CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF BLOAJA VALLEY WATER AFFECTED BY ACID ROCK DRAINAGE, BĂIUȚ MINING AREA, ROMANIA

Dan Florin COSTIN Dan Florin COSTIN

doi:10.24193/subbambientum.2021.02

Authors

Dan Florin COSTIN Dan Florin COSTIN Babeș-Bolyai University, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, 30 Fântânele Street, 400294, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. *Corresponding author: dan.costin@ubbcluj.ro

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24193/subbambientum.2021.02

Keywords:

mining area, tailings, acid rock drainage, pyrite concentrate, heavy metals, water pollution.

Abstract

Mining areas are among the most polluted industrial sites, the surface waters being often affected by acid rock drainage. Mine and processing wastes represents one of the main sources of acidic waters. The seepages form Bloaja tailings management facilities have a low pH and increased total dissolved solids. Chemical analyses show high Zn, Cu and Pb concentrations of the contact water with the pyrite concentrate deposited on Bloaja Old tailings management facility. These polluted waters are discharged in the watercourses, decreasing the quality of surface water. Despite of the remediation of Bloaja New tailings management facility, the waste waters seepages have a conspicuous environmental impact on watercourses from Lăpuș River basin.

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