Evaluation of the impacts of mine drainage from a coal waste pile on the surrounding environment at Smolnica, southern Poland

Abstract

Mine drainage impacts from a coal waste pile at Smolnica, Poland have been monitored. Groundwater in an unconfined aquifer downgradient from the pile has near-neutral pH, but high concentrations of sulfate (up to 3,827 mg/l), chloride (up to 903 mg/l), and sodium (up to 2,606 mg/l). Concentrations of iron and manganese are elevated only locally, and concentrations of other metals are low. The behavior of sulfate seems to be conservative in the downgradient aquifer, and gypsum may only be precipitating locally. Concentrations of iron and manganese seem to be controlled by the precipitation of ferric oxide and hydroxides and rhodochrosite, respectively. Complete neutralization of mine drainage by carbonates is consistent with high concentrations of calcium (up to 470 mg/l) and magnesium (up to 563 mg/l) and also with high strontium concentrations of up to 3.08 mg/l, observed in groundwater downgradient from the pile. Hydraulic head profiles at two sites within the river bottom sediments indicate upward flow toward the river with large local differences in groundwater recharge. Water chemistry profiles in the river bottom sediments and geochemical modeling suggest conservative behavior of Na, Cl, and SO(4) and precipitation of Fe and Mn at the groundwater/river water interface. Mine drainage enters the Bierawka River and causes increasing sulfate concentrations. In contrast, concentrations of sodium and chloride in the Bierawka River decrease downgradient from the pile because water in the river upgradient from the pile is already highly contaminated by these species from the discharge of mining waters. Concentrations of Fe and Mn in the river water are low, as a consequence of the precipitation of Fe and Mn oxide and hydroxides. Direct geochemical modeling was able to reproduce measured concentrations of conservative species (e.g., Na, Cl, and SO(4)), but errors for metals and Ba were relatively large. In addition, calculated P(CO2) values in the river water are very high, suggesting that equilibrium with atmospheric P(CO2) and P(O2) has not been reached, and at least some reactions should be modeled as kinetic processes. High concentrations of Na, Cl, and SO(4) contribute to the contamination of the Odra River, which is joined by the Bierawka River farther downgradient, thus limiting the use of river water for recreation and other purposes.

An Overview of Priority Pollutants in Selected Coal Mine Discharges in Europe

“…Quantitative data concerning this phenomenon is sparse, although the data from the eastern part of Silesia shows that the environmental impact of contaminated runoff waters is locally important, and that it increases substantially during warmer periods of the year, when heavy rains occur (Bauerek et al 2013). Some of the waste heap discharge waters are alkaline, but they frequently have high concentrations of sulphate, ammonia, and metals (Sracek et al 2010).…”

Strontium isotope identification of water mixing and recharge sources in a river system (Oder River, central Europe): A quantitative approach

“…Mine waters are supplied to the Oder not only through the interceptor sewer system “Olza” but also via all right‐bank tributaries in Upper Silesia (Ruda, Bierawka, and Kłodnica) and the Gliwice Canal. This is indicated not only by high Sr contents in their waters, between 0.68 and 1.12 mg/L, but first of all, by a high level of contamination with Cl, SO 4, Na, Ba, Ca, and Mg ions (Magdziorz & Lach, ; Różkowski, Chmura, Gajowiec, & Wagner, ; Różkowski & Różkowski, ; Sracek et al, ). In 2015, the maximum salinity (Cl + SO 4 ) in these tributaries was in the range from 0.7 to 4.9 g/L (WIOS, ).…”

“…A characteristic feature of the strontium budget of the Oder River basin is that waters of the majority of the tributaries have higher (Figure 2a). Their input constitutes, depending on flow regime of the Oder, up to about 4% of the total discharge at the release point (Swolkień, 2010 Różkowski & Różkowski, 1994;Sracek et al, 2010). In 2015, the maximum salinity (Cl + SO 4 ) in these tributaries was in the range from 0.7 to 4.9 g/L (WIOS, 2016).…”

Distribution of phenols related to self-heating and water washing on coal-waste dumps and in coaly material from the Bierawka river (Poland)

“…Poland. Mine drainage has led to increasing sulphate-, sodium-and chloride concentrations in the water (Sracek et al 2010). The period around 1800 was one of local industrial development based on local-and imported iron ores, charcoal production and hard coal exploitation (Klimek et al 2013).…”