Haneş and Valea Vinului (Romania) closed mines Acid Mine Drainages (AMDs) – Actual condition and passive treatment remediation proposal

Acid Mine Drainages (AMDs) from Hane? and Valea Vinului (Romania) closed mines were considered for characterization and treatment using a local zeolitic volcanic tuff, ZVT, (M?cica?, Cluj County, Romania). Water samples were collected from two locations, before and after discharging point in case of Hane? mine, and on three horizons in case of Valea Vinului mine. Physico-chemical (pH, total solid, heavy metal ions concentration) analyses showed that the environment is strongly affected by these AMD discharges even if the mines were closed years ago. Iron, manganese and zinc were the main pollutants identified in Hane? mine AMD, while zinc is the one mainly present in case of Valea Vinului AMD. A batch technique (no stirring) in which the ZVT was put in contact with the AMD sample was proposed as a passive remediation technique. ZVT successfully remove heavy metal ion from AMD. According to heavy metal ion concentrations, removal efficiencies are reaching 100%, varying as follows, Fe²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Mn²⁺. When the ZVT was compared with two cationic resins (strong, SAR and weak acid, WAR) the following series was depicted, SAR > ZVT > WAR.     

Coal-Mine Hollow Fill and Settling Pond Influences on Headwater Streams in Southern West Virginia, USA

The influences of coal-mine hollow fills and associated settling ponds in three headwater streams were assessed in southern West Virginia, USA. Fill drainage waters had elevated conductivities and metal concentrations, compared to a regional reference. Benthic macroinvertebrate richness was not affected consistently by the hollow fill drainages, relative to a regional reference, although a more tolerant community, lacking in Ephemeroptera taxa at most locations, was evident. Collector-filterer populations were elevated at monitoring stations directly below the settling ponds, indicating that the ponds’ presence influenced macroinvertebrate community structure by means of organic enrichment. Corbicula fluminea growth was enhanced in monitoring locations directly below the settling ponds, also an apparent result of organic enrichment. Results of acute water column toxicity testing with Ceriodaphnia dubia, sediment chronic toxicity testing with Daphnia magna, and in-situ ecotoxicological assessments with C. fluminea demonstrated no mortality or toxic influence at most of the sites tested below the ponds. The settling ponds appear to serve as sinks in collecting some, but not all, trace metals.     

Atmospheric Monitoring at Abandoned Mercury Mine Sites in Asturias (NW Spain)

Mercury concentrations are usually significant in historic Hg mining districts all over the world, so the atmospheric environment is potentially affected. In Asturias, northern Spain, past mining operations have left a legacy of ruins and Hg-rich wastes, soils and sediments in abandoned sites. Total Hg concentrations in the ambient air of these abandoned mine sites have been investigated to evaluate the impact of the Hg emissions. This paper presents the synthesis of current knowledge about atmospheric Hg contents in the area of the abandoned Hg mining and smelting works at ‘La Peña–El Terronal’ and La Soterraña, located in Mieres and Pola de Lena districts, respectively, both within the Caudal River basin. It was found that average atmospheric Hg concentrations are higher than the background level in the area (0.1 μg Nm^?3), reaching up to 203.7 μg Nm^?3 at 0.2 m above the ground level, close to the old smelting chimney at El Terronal mine site. Data suggest that past Hg mining activities have big influences on the increased Hg concentrations around abandoned sites and that atmospheric transfer is a major pathway for Hg cycling in these environments.     

Spatial distribution and transport of heavy metals in soil, ponded-surface water and grass in a pb-contaminated watershed as related to land-use practices

The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial distribution of heavy metal in soil and evaluate the dissolution of metal from soil to ponded-surface water, leaching through soil profiles and metal uptake in grass as related to different land-use practices. The data provided a scientific basis for best-management practices for land use in Khli Ti watershed. The watershed has a Pb-contamination problem from the previous operation of a Pb-ore concentrator and abandoned Zn–Pb mine. Sampling sites were selected from a land-use map, with land-use types falling into the following four categories: forest, agricultural land, residential area and road. Soil, ponded-surface water, grass samples and soil profiles were collected. The study related soil characteristics from different land-use practices and locations with observed metal concentrations in ponded-surface water and soil. High enrichment factors of Pb and As in soil were found. Partitioning coefficient, K_d values were in the order: Cr > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd > Zn. Soil disturbance from land-use activities including tillage and traffic increased leaching of trace metal from soils. Pb in soil was significantly taken up by grass even though the Transfer Factor, TF values were rather low. Agricultural activities in the watershed must be limited. Moreover, land encroachments in the upper and middle part of the watershed which have high potential of Pb must be strictly controlled in order to reduce the Pb contamination from non-point sources.     

真藓对碳酸盐型锰矿区重金属污染的指示意义

锰矿开采产生重金属污染,对周围环境造成影响,有必要对矿区重金属进行监测。研究以典型碳酸盐型锰矿——南茶锰矿(按职能划分为4个功能区：矿井区、废石区、选矿区、蓄矿区)为对象,以区域内真藓Bryum argenteum为材料,结合相关分析、聚类分析、主成分分析、变异系数等方法考察了真藓和土壤中重金属的含量及其可能的来源。结果表明：各功能区均受到不同程度的人为干扰,人为干扰越强,区域污染越严重。在不同污染梯度的功能区内,真藓的重金属(Fe、Mn、Zn、Cr、Ni、Ba、Co、Mo、Hg、Pb、Cd、Cu、Tl、As、Sb)含量与土壤重金属含量显著正相关(P<0.05),说明真藓是监测碳酸盐型锰矿重金属污染的有效指标。真藓指示南茶锰矿除了可能受到采矿活动的强烈影响外(Mn、Cu、Fe、Zn、Cr、Ni、Mo、Ba),还受到来自运输车辆的机械磨损、排放及采矿活动的复合污染(Tl、Cd、Pb、As、Sb),识别结果与区域重金属分布情况吻合,表明真藓具有识别重金属污染的能力。在今后碳酸盐型锰矿污染防治工作中,可将真藓作为重金属污染监测的生物材料。     

昌吉州煤矿废水排放量及水质特征分析

为掌握昌吉州煤矿废水排放及水质特征现状,通过实地调查监测,分析了昌吉州煤矿分布及矿井废水的排放量和水质特征.结果显示,昌吉州5县2市共有井下开采煤矿74家,以9万t以上煤矿为主;2007年排放矿井废水264.608万t,排放量小于5万t的煤矿占大多数;煤矿废水具有呈弱碱性、低毒、盐分含量高的特点,主要超标污染物为总悬浮物和化学需氧量;全州约三分之二的矿井废水总悬浮物超标.     

新疆煤矿项目竣工环保验收工作现状、问题及对策

新疆煤炭资源丰富,资源总量居全国各省之首,煤炭的大规模开采在带来经济效益的同时也带来一系列环境问题,如地表沉陷、水污染、煤矸石、噪声、矿区大气污染等诸多环境破坏和环境污染。为此,针对目前新疆煤矿竣工环境保护验收调查工作中存在的一些问题,提出解决问题的方法和思路。     

某铀矿山废石场及尾砂库氡污染调查

通过对某退役铀矿山的 14个废石堆放场及 3个尾砂库氡析出率的测量及内照射剂量的估算 ,表明 ,只有一个废石场的氡析出率超过国家规定的管理限值水平 ;尾砂库的氡析出率较高 ,个别测点的氡析出率超出管理限值水平近 7倍 ;因氡析出而使当地居民额外所受的年最大有效剂量当量为 0 0 5 8mSv。指出在尾砂库表面覆盖黄土 ,可以有效降低氡析出水平 ,当覆盖厚度达 0 5m时 ,可将氡析出水平降低 84%以上。     

某铀尾矿库周围农田土壤重金属污染潜在生态风险评价

为能够定量评价铀尾矿库周围农田土壤重金属污染程度及其潜在生态危害性,采用Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法对土壤中重金属进行综合污染评价。结果表明,铀尾矿库周围部分农田土壤中重金属Cd、Ni、As、Cu、Hg、Zn含量存在积累和超标情况,尤以Cd的污染最严重,Ni、As次之;Pb、Cr含量能够满足标准限值要求。潜在生态风险评价结果显示,铀尾矿库周围农田土壤重金属潜在生态风险较高,主要潜在生态风险因子为Cd,其次是Hg、As,Cr、Pb、Ni、Cu、Zn并不构成潜在生态风险。铀尾矿库周围农田土壤中较高水平的Cd在构成环境污染的同时,也构成了较严重的生态危害,应加强对重金属Cd、Hg的生态风险防治。     

晴隆锑矿和煤矿矿集区岩溶地下水环境质量评估

锑是环境中广泛分布、具有慢性毒性和潜在致癌性的典型毒害重金属,是一种新兴的全球性环境污染物。过去对锑的地球化学行为研究较多,但对岩溶地下水的环境质量影响的研究较少。选择锑矿和煤矿分布广泛的贵州晴隆县境内龙摆尾地下河为研究对象,对研究区的地表水和地下水的水化学特征和污染特征进行研究,以《生活饮用水卫生标准》(GB 5749—2006)和《地表水环境质量标准》(GB 3838—2002)中的Ⅲ类标准值为评价标准对该地区水质予以评价。结果表明:在锑矿未开采情况下,第四系碧痕营组地下水中锑的浓度较高,平均值为1.55μg/L,最高为6.32μg/L;锑、砷的迁移受氧化还原条件的控制;岩溶地下水整体来说水质符合生活饮用水标准,但碧痕营组水中锑、锰超标,龙潭组中节理裂隙水存在pH、锰超标情况;而煤矿开采污染的地表水中锰、铁的污染具有普遍性,含量均超过地表水环境质量标准的限值,且超标倍数较大。因此,该研究区岩溶地下水可直接作为饮用水源,而碧痕营组和龙潭组中地下水须做处理后才可饮用。