Heavy metal contamination in the Arieş river catchment, western Romania: Implications for development of the Roşia Montană gold deposit

Levei

et al. 2015

Journal of Chemistry

The paper presents the metals content and bioavailability in waters of Aries River catchment, Romania. Concentration of labile dissolved metal species measured by diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT), metals in colloidal and in particulate phases, and also general physical-chemical indicators of water were determined. Very high total metal concentrations were found in the tributaries that drain the mining areas. However, the influence of the polluted tributaries on the Aries River water quality was moderate, as a consequence of the tributaries low flow rate compared with that of the Aries River. Using the DGT technique the bioavailable metals fractions expressed as % of total dissolved metals concentrations were found to be 28-88% for Cu, 43-72% for Zn, 73-85% for Fe, and 33-70% for Mn. Depending on the used method for dissolved metals determination the classification of waters according to quality classes may differ. Excluding the colloidal metal fractions, DGT measures only truly dissolved metal concentrations. In cases with very high metal contamination the differences between total dissolved and DGT-labile concentrations are unimportant for waters classification. However, where the metals concentration is near the thresholds values the determination method is very important.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary Investigation concerning Metals Bioavailability in Waters of Aries River Catchment by Using the Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films Technique

Levei

et al. 2015

Journal of Chemistry

“…Metal mining can lead to the elevation of metal concentrations in riverine environments through acid mine drainage (AMD) generation (Herbert 1994), the release of waste slurries (Salomons 1995), the erosion of spoil tips and contaminated floodplains (Brewer and Taylor 1997;Dennis et al 2009;Lewin et al 1977), and mine tailings dam failures (Bird et al 2008;Hudson-Edwards et al 2003;Villarroel et al 2006). Where human interaction with the fluvial environment is widespread, the presence of metals in high concentrations within river water, river sediment, and floodplain soils constitute an important environmental problem (Bird et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Miningaffected catchments in the south of Bulgaria, notably those that form the Maritsa and Struma drainage basins, flow southwards across Bulgaria's borders with Turkey and Greece, respectively, and offer the potential for the transboundary dispersal of contaminant metals. The aim of this paper is to build upon work carried out by the authors further upstream in the Danube basin in Romania (Bird et al 2003a(Bird et al , 2005Macklin et al 2003) and Hungary (Bird et al 2003b) and to present the results of the first nationwide geochemical survey of river water and sediment in Bulgaria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dispersal of Contaminant Metals in the Mining-Affected Danube and Maritsa Drainage Basins, Bulgaria, Eastern Europe

Bird

Brewer

Macklin

et al. 2009

Water Air Soil Pollut

Self Cite

Bird, G., Brewer, P. A., Macklin, M. G., Nikolova, M., Kotsev, T., Mollov, M., Swain, C. (2010). Dispersal of Contaminant Metals in the Mining-Affected Danube and Maritsa Drainage Basins, Bulgaria, Eastern Europe. Water Air and Soil Pollution, 206(1-4), 105-127. Sponsorship: Royal Society Joint ProjectMetal dispersal in the Danube and Maritsa drainage basins resulting from metal mining activities in Bulgaria has been assessed through the collection of 611 samples of river water, river channel and floodplain sediment, and mine waste from over 218 sites. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in river water were found to be highest in close proximity to locations of Cu and Pb?Zn mining regions in the Maritsa catchment. Downstream dispersal of solute metals in these catchments, and into the River Danube, was found to be limited by physical dilution and a well-buffered pH environment. Dispersal of contaminant metals in channel and floodplain sediment was found to be extensive. Contamination was particularly severe in the Rivers Timok and Iskar (Danube catchment) and the Topolnitsa, Chepelarska, and Arda Rivers (Maritsa catchment) and creates the potential of transboundary dispersal of contaminant metals.Peer reviewe

“…Rosia Montana (D/N about 30), the largest gold deposit in all of Europe, set in Metaliferi Mountains(Buza et al 2001;Bird et al 2005;Florea et al 2005), where copper mines can also be found(Steblez 2007a) and the mining area of Bucium(Bird et al 2005);2. the copper deposit of Rosia Pioeni(Florea et al 2005;Steblez 2007a), Humedoara, iron mine(Steblez 2007a;Romanian Government 2006) and the big excavation area in Cainelu de Jos, clearly visible by Google Earth Ò : in these regions the D/N ratio is about 25;…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of quarry and mine blast contamination in European regional catalogues

Gulia

2009

Nat Hazards

The presence of quarry and mine blasts in seismic catalogues is detected using the Wiemer and Baer (Bull Seism Soc Am 90 (2): [525][526][527][528][529][530] 2000) algorithm. The procedure is based on the observation that quarry blasts generally take place during daytime hours: the areas with a high ratio of daytime and night-time events are likely to be regions with quarry activity. In the first part of this work we have tested the method, using both a synthetic and a regional catalogue; in the second part the procedure has been applied to some of the European regional catalogues available on line. The comparison between the results obtained and the location of known quarries and mines for the analysed catalogues confirms the reliability of the methodology in identifying mining areas.