Metal transport in a stream polluted by acid mine drainage—The Afon Goch, Anglesey, UK

Boult, Stephen; Collins, David N.; White, Kenneth; Curtis, C. D.

doi:10.1016/0269-7491(94)90139-2

Cited by 81 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…enhanced by the low pH conditions. These highly acidic waters from the tailing piles were observed to flow into the nearby streams, causing their contamination, where significant concentrations of Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn and SO 4 were observed in the stream waters near the main tailing deposit, and similar to other AMD case studies (Boult et al, 1994;Brake et al, 2001;Sainz et al, 2003;Sracek et al, 2004). The main input was observed near sample AMW3, where a disruption in the wall of the dam allowed the output of acidic water (pH~1) with high concentrations of trace elements (Table 3).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

An integrative assessment of environmental degradation of Caveira abandoned mine area (Southern Portugal)

Silva

Durães

Reis

et al. 2015

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

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Since the end of the 1990s the Portuguese Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) is a typical European post-mining region with significant problems related to acid mine drainage (AMD), metal dispersion, mine waste management and unsafe mining infra-structures. The Portuguese government is providing particular attention on the sulphide abandoned mines and doing considerable investments on the mining recovery all over the country. The former Caveira mine was closed in the 1980s. It is considered an extremely impacted site due to the dimension of the areas affected by mining activities. Tailings, mine addicts and associated waste rock dumps, resulting from 129 years of pyrite and Cu exploitation, are spread along the Grândola stream. Despite the semi-arid climatic conditions of the area, the tailings are considerably eroded by the surficial waters, particularly during rainfall events. The past mining and smelting activities have resulted in severe contamination of the Grândola stream and its tributary by AMD (pH b 2) as well as degradation of surrounding stream sediments, soils and vegetation. In order to evaluate possible environmental risks, a sediment and surface water survey was carried out downstream the Caveira mine. The acidic effluent and mixed stream water show high Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and SO 4 concentrations, with several of these contaminants exceeding local and/or surface water quality standards. The data show a strong seasonal variation of surface water quality with poorer water quality during the dry and rainy seasons caused by evaporation and efflorescent salt dissolution, respectively. The variable flow regime at the local streams causes dilution of AMD rich in trace metals reaching background within 14 km downstream. The potential toxicity of stream metal concentrations was determined using cumulative criterion unit (CCU) scores and the modified AMD index (MAMDI), which highlighted As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn as the major sources of potential chronic stream toxicity, with emphasis on winter season. Although the threshold of the likely harm to aquatic life is exceeded at all sites, the two indexes highlight differences relating to the extension of contamination effects. The Average Index of Toxicity (AIT) showed that sediment contamination is very high even when the distance to mine promoted a decreasing in water metal concentrations, which are being precipitated in the sediments due to pH increase.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

An integrative assessment of environmental degradation of Caveira abandoned mine area (Southern Portugal)

Silva

Durães

Reis

et al. 2015

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

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“…Thus, where the solubility of iron oxides has been exceeded a massive precipitation of ochre can occur. Additional possibilities for variation in plaques formation are tributary entry, antecedent rainfall and discharge variation (BOULT et al, 1994). Low discharge allows all precipitated particulates to drop out of suspension, whereas increased discharge results in transport in suspension and favours erosive processes such as resuspension and release of pore-waters from a previously deposited layer of iron oxyhydroxide (CHAPMAN et al, 1983).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf Associated Microbial Activities in a Stream Affected by Acid Mine Drainage

Schlief

2004

International Review of Hydrobiology

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Leaf Associated Microbial Activities in a Stream Affected byAcid Mine Drainage key words: leaf litter breakdown, acid mine drainage, respiration rate, ochre deposition, iron plaques AbstractMicrobial activity was assessed on birch leaves and plastic strips during 140 days of exposure at three sites in an acidic stream of the Lusatian post-mining landscape, Germany. The sites differed in their degrees of ochre deposition and acidification. The aim of the study was (1) to follow the microbial activities during leaf colonization, (2) to compare the effect of different environmental conditions on leaf associated microbial activities, and (3) to test the microbial availability of leaf litter in acidic mining waters. The activity peaked after 49 days and subsequently decreased gradually at all sites. A formation of iron plaques on leaf surfaces influenced associated microbial activity. It seemed that these plaques inhibit the microbial availability of leaf litter and serve as a microbial habitat by itself. IntroductionAcid mine drainage is a persistent effect of human resource usage and affect many aquatic ecosystems throughout the world (NOIKE et al., 1983;MCKNIGHT and FEDER, 1984;SCHULTZE and GELLER, 1996). The acid drainage is generated by the oxidative weathering of sulphidecontaining minerals, which often lies in or around coal seams. Streams affected by acid mine drainage typically have low pH values, high concentrations of sulphate and iron, and abundant deposition of precipitated metal oxides, predominantly ochre (iron oxyhydroxide), that are covering the streambed (ENDER and LESSMANN, 2000). The complex interaction of all these stressors can lead to severe alterations of the biological structure and ecosystem processes. Consequently, the examination of ecosystem processes, like leaf litter breakdown, is one proposed measure to test the integrity of such affected streams (GESSNER and CHAU- VET, 2002). Leaf litter breakdown is a well-documented process, in which the interplay of abiotic and biotic subprocesses leads to a disintegration of leaves (WEBSTER and BENFIELD, 1986;GESSNER et al., 1999). A number of recent investigations revealed that the leaf litter breakdown process in acidic mining streams is slow and primarily microbial mediated, due to the absence of macroinvertebrate "shredders" (SIEFERT and MUTZ, 2000;NIYOGI et al., 2001 and. The authors assume that, like in circumneutral aquatic environments, microorganisms exploit leaf material through enzymatic cleavage of plant polymers in acidic mining waters. If this is true, one can predict higher microbial activities on natural leaf litter than on an artificial material that can only serve as a holdfast for microorganisms. Leaf associated respiration rates are a suitable measure to assess microbial activity and were already applied by GROOM and HILDREW (1989) and NIYOGI et al., (2001) and (2002) in acidic streams. These studies, however, gave no information about the temporal dynamics of leaf associated microbial activity.Internat. Rev. Hydrobiol.

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“…As a result, many 286 of the headwater streams of the region have low acid-buffering capability, 287 resulting in extremely acidic discharges containing high levels of dissolved 288 toxic metals (Abdullah and Royle, 1972;Fuge et al, 1991;Boult et al, 1994;289 Neal et al, 2005). In contrast, in those parts of the English Peak District 290 where carbonate lithology predominates (Carboniferous Limestone), neutral to 291 basic mine discharges are common and these have significantly lower 292 concentrations of dissolved toxic metals (Smith et al, 2003).…”

Section: Mine Water Chemistry 262mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impairment of River Systems by Metal Mine Contamination: A Review Including Remediation Options

Byrne

Wood

Reid

2012

Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology

161

110

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24Contamination of aquatic environments as a consequence of deep metal 25 mining for Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd and Fe is of widespread international concern. 26 Pollution resulting from metal mining activities can result in significant 27 environmental and ecological degradation and can pose serious risks to 28 human health through contamination of food and drinking water. This paper 29 provides a review of the impacts of deep metal mine water discharges on 30 riverine sedimentology, hydrology and ecology and explores strategies for the 31 restoration of rivers draining historically abandoned metal mines.

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Metal transport in a stream polluted by acid mine drainage—The Afon Goch, Anglesey, UK

Cited by 81 publications

References 9 publications

An integrative assessment of environmental degradation of Caveira abandoned mine area (Southern Portugal)

An integrative assessment of environmental degradation of Caveira abandoned mine area (Southern Portugal)

Leaf Associated Microbial Activities in a Stream Affected by Acid Mine Drainage

The Impairment of River Systems by Metal Mine Contamination: A Review Including Remediation Options

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