Assessment of the impact of copper ore processing waste on surface and groundwater

Abstract

Relevance. Production waste in industrially developed regions significantly affects the current state of small rivers. The primary role in the pollution of surface watercourses is played by the infiltration of acidic sub-basement wastewater. Acidic drainage waters contain abnormal concentrations of metals such as copper, zinc, iron, manganese, etc. In an acidic aqueous medium, metals are in a dissolved form and can migrate over considerable distances, polluting surface watercourses and groundwater, and in the neutralization reaction they pass into an insoluble form, accumulating in bottom sediments. Aim. Assessment of the state of natural waters and bottom sediments of the stream. Ryzhy and the Sak-Elga river, taking into account the negative impact of infiltration waters of tailings dumps. Methods. Mass concentrations of metals in water samples were determined by quantitative chemical analysis using an atomic emission spectrometer ICPE-9000. Gross concentrations of elements in samples of bottom sediments were studied according to the MVI-80-2008 methodology “Methodology for measuring the mass fraction of elements in samples of soils, soils and bottom sediments by atomic emission and atomic absorption spectrometry”. Results. The article presents the results of monitoring studies of the quantitative chemical composition of the Ryzhy Creek and the Sak-Elga River, which resulted in an assessment of the influence of infiltration waters of the tailings storage facilities of the Karabashmed JSC enterprise on the components of the hydrosphere. It is noted that outside the zone of influence of enrichment waste, natural water is characterized as a slightly alkaline medium, and its pH is approximately 7.5, and after the confluence of the Ryzhy Stream formed by the drainage waters of the tailings dump No. 3, the pH of the water decreases to values 4-5. Further downstream is the tailings pond No. 4, the infiltration waters of which reduce the pH of the water to 3-3.5. The article presents the results of engineering and environmental surveys, including sampling of water and sediments of the Ryzhy Creek and the Sak-Elga River, sample preparation and quantitative analysis of the composition of samples. It was found that in the zone of influence of the tailings of copper ore enrichment there are significant exceedances of the maximum permissible concentrations for a number of elements. The article notes that the development of measures for the removal and recycling of waste from mining and processing industries will significantly reduce the anthropogenic impact on surface watercourses.