn was identified in high concentrations at the abandoned mine tailing. The difference in the composition of the sediment in equilibrium with the water and that of the dried sediment suggest that Al, Mn, and Ni are released and transported primarily in solution. However, because the water quality of the Toka stream that has been affected by the abandoned mining site is under rehabilitation, the quantity of the potentially toxic element concentrations in the solution were low, with the exception of Cd and Zn, which were identified at high concentrations ; this was particularly observed at the mine tailing discharge.

abandoned mining site; heavy metal; surface water; sediment

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