Cumulative impacts of dissolved ionic metals on the chemical characteristics of river water affected by alkaline mine drainage from the Kuala Lipis gold mine, Pahang, Malaysia

Abstract

This paper describes the variations in levels of dissolved metals with spatial and hydrological conditions along the Kermoi River, which drains a gold mining area. The spatial analysis of data on metal levels in the river indicates that the levels of almost all types of studied ionic species tend to increase when moving from an upstream location towards the mining area; significant enrichments of 91%, 55%, 8% and 75% in As, Mn, Zn and levels, respectively, were observed, indicating that the mining area is a source of these metals. From the mining area towards a downstream location, metal levels tended to decrease, suggesting that a natural attenuation process occurred for all metals except As. We also found that different hydrological conditions clearly impacted the level of metals in and the water quality of the river. Correlation analyses revealed that different types of metals were associated with different flow conditions. We recommend that remediation strategies such as the construction of wetlands and the installation of phytoremediation technology at mining sites be considered.